Urine Smell in the vents

[Shugalou]

Hey guys,

While doing my rad flush I had to crank the heat for 10 minutes. Good news is that the heat worked (could be better but it worked).

Bad news is a strong urine odor. I know something lived under hood as I found a pile of acorns under battery tray and various locations.

My question is
What is the best plan of attack, I'm planning on pulling the glove box and looking around in there and also the heater on the firewall and checking in there and cleaning with bleach.

Has anyone been down this road before? If so any tips.

I won't even mention this one to my wife for fear she would never step foot in the truck

Thanks

[MikeB]

The odor is probably caused by water sitting somewhere -- now or in the recent past. You won't see anything just looking at the heater box. The only way to get inside is to remove it.

If the blower hasn't been run in a while, I'd try driving around with it blowing full blast, and change the airflow from defroster to floor, etc. The smell may go away on its own. If not, maybe a little air freshener sprayed into the cowl vent (while the blower is running) will help.

Also, make sure the blower box doesn't leak at where it joins the firewall.

[Oberon67]

Originally Posted by Shugalou

Hey guys,

While doing my rad flush I had to crank the heat for 10 minutes. Good news is that the heat worked (could be better but it worked).

Bad news is a strong piss odor. I know something lived under hood as I found a pile of acorns under battery tray and various locations.

There is a nest in the vent system somewhere, probably a mouse nest. Until you remove it you'll have that pissy stink.

[Shugalou]

Originally Posted by Oberon67

There is a nest in the vent system somewhere, probably a mouse nest. Until you remove it you'll have that pissy stink.

That's what I think...just seeing if anyone had any tips before I get in there and break something.

[Dead Parrot]

Read some of the forum threads on heater core replacement. Here is one: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=460942

For that matter, consider replacing the heater core while you are at it. It would suck to be there, clean everything up only to have it start leaking once the truck resumes normal usage.

Be sure to check the gap between the heater box and the defrost vents. It often needs some tape.

[MikeB]

Yeah, if there are droppings or a dead mouse in the box, that's definitely not gonna get fixed w/o taking things apart. After my post above, I also thought about the heater core having who-knows-what clinging to it.

Speaking of heater core replacement, see my experience here (with a non-AC heater): http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=696591

[Shugalou]

Mike thanks for the suggestions, I'll check the blower box for leaks. I haven't run the blower since I've had the truck and that is 2.5 years.

I think it's more than just sitting water based on the smell. It would be nice if that was all but I guess I won't know until I start poking around. I did find mouse droppings in the glove box...so I know something had been back there at one point.

[Shugalou]

Awesome thanks guy, I searched piss smell it didn't come up with anything. This will help for sure.

I pulled the glove box and looked inside and it looks like a project to get it apart.

I was adjusting the heater vent and I could hear some stuff scraping inside.

Parrot your right - I looked at that gap and thought "that doesn't look too efficient" I'll close that gap while I'm in there.

Mike I'll read over your post now

[TKCR]

Sounds like you have a mouse nest in your vent tubing. It's pretty easy to remove all the tubing behind and under the dash. When I had my dash pad off to re-dye and put all new parts on the dash, I removed all the vent tubing and actually cleaned them out before re-installing. Mine were just full of dust and a few leaves. But I would say, you have a mouse that has a made a nest somewhere in all the tubing.

[Shugalou]

I don't have AC so that's supposed to make things easier.

Here's a vid I just found

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHXaMDByBUI

After watching the vid it doesn't look too bad.

Just called NAPA and it's only 68 bucks for a replacement, makes sense while I'm in there.

Guys I appreciated the guidance on this one.

I report back with some picts when I get to it.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Shugalou

I don't have AC so that's supposed to make things easier.

Here's a vid I just found

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHXaMDByBUI

After watching the vid it doesn't look too bad.

Just called NAPA and it's only 68 bucks for a replacement, makes sense while I'm in there.

Guys I appreciated the guidance on this one.

I report back with some picts when I get to it.

Well that was quite the mouse nest. Well good luck on your heater removal. Let us know what you find.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Shugalou

Just called NAPA and it's only 68 bucks for a replacement, makes sense while I'm in there.

$68 for a heater core? This is the one I bought for $27:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...rd=heater+core

And it fills the gaps completely.

[hatzie]

Pull the cowl covers and suck any nesting material and urine out with a shop vac. Vent the vac away from yourself with a chunk of shop vac hose. Wear a mask and don't breathe it. Hanta virus is nasty stuff.

