'Cat pee' smell in my car - Air con bacteria?

[Ari]

I've not used my car much at all in the last four weeks, in the last two its barely turned a wheel (been really busy with work). The weather has been wet and windy and at this time of year it gets very little sunshine on it (even if there is any).

I used it today and there's a rather unpleasant odour in it, which is best described as smelling like cat pee. I've checked the carpets etc (including in the boot) and everything is dry so I don't think it's leaking.

I've read about air con bacteria, and that it thrives in damp conditions so I'm wondering if it's that?

So, questions:

Has anyone experienced this and is that what it smells like?

If they have had it, what's the best way to get rid of it? I see Autoglym do a spray but it seems a rather haphazard method of application.

http://www.autoglym.com/products/products/air-con-...

And if it's not that (and assuming cats haven't somehow unlocked it, got in it, peed in it and locked it back up afterwards, and I wouldn't put anything past the sneaky furry bds), any suggestions what else it might be?

[skip_1]

It could of course be you, are you old?



Seriously though maybe it just needs a blast on ice cold for ten mins. Could be mould in the vents/ducts?

[LuS1fer]

Has it been smoked in? That smells like cat p*ss.

[Northernchimp]

Washer bottle fluid crud stinks like cat piss and can make its way inside. Put loads of warm soapy water though the jets.

[roverspeed]

Change your pollen filter for a start. Mine started to smell off sour milk, New pollen filter solved it. You can get a foam cleaning kit also.

[HertsBiker]

Maybe a cat has pissed on the windscreen and it ran into the scuttle?

[14-7]

Northernchimp said:

Washer bottle fluid crud stinks like cat piss and can make its way inside. Put loads of warm soapy water though the jets.

This.

After a while screen wash and water starts a chemical reaction that smells like cat pee.

[vikingaero]

Lidl sometimes sell £1-3 fog bombs that you use in the car with the a/c, all vents open and air on recirculation to clean out the a/c system.

It's the same stuff that dealers sell for £14.99 + half an hours labour to do.

[cologne2792]

Hypoid gear oil smells exactly the same

[Snowboy]

Could be mice getting into the engine bay and peeing in the air con.
It happened to one of my cars.

Take a look under the bonnet for mouse poo or chewed stuff.

[Hoonigan]

14-7 said:

Northernchimp said:

Washer bottle fluid crud stinks like cat piss and can make its way inside. Put loads of warm soapy water though the jets.

This.

After a while screen wash and water starts a chemical reaction that smells like cat pee.

Yep, run some bleach through the washer bottle.

[Fort Jefferson]

Are you sure someone hasn't eaten a mango yogurt in your car?

[northwest monkey]

I'd say it could well be your aircon. We had this problem in an office a few years ago where the aircon hadn't been used for ages & stunk of stale catpiss just as you describe. Apparently something was full of mould which was the cause of the smell.

I think you can get an aerosol for the car which does the job of cleaning the system.

[trashbat]

skip_1 said:

Seriously though maybe it just needs a blast on ice cold for ten mins. Could be mould in the vents/ducts?

Hot, not cold. Highest it will go.

[Ari]

Some interesting suggestions, thanks.

Think I will start with the air con treatment first and take it from there.

[Fairbridge]

A cat may have peed in your car.

[Ari]

Thank you Fairbridge, that's extremely helpful.

[strummerville]

Pollen filter is good advice too. They get really scabby if not changed regularly.

[Fairbridge]

strummerville said:

Pollen filter is good advice too. They get really scabby if not changed regularly.

They also have a noticeable effect on efficiency when they get old.

[Ari]

It had a big service eight months ago so I'm guessing the pollen filter was changed then.