Yep, that's why I said "another". I understand completely.
Looking for suggestions to get smoke smell out of the vents 2003 Tahoe
- Thread starter Flingflanger
- Start date
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Chemical Guys
I managed to get rid of some old smells, but it took some effort.
1) Remove all seats, perhaps even carpeting to change the underlay.
2) Get a small handpump garden sprayer and fill it with a carpet cleaner with deodorizer. Soak all fabric and carpet areas.
3) Use a wet dry vacuum to remove cleaning solutions. Repeat 2-3 as necessary.
4) Remove bezel from dash and clean insides of vents as far as you can reach.
5) Use an AC cleaner
6) Get the leather cleaner from the Chemical Guys. It is good stuff.
7) Dry the interior thoroughly (heat).
8) use the flooding method with an ozone generator.
1) Remove all seats, perhaps even carpeting to change the underlay.
2) Get a small handpump garden sprayer and fill it with a carpet cleaner with deodorizer. Soak all fabric and carpet areas.
3) Use a wet dry vacuum to remove cleaning solutions. Repeat 2-3 as necessary.
4) Remove bezel from dash and clean insides of vents as far as you can reach.
5) Use an AC cleaner
6) Get the leather cleaner from the Chemical Guys. It is good stuff.
7) Dry the interior thoroughly (heat).
8) use the flooding method with an ozone generator.
Steve Waddington
Full Access Member
All the above info is a good start! Glad you’re trying to save her!
Unfortunately, the stench will be in the headliner too. You just have to clean every surface as much as you can, multiple times. Cig smoke is the worst!
(And, by the way, the ‘03 did not come from the factory with cabin air filters, but look at my previous posts for how to install the cabin air filters. It’s a good idea to have cabin filters in general anyway, although you still have to go through the rest of the work for the cig smoke. And what kind of person just grinds the butts into the floor? )
Good luck!
Unfortunately, the stench will be in the headliner too. You just have to clean every surface as much as you can, multiple times. Cig smoke is the worst!
(And, by the way, the ‘03 did not come from the factory with cabin air filters, but look at my previous posts for how to install the cabin air filters. It’s a good idea to have cabin filters in general anyway, although you still have to go through the rest of the work for the cig smoke. And what kind of person just grinds the butts into the floor? )
Good luck!
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Be gentle cleaning the headliner. I did it, but cleaning it could break the glue between the fabric and base of the headliner. I replaced the headliner in a Grand Marquis once. I removed it and had a guy glue on new fabric. It didn't cost that much as long as I got the headliner out and back in myself. This could be a better option.
Removing the headliner would give you the opportunity to add heat and sound insulation to the roof if desired. I don't know if GM is doing this now or not, but the rain makes a heck of a noise on the roof. A little insulation up there would help, perhaps the peel and stick sound deadener?
Removing the headliner would give you the opportunity to add heat and sound insulation to the roof if desired. I don't know if GM is doing this now or not, but the rain makes a heck of a noise on the roof. A little insulation up there would help, perhaps the peel and stick sound deadener?
HACK BLOCK
Full Access Member
I had a bmw x5 that has a strong smoke smell and while I didn't get the smell out myself it eventually went away after about 2-3 months. one thing that helped was my father had used a foam cleaner for the vents that cleaned them out good but the smell was still in the carpet and headliner
HACK BLOCK
Full Access Member
take a look at these products. they are about $5 each. just put the AC on recirculate and place it on the arm rest and leave it for 10 minutes.
https://www.armorall.com/car-air-fresheners/product-types/smoke-x-rapid-odor-eliminator
https://www.meguiars.com/automotive...-odor-eliminator-black-chrome-scent-g181302-2
https://www.armorall.com/car-air-fresheners/product-types/smoke-x-rapid-odor-eliminator
https://www.meguiars.com/automotive...-odor-eliminator-black-chrome-scent-g181302-2
Flingflanger
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The smell is just really in the vents upfront. You can feel and smell the oilyness like the tar lining the vents has been activated. It comes on really strong at first and dies out for the most part. But that initial blast....omg i'm surprised no one has asked me if i started smoking again lol!
I can tell you, febreeze isn't enough!
I can tell you, febreeze isn't enough!
Flingflanger
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Wanted to post an update. I got the Meguires Black Chrome scent bomb. It seems to have done the trick. Its only been a few days but i don't smell the tar funk i was smelling. We'll see if it lasts.
Flingflanger
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Update to the update.
The Megurires has lost the war. They won the first battle but today i got a huge whiff of funk. I think it might take at least 3 of them over a week or two to totally get rid of things. I might try the ozone. I've seen spray ozone called Ozium in the past. Maybe that'll work.
The Megurires has lost the war. They won the first battle but today i got a huge whiff of funk. I think it might take at least 3 of them over a week or two to totally get rid of things. I might try the ozone. I've seen spray ozone called Ozium in the past. Maybe that'll work.
