Looking for suggestions to get smoke smell out of the vents 2003 Tahoe

[Flingflanger]

So the prev owner of my 'Hoe was a heavy smoker. Like he put the butts out on the drivers side floor because he didn't have an ashtray. I wasn't too concerned about the carpet, its nothing some shampoo and a good floor mat couldn't fix.

But the vents, oi. I'm using some little clip on deodorizers in the vents but that doesn't fix the problem at all. Its an 03 that doesn't have a replaceable cabin filter, its all sealed up. I've but the ac on max and ran some febreeze in the intake. I think that helped but it doesn't last. On a hot day, the first couple minutes of AC is straight old smoker funk!

Does anyone have any suggestions to help get that funk out? Am i doomed to perpetually febreeze the intake until some magic happens?

 

[RaiderRodney]

My Hoe was the same way when I purchased her. The older gentlemen used it to smoke like a freight train on his way to the Casino lol. It takes time but you can get it cleaned up. First off clean everything good. You can use a mixture of TSP, clorox, and dawn to help remove odors. After that, change your cabin air filters and then again every few months. Ozone machines can help a bunch as well just be sure to use as directed because they can be very dangerous if you don't! Good luck!

edit - Just saw you said it doesn't have a cabin air filter....hmm...I thought all the NBS had one!? In that case I'd really suggest investing in the ozone machine, you can pick them up on Amazon fairly cheap and they come in handy more than you'd think.

 

[drakon543]

you could saturate one of those febreeze air freshener style trees in febreeze and attach it to the intake. it will last alot longer than spraying febreeze into the intake. i used to drench the cabin filters in febreeze and run it until the febreeze smell you stop then change the filter.

 

[Cbncanada]

Good luck. Once a smoker has used a vehicle the walls of every place where the air can go get coated with residue. That never comes out by itself. You could take all the ventilation system apart and manually clean each piece, then have the interior detailed by a pro. They do have stuff that will remove much of the smell from the places they can get at.

 

[Fless]

Seems to me that I recall there being an airconditioning vent system treatment that is supposed to eliminate smells. I think it's meant for mold and such, but might be something to look into for this.

 

[Flingflanger]

Good luck. Once a smoker has used a vehicle the walls of every place where the air can go get coated with residue. That never comes out by itself. You could take all the ventilation system apart and manually clean each piece, then have the interior detailed by a pro. They do have stuff that will remove much of the smell from the places they can get at.

I hear ya. This is what i'm going to call the nuclear option.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Vinegar worked really good for me. I used it in a spray bottle and practically soaked my entire truck.

 

[Flingflanger]

My Hoe was the same way when I purchased her. The older gentlemen used it to smoke like a freight train on his way to the Casino lol. It takes time but you can get it cleaned up. First off clean everything good. You can use a mixture of TSP, clorox, and dawn to help remove odors. After that, change your cabin air filters and then again every few months. Ozone machines can help a bunch as well just be sure to use as directed because they can be very dangerous if you don't! Good luck!

edit - Just saw you said it doesn't have a cabin air filter....hmm...I thought all the NBS had one!? In that case I'd really suggest investing in the ozone machine, you can pick them up on Amazon fairly cheap and they come in handy more than you'd think.

An ozone machine eh? Something like this? That's a good idea. An expensive but good idea.

In fact there's been a lot of good ones. I'll try a few out and report back!

 

[OR VietVet]

I am surprised no one else said this, "Perfect time to buy another Tahoe". I hate smoke smell of any kind. Personally, I could not live with it.

 

[Rocket Man]

I am surprised no one else said this, "Perfect time to buy another Tahoe". I hate smoke smell of any kind. Personally, I could not live with it.

We don’t give up on our Hoes here...