Truck smells like rancid gym sock after rain

I don't know if there is some sort of moisture leak somewhere or what, but every time it rains and my truck sits out in it, the cab ends up smelling like a cat pissed in it or a hamper full of post-game basketball socks have been sitting in the truck. Not sure what I should be looking for. Any ideas? All the carpet is dry when I check it.

 

we used to have a cat that did just that, piss in the hood cowling vent and when it rained and got wet it smelled horrible inside.

go to car wash and spray the hell out of the fresh air vent at the back of the hood and then see if that helps.

as long as a cat smells its own piss there it keeps "reapplying" fresh piss on top of it to mark his territory.

clean the area best you can then mix 50/50 pine sol and water and pour a good bit of that all over the vent. your trying to cover up his scent so he goes elsewhere to mark his territory. it may even be more then one cat with another pissing on top of the first cats piss in a turf war over claiming your truck

that said, it could also be funk in your a/c not draining, does it get funky when the a/c starts making water? if so clean out the a/c drain, that stuff can smell like sewerage sometimes.

 

Got any hints of how to do that?

 

Have you checked your cabin air filter? They should be changed at least annually, if not more frequently. I know they sell ones that are charcoal impregnated to combat odors. They can pick up dust, mold, and other debris that could become smelly when they come in contact with moist air during a rain? Anyway, it's simple to pop it out and see and cheap to replace.

 

Good point.

 

You would know if your AC drain line was clogged (unlikely btw). But if it were clogged the drain pan would overflow and the carpeting under the glove box would be noticeably wet (not just damp, but totally wet). And even if this was happening I doubt it would smell like "cat piss". Probably smell more like musty wet carpet. The water in an AC is compressed out of the air and is therefore pretty clear and pure (now I'm not saying that I'd drink it, but it looks like tap water).

 

Was thinking that the carpet would be soaked. The reason for my asking is that I did the AC divert when it was cooler out and now with the warmer weather, I have been running the AC a bit but haven't seen water. I think I am just being paranoid that I eff'd up the divert.
Thanks for the assurance.

 

same way the cat piss goes in, from the top, and rinse/flush the area best as you can.

no way to get in there to clean it unless you want to unscrew the grill and even then there is a lot of area piss can drain to that you cant reach so car wash pressure washer would be my first choice followed by pouring a gallon or so of pine sol water all over in it after

 

Mine smelled at one time. Water was leaking under my hood down the drivers side firewall where the wires go through a big grummet and getting under the carpet on the drivers side floorboard.

 

mine was leaking from same spot too. Pulled it out to run some wires for lights and forgot about it.

 

I tore mine running an amp years ago

 

Will a little dab of silicone work?

 

Yep.....I put a big glob of that shit around it and squirted it where the wires run

 

Fixed?

 

Yep no leak for 6 years or more

 

1st Gens don't have a cabin filter.

As others have mentioned, check the air intake underneath the windshield and that the AC is draining properly. Might have to pull the carpet or the dash out to see if you have any wet/rust spots to give you a better clue on where the water is leaking in and pooling.

 

Hmmm. I can't believe it but you are correct tomtom, 1st gen has no cabin air filter. Thanks for the reality check

 

As a guy with massive allergy and sinus problems, I really, really, really wish they did.

I should have ponied up the money for a 2nd gen before sinking so much into my 1st gen.

 

Going in sig. Still laughing my ass off. #outdoortruckproblems

That being said, I'll try the pine sol trick. The smell goes away after the truck dries. And I don't think it's the AC drainage because it doesn't smell when I use the AC (only after rain), but I tried to look for the tube one day to check it but couldn't find it.

I've seen someone stuff some sort of filter material somewhere but it looks like it'd be a PITA to do and a PITA to have to periodically replace so I never tried it.

 

Passenger side firewall in the engine bay. Short black one or so inch nipple/hose thingy sticking out.