[AuctionHugh]

Just bought an '02 NB TDI GLS. The smell inside is disgusting and very strong. Mine smells like crayon plus dead animals plus rotting food. Mine must be the worst ever because everyone would be yelling if they had this smell. I did replace the cabin air filter and the charcoal seems to absorb a lot of the smell when it is running, but when it sits it fills with stink again. I used carpet foam then steam cleaned every soft surface twice to no big help. This is just rediculous. I really need some answers.

Originally Posted by chelsie

I bought my 01 GLS new in 2001 then got hit head on and thus totaled. The totaled one never smelled like anything but 'new car.' I had to take what was left of the 01 model year and the one I got smells like crayon. I C A N ' T S T A N D I T! I know, I know, why do i still own it if I hate it that much. Because its paid off and it gets great gas mileage. Oh, and its cute!
Anyway, its smelled like it from day 1. Its like bar smell, If I drive the car, I smell like it for the rest of the day. I've heard some people say its the firewall and other say its the lubricant they use for the seats rails, and even the insulation under the carpet. I almost dread summer because it becomes that much worse. If replacing the seats got rid of it, mabye I'll try that
For all of those who wish their car had it...let me tell you...you really don't. Its not just a mild aroma, everything in the car smells like it. Until its either washed or hung out in fresh air. Gym clothes, pets, homework, backpacks...you name it. Very, very, very annoying. The other important thing to note is that it doesn't come from the vents. It doesn't matter if you have the heater or the a/c on. Its always there.

...ok, ill step off my soapbox now... ;-)

if anyone knows a fix, I'd love to hear it!

Originally Posted by The Cheat

my 2001 used to smell like crayons...but after a year, a seat change with a 2002 turbo-s, and countless marlboro menthols, it smelled like...nothing. i'm convinced that while the insulation for the firewall had a bit to do with it (i replaced my heater core in 2004, and when i had the dash out, i could definitely smell it), it's mainly the cloth seats i think. i swapped out to leather from a new (at the time) turbo-s that had been totalled, and what was left of it went by the wayside. i'm convinced it's the cloth seats more than anything...maybe a protectant they used on them while in production? i've never smelled crayons or a waxy smell in any leather-equipped NB, and i've been a tech for 6 years.

how i subsided it (while i had cloth seats): i used to use febreze daily in the car, mainly because i didn't want my mom to know i was smoking in the car, but also because it would temporarily neutralize the smell. i took it to florida the first month i had it and HOLY CRAP...i thought i was going to be sick from the smell. i remember pulling into the dealer in ft. myers and asking why in the hell my 5k-mile old beetle smelled so strongly, and they said just use febreze. it worked.

i know insulation can absorb odors...maybe that's why it's getting blamed, but like i said, i've never had it make its presence felt inside a car without cloth seats.