Hi guys,

the previous owner proper smoked like a chimney methinks! The car reeks of age old smoke when we turn it on after a downpour or when it is humid.

Whats the best way to tackle this? Can i change the pollen filter or something?? :p

Pollen filter would be top of my list.. It's up behind the right hand side of the glove box, you slide a locking thingy and then the bottom comes away.. the filter slides in and out of it.

Not sure.. but my mind is telling me there's another filter, just for the air con somewhere in the system as it's the one that can start to smell fusty when the air con isn't used enough.. People get it belched I think or replace it? Could be I'm mixing up info for a Saab 9000 though, as my Mum's car went stinky once.

Hi guys,

the previous owner proper smoked like a chimney methinks! The car reeks of age old smoke when we turn it on after a downpour or when it is humid.

Whats the best way to tackle this? Can i change the pollen filter or something?? :p

Aircon filters are a possibility but if you think about it they should be way upstream of the smoker.

My wife's Merc A Class did this and I ended up shampooing the seats and carpets and wiping down the plastic trim with a trim cleansing spray as I think they get tobacco residues on/ in them.

You could also try an aircon deodorising "bomb" (from Halfords etc) which will help.

John

I'd replace the pollen filter, get the interior properly valeted using something industrial to get all the cr@p and smoke out of the seats, and also see about getting the headlining cleaned at the same time. This is the vital bit really, and using an industrial strength wet/dry will reap the biggest change.

Then when that's done use an AC de-odouriser for good measure. The Comma one available from Halfords seems to work well.

I can't help with the aircon but i do have a little experience with a cigaratte smelling car.

My wife and i recently bought a 2nd hand Corsa which stank of smoke - and i did the following:

* Thoroughly hoover the car. (everything. Seats, carpets, roof lining, etc).

* Leave windows open all day (if possible?)

* Chop up a couple of lemons, put them in a bowl or on a plate and leave that in the car overnight (don't know how this works, but it does).

That's what i did and you can't smell any signs of smoke at all. I guess the smell is smoke particles that are sat in the fabrics, so hoovering should get rid of most. A good airing helps with the rest and lemons seems to do the rest.

Good luck!

A good steam cleaning of the fabrics in the car, especially the headlining, then de - odorise the A/C. Even though I puff a bit myself, i don't smoke in the car and I wouldn't buy a car that smells.

The headlining would be up on my list of priorities for a good clean.

Then when that's done use an AC de-odouriser for good measure. The Comma one available from Halfords seems to work well.

hi guys where do you put the AC De-odouriser? i have a funny smell after the ac has been on and then turned off.

Thanks

Andy

get some kind of anti-tobacco room de-odouriser and spray it on the carpets, into the air vents and roofcloth. Any supermarkets sell them at the air fresheners. Do a test on the white part of the seats before spraying though. Might help a little

hi guys where do you put the AC De-odouriser? i have a funny smell after the ac has been on and then turned off.

Thanks

Andy

Worth swapping the pollen filter as well, if you don't know when it was last changed. They're usually £5-10 from the dealer.

As for the AC cleaners, you're usually advised on the box to place it in the passenger front or rear footwell and leave it in there for 10 mins with the engine running and AC on and with re-circulation activated, at the lowest possible temp.