Rinse the cowl out with water and Clorox or pet urine enzyme smell killer. Be sure to rinse lots of water through there. Clorox is corrosive.

I'd be tempted to pull the heater box and the blower housing and clean it with Clorox. Rodent urine is a very strong lingering smell. If you have a good sense of smell I'd replace the plastic heater box altogether. It may not smell when it's cold outdoors but once it gets hot out it'll stink.

[Shugalou]

Hatzie,

Thanks for the tips - where will the water and Clorox run out from the cowl under the brake booster? I don't want it filling up the cab. Yes I do have a good sense of smell so I may consider replacing unit if I can find one and if it's cheap enough...Maybe I should spray it with WD I love the smell of that stuff.

Mike, yeah us Canadians don't have the options that you guys have for parts. I was able to find one for 56 bucks so hopefully that does the job. I pick it up in an hour

[rich weyand]

One tip I haven't seen. Mouse urine glows a dull greenish yellow (like it was radioactive) under black light. Easiest way to tell where you need to clean, and also where they were getting in. Mice don't have bladders, so they leak urine constantly, and there will be a trail.

[Shugalou]

Rich great tip - makes me wish I had black lights installed for mood lighting and tracking down mouse piss.

I've started at it and only one bolt is holding it to the firewall the other two had plugs jammed in and sealant all around. There was a pad with sealant too (maybe the pict will show it). Is the Pad a stock item or something this guy put on to close the gaps...ATTACH]1519521[/ATTACH]

It looks like it's in crooked as there is a lot of space around the drivers side of the pipes.

I'll put a pict of the crookedness shortly.[

[TKCR]

Everyones needs a black light for mouse piss tracking

[Pontiac1976]

Just take out the blower motor, most time you will see it packed @ the heater core and the blower motor, if not there pass vent area to the heater core.
kill the vermin ( keep your vent closed when parked long times ). THEY GET IN THE COWL VENT AREA TO THE HEATER.

[Shugalou]

Pontiac I haven't had a chance to check the blower motor area but that will be next after I restore this mess.

First the crooked pipes coming out - the one screw was bent all funny - you'll see in another pict hopefully.



So I follow the steps in the guys vid and he was bang on - came out much easier than expected

Looking pretty good - maybe I shouldn't bought that heater core after all



Pull off the lid to check inside - Honey I'm home


So my plan is clean it all up - bleach and repaint the plastics with a krylon for plastic to seal in any smells if they remain. And for the metal Wire wheel, bleach and repaint.

I can say now I know why it didn't feel like much heat was coming from the vents and why it smelt so bad.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Shugalou

Pull off the lid to check inside - Honey I'm home

As the kids say, "OMG!"

[Shugalou]

So I took everything apart bleached plastic a few times, cleaned with simply green a few times,scuff sanded and sprayed with a plastic friendly spray paint.



I disassembled all the doors and soaked them for 24hrs in vinegar to clean off the rust, then I spray with a rust inhibitor and some high heat paint that I had kicking around.



While I was in there I put in some screens as an "upgrade"

Before I put it back in I'm restoring the passenger kick panel vent.

Fresh air soon, this has been a fun one so far - Thanks guys for the help

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by Shugalou

So I took everything apart bleached plastic a few times, cleaned with simply green a few times,scuff sanded and sprayed with a plastic friendly spray paint.

Attachment 1521322

I disassembled all the doors and soaked them for 24hrs in vinegar to clean off the rust, then I spray with a rust inhibitor and some high heat paint that I had kicking around.

Attachment 1521323

While I was in there I put in some screens as an "upgrade"

Before I put it back in I'm restoring the passenger kick panel vent.

Fresh air soon, this has been a fun one so far - Thanks guys for the help

Nice work on the intake screens and cleanup. Looks like new...

[rich weyand]

Nice.

Take the caps off those hose nozzles before you install. They're a bastard to get off once it's installed.

[Shugalou]

Hi Rich thanks for the tip I haven't seen how hard they are to pop off I just assumed they would slip right off I'll check it out...If they are supper tight I'll remove and tape up while installing.

[Shugalou]

Hi Rich I get the joke now - nice one.

Before I reassemble I am restoring the passenger kick vent with new gaskets and paint. I went to 3 stores to finally find a place that carried the material I needed for the flapper gasket...a tip for anyone else having problems go to a car upholstery shop if they don't have it they may have a source.