The last two times I've signed up for the Pontiac G8 and settled myself into the driver seat, the mild but persistent stench of feet has wafted its way to my nostrils. At first I thought that it was the more well-rounded scent of locker room funk because it also had a slightly steamy, stuffy quality, but this time 'round the distinctly identifiable foot smell stood out (over the weekend, it eventually developed a slight cigarette aftertaste, er aftersmell, but that was once I had gotten used to the toeishness). Even though it's not overwhelming in strength, it still made me wish we had a supply of Airwick Stick Ups in our test car supply stash next to the waterless car wash sprays, dirty chamoix (what's the plural of chamois?) and jugs of wiper fluid. (Unfortunately, I couldn't find a YouTube clip with the jingle "Stick it to 'em - with Stick Ups!" If you grew up in the '70s and '80s like me, that'll be stuck in your head for the rest of the day now. You're welcome.)
After confirming that the odor wasn't self-generated and then checking for wayward sweatsocks left under the seat by one of my esteemed colleagues and finding none, I am left to wonder what it is that's causing the stink. A trip to the car wash today (pictured) helped a little bit. I'll be interested to hear a report from the next editor who gets seat time in it. Any G8 owners fightin' a funk in their cars out there?
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 16,625 miles
actualsize says:
02:39 PM, 01/12/09
Mold that smells like socks or feet can grow in a car's A/C system if one runs the airconditioning in recirc a lot of the time.
I used to know an HVAC engineer who worked for a major automaker whose job included classifying the types of smells, and their causes. He had sample vials on his desk. Not all automotive jobs are glamorous.
andreweku says:
02:42 PM, 01/12/09
I can almost guarantee that it's coming from the A/C system.... I think there's some kind of spray that the dealer can use to try to kill the stench.
dragonflight says:
03:25 PM, 01/12/09
Time to see what the Pontiac dealer experience is like again?
Also, get that darned front plate fixed while you're at it!
boxermike says:
03:37 PM, 01/12/09
"Also, get that darned front plate fixed while you're at it!"
If it were my car I would leave it alone if for no other reason than drilling as few holes in the bumper as possible.
-mike
limeman says:
04:06 PM, 01/12/09
I dunno.... the crooked license plate is growing on me. Kind of like less than perfect teeth on a sexy woman. Adds character!
tmanz says:
04:24 PM, 01/12/09
I'm with boxermike, if you try to drill another hole for it you are likely going to end up with just one large hole on that side.
and I still want a G8.
prndlol says:
04:42 PM, 01/12/09
Is anyone else finding that they now have to sign in every day in order to leave a comment? It's really beginning to stick in my craw!
sabastian says:
05:27 PM, 01/12/09
Didn't that happen to the Mini too?
saxdogg says:
07:33 PM, 01/12/09
I vote too much driving with the recirc on...easy fix.
Ahhhhh.,.stick-ups. I remember being pulled over once and the cop telling me my truck smelled like methamphetamine. Pointed to the stick-up and told him my grandma stuck it on there. He laughed and walked off.
JP
g8gtnorth says:
11:29 PM, 01/12/09
The only smell I'm getting in mine is from the abuse my floor mats are taking. Snow, slush and salt do wonderfull things to a car's odor.
That being said, I never, ever run the HVAC on recirc, but again, I drive in the winter and it just wouldn't be prudent.
For the record, it's nice to see one spit-shined like that. God they look good. Mine is SOOOO grimy, and it's too damn cold to give it a rinsing..... sigh....
misterscoopman says:
11:47 PM, 01/12/09
My facebook status updated this morning:
Andrew discovered that it is not worth crying over spilled milk, unless it is old spilled latte milk that has soured under your (thankfully removable) car's cupholder.
The stank in my car when I opened the door this morning was WRONG. A small amount of milk from the day before had soured, and then dried, then baked, under the STI's removable cupholder.
afost says:
04:32 AM, 01/13/09
Trust me....It's coming from the A/C. After several trips to the dealership and the Service guys thinking I was crazy, they finally figured it out. The dealership can steam clean everything and use a special disinfectant spray to take care of the smell for a few months. I wish they sold the spray to consumers. I have an '06 Grand Prix and same thing happened to me. I have to go to the dealership every few months to have this done to get rid of the smell. I'm getting a Porsche Cayenne...hopefully I won't have that problem with the Cayenne.
jdub53084 says:
08:00 AM, 01/13/09
Someone should buy a box of fabric softener sheets and toss a couple of them under the front seats. Its a cheap way to make the car not stink so bad, but if their is mold in the A/C system, it should be dealt with using the Mfr. recommended odor killer.
GM Odor Eliminator is good stuff, I used it on my Chevy Caprice ex-cop car which developed a mildew aroma after a leaking heater core AND the carpet was replaced... Yuck. But a few spritzes into the air inlet and its all good now. In fact, it smells like a car again, not the bottom of a gym bag
the_big_al says:
09:50 AM, 01/13/09
I also think it's the A/C and it's being caused by it being run in recirc mode all the time or most of the time... Try running the A/C in fresh mode and then about 3 minutes before coming to a destination turn off the A/C and just let the fan run for a few trips. This should dry out the air. But if there is mold growing in the system then that needs to be rectified other wise you're inhaling mold spores everytime you turn on the A/C. OF course you're also inhaling mold spores every time you step out side too, but in the A/C they may be more concentrated and someone allergy sensitive may really be affected.
rick8365 says:
01:49 PM, 01/13/09
Maybe the front plate bracket is just loose enough to allowed it to twist? If so....no new holes needed.
actualsize says:
06:58 AM, 01/16/09
Fixed. It must have been a mild case. I've been driving the thing for a couple of days now, with the A/C in fresh the whole time. No more stink. I know too many people who overuse recirc to avoid outside smells, but in the process they unknowingly create inside smells. The same people usually wonder why their windows fog up all the time in mild weather, too.