97 Dakota 5.2 ext


I've owned my 97 Dakota for less than a year now and ever since I bought it has had a odd smell to it. It smells like dampness in an old basement or wet dog kind of smell. My first thought was water is leaking into the truck when it rains, but I haven't found any signs of water being on the interior. Even 7 days of dry weather the truck will smell. Only in the cold winter will the truck not smell. Basically if I put the windows down the smell will go away until I leave the truck to sit over night.


Anybody have an idea? I've tried using fabric/rug cleaners to get rid of the smell, but no luck.

Thanks

 

Have you checked the heater core, strange smells are often coolent leaks, ....hard to find or reach.

Try some "bars leaks" or similar to fix small weeps, cheap and effective.

 

hmm.. I replaced my radiator, water pump, and hoses back in the fall, so I know that's not leaking. I would think the heater core would smell like syrup if it were leaking.

 

Depends on the coolant and additives you use. Its a less than $5.00 test.

 

I found something that might have told me the answer. And I quote from another website

(2) SMELLS LIKE: GYM SOCKS

Guess what my A/C condenser does have a hole and always has since I bought the truck.

 

That sucks.

 

oh boy

 

That sounds like mine, I have that musty smell in mine and I have tried looking into it but it seems I have to take everything out of the cab to get to it. I have looked all over and don't see an easier way of doing it unless someone else does. Good Luck

Edit: Also I think mine has a leak as well because my a/c works when it wants too. I run a vacuum on it fill it and it stays cold for a few days then just doesn't get cold cold like it should.