Car Smells Of Weed - WTF?

[Nash3vans]

If you've never come into contact with 'weed' how do you know what it smells like?


[/quote]
I also don't come into contact with Armani Code, Chanel no 5, or a strangers arse gas whilst sharing the same lift as me. But I sure can distinguish between them and know I was not the original source. Smart ass
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

[EViS]

EViS, if the old filter is wet then water is leaking in from the air intake under the scuttle cowl probably because the drain holes are blocked with accumulated leaves (the same ones as in your filter) and detritus. Time to remove the wiper arms, the scuttle cowl and clean it all out. You can wax/ceramic coat everything and clean, check and lubricate the wiper linkage at the same time 20210625_165907.jpg20210625_170048.jpg20210625_192102.jpg20200126_152424.jpg20220701_081714.jpg

You might be on to something here. There is clearly water ingress behind the cabin filter housing where the duct enters through the firewall (you can see white staining and water droplets in the attached photo).

In addition, the new filter has only been in for 24 hours. Having removed it this morning to run the Bilt Hamber air-con bomb (as advised by @Motionblurrr), the new filter is also wet towards the bottom end and there was still a 'weedy' smell in the air.

What's the process to detach the wiper arms and scuttle cowl without breaking too many clips? Although, my scuttle is pretty cracked up and very loose on the passenger side, so I might need to try source a replacement.

 

[patriot66]

You will more than likely (definitely !) break some clips or the moulded locations on the back of the actual scuttle cowl. If it were me I would replace with a new or decent used one and get some spare clips also. Undo the nut on each wiper spindle, remove wiper arms (they may be stuck tight so be VERY careful....MIND THE SCREEN ! A puller and penetrating spray may be required) The cowl just pulls off. You can see some of the clip holes in my photos above, use a plastic trim tool to lever them out.

 

[EViS]

You will more than likely (definitely !) break some clips or the moulded locations on the back of the actual scuttle cowl. If it were me I would replace with a new or decent used one and get some spare clips also. Undo the nut on each wiper spindle, remove wiper arms (they may be stuck tight so be VERY careful....MIND THE SCREEN ! A puller and penetrating spray may be required) The cowl just pulls off. You can see some of the clip holes in my photos above, use a plastic trim tool to lever them out.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I'm searching for a replacement scuttle now and will get some new clips from BMW too. I dread to think what lies under the scuttle, based on what I pulled out of the old cabin filter.

I'll use this as an opportunity to also wipe any excess grease from the wiper gearing and hopefully reduce the slippage on them.

 

[patriot66]

You will more than likely (definitely !) break some clips or the moulded locations on the back of the actual scuttle cowl. If it were me I would replace with a new or decent used one and get some spare clips also. Undo the nut on each wiper spindle, remove wiper arms (they may be stuck tight so be VERY careful....MIND THE SCREEN ! A puller and penetrating spray may be required) The cowl just pulls off. You can see some of the clip holes in my photos above, use a plastic trim tool to lever them out.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I'm searching for a replacement scuttle now and will get some new clips from BMW too. I dread to think what lies under the scuttle, based on what I pulled out of the old cabin filter.

I'll use this as an opportunity to also wipe any excess grease from the wiper gearing and hopefully reduce the slippage on them.

Good idea

 

[Thrustyjust]

Definitely air vents. Just be careful of legionnaires disease if they have never been cleared. You can buy a “bom” to clean it all out from the bacteria

You wont get legionnaires from the evaporator of a cars a/c system. You are more likely to contract it from your shower head in the house, when you run a shower after a week away on holiday. The bugs feed off the scale on the head, you switch it on and it becomes a perfect way to get into your lungs from water spray. I bet you dont descale and disinfect your shower heads after a holiday away ? Most infections were caused by cooling towers at larger factories and hospitals not maintained properly , but most use air cooled condensing than water towers now, which has made risks negligible .
The smells you get from an a/c system is usually caused by dust and skin ( yes, lovely) breaking down and decaying in condensation water in the evaporator coil. Rotten cabbage, cat pee, it has plenty of names. Regular pollen filters and using the a/c to wash the coil with more condensated water normally clears it. If its accessible, which most cars aren't to get to the evaporators, then the bombs can 'mask' the smells, until running the a/c and condensation water clears it over time. Yes, I work in air conditioning...........

 

[rdgreen]

Call the local constabulary and explain that you are getting this smell and could they drop by with a sniffer dog to trace the source......:evil:

 

[EViS]

Thank you for all of the replies! I finally got around to this job over the weekend. There wasn't very much mulch/leaf/muck under the old scuttle, and the area around the air filter intake was completely clear, incl. all drain holes. Regardless, I gave the entire area a good wash and took the opportunity to inspect the wiper motor housing for excess grease (all clear since the last time I undertook this job some five years ago). I also have a replacement scuttle ready to install.

However, what I did find was that the right-side frame clip wasn't located into the slot of the water deflector housing. Instead, the right-side of the water deflector was pushed at an angle behind the metal panel. In the attached photo, I've already pulled the housing forward on the right-side, but that clip was behind the metal panel.

I poured a litre of water above the deflector housing and found that this made it's way internally behind the carpet right up against the cabin filter housing. I suspect that the seal between the water deflector and metal panel is no longer doing it's job. I also think that it is the carpet up behind the dash which is emitting the mulchy weed smell.

Is there a guide somewhere on how to replace the seal around the water deflector housing / cabin filter housing? I am hoping I don't need to dismantle half the dash to get in there :|.