NB Smell

[05NavaBug]

Its funny I noticed the smell too in my 99 really bad. In my 05 Vert not at all. Then in my 01 barley smell it. I call it the wonderful mexico oders LOL.
My dad notice it more then anyone and wines about it.

[yellowherbie]

Mine has never smelled like crayons. What the heck am I missing?

It smells like vanilla now...

[AuctionHugh]

I posted this in another thread about this subject, sorry if it is overkill:

Originally Posted by 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 every 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.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

They all smell like crayons. Every single one. I've driven and been in more than I can mention, all years....they all smell exactly the same. Must be something used in manufacturing.

[Ms Deeve]

I had it too, but when top-down weather ended, I put an ionizer in one of the outlets (I smoke and didn't want her to smell like smoke) and the smell is gone. That thing works so well, that if I spray air freshener or clean the seats, the smell of the freshener or cleaner is gone within minutes.

[Devil Yellow]

gotta be carfull in really hot weather or the stuff in the doors can melt

[PostO]

The crayon smell sucks. I hate it.

[taureauchien]

just to add to it.
i took a training class for the type of work i do and the "new car smell" topic came up.
did you know that all those fresh new car smells are toxic fumes?
yup.
glues, toxic plastics,aerosol glue sprays, etc. all the things sticking your car parts together. (headliners, carpet,etc)
thats why after you drive it a lil' while they go away.
because letting in the fresh air, replaces the toxic odors with.........you guessed it......oxygen.
mmmmmm yummy

its not healthy but brand new does smell good.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

Originally Posted by taureauchien

just to add to it.
i took a training class for the type of work i do and the "new car smell" topic came up.
did you know that all those fresh new car smells are toxic fumes?
yup.
glues, toxic plastics,aerosol glue sprays, etc. all the things sticking your car parts together. (headliners, carpet,etc)
thats why after you drive it a lil' while they go away.
because letting in the fresh air, replaces the toxic odors with.........you guessed it......oxygen.
mmmmmm yummy

its not healthy but brand new does smell good.

You're right about where the smell comes from but, their not all toxic, and the ones more toxic are not toxic enough to worry about.

[taureauchien]

true.
wasnt saying we had to worry....doubt they'd be selling the cars if we did.
was just saying where that new car smell came from that everyone loves....funny how it works.

[AuctionHugh]

Originally Posted by fuel110

ok i don't know if someone's already said this but here's what it is. it' not the sound deading stuff. there is a super thin coating on all the plastic interior surfaces. if you take your fingernail you can scratch it off. when that stuff heats up it smells just like crayons. I know this for a fact because i spent countless hours with a scraper and my thumbnail removing it so i could paint my interior. that stuff is on just about every surface in the car, from the dashboard to the kick panels, the door panels ect... it's everywhere. and that is the smell. don't believe me, spend about a week of removing that stuff and the smell will go away. but i doubt anyone's willing to do that. I only took it off of a few small surfaces, and it took me days.

I disagree, but only because of this post:
http://newbeetle.org/forums/showpost...4&postcount=40

[HudsonValleyVDub]

I'm sure it's not one particular item or process thats the culprit but a combo of many different things making up the smell....of ANY new vehicle. I just don't think I'd be so fast to completely gut my Beetle just to find it...because that person probably realized it's the sum of many things, not just one.
And, over time, I'm sure everything in the car smells like crayons so that would make it damn near impossible to find exactly where it came from. But I guess here's the question.......Who cares? Why does it matter? It a common trait of all NBs...kind of part of its' charm.

[AuctionHugh]

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyVDub

.... And, over time, I'm sure everything in the car smells like crayons so that would make it damn near impossible to find exactly where it came from. But I guess here's the question.......Who cares? Why does it matter? It a common trait of all NBs...kind of part of its' charm.

Frankly, and I mean no insult, but if your car smelled as strong as my car does, you would not think it is charming.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

Originally Posted by AuctionHugh

Frankly, and I mean no insult, but if your car smelled as strong as my car does, you would not think it is charming.

I've driven and owned a few NBs and again, they all had the same exact smell...and yeah, it is a somewhat strong aroma. But it's far from being considered "strong" enough to complain about of to be offensive IMHO. Either you're extremely sensitive to it, or somethings quite odd with your car. Next time you're at one of the many member get togethers, see if other cars smell like yours.

[Turbo_S_DJ]

I guess it never really goes away....2002 here, just got it Last Saturday.....and it smells like crayons to me!

[AuctionHugh]

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyVDub

I've driven and owned a few NBs and again, they all had the same exact smell...and yeah, it is a somewhat strong aroma. But it's far from being considered "strong" enough to complain about of to be offensive IMHO. Either you're extremely sensitive to it, or somethings quite odd with your car. Next time you're at one of the many member get togethers, see if other cars smell like yours.

My son in law, a certified mechanic (from the Chicago area), who recommended I get a TDI with my 10 hour commute a week, has worked on a lot of VWs. He had not heard of the smell. He arrived for the thanksgiving weekend with my daughter last night and wanted to check out the smell. He came back in from the garage saying "It sure does smell like crayon, I've never seen that before! Sheesh!".

[HudsonValleyVDub]

Originally Posted by AuctionHugh

My son in law, a certified mechanic (from the Chicago area), who recommended I get a TDI with my 10 hour commute a week, has worked on a lot of VWs. He had not heard of the smell. He arrived for the thanksgiving weekend with my daughter last night and wanted to check out the smell. He came back in from the garage saying "It sure does smell like crayon, I've never seen that before! Sheesh!".

Well, everyone here who actually owns one, including yourself, knows about this common "crayon" smell in NBs. No idea why a mechanic, unless he's not a VW mechanic, hasn't noticed it. Again, sit in a few other NBs, you'll see what I mean. I've owned 2 myself and know a couple folks who have them (ones a newer 07, the others an 06 vert) and they too smell the same. But remember, there are MANY other things our cars could smell like that would be worse than crayons....lol!

[MyJude2001]

When I first got into the car, i thought it just smelled new and it's a 01! But as soon as I got it home to show my friends, the first thing they said once they got in was "why does it smell like crayons??" And it really does! Ha ha! I new it smelled different, but that wasn't the first thing that came to mind. I think it adds to its charm.

[mybugrocks]

I never noticed the crayon smell till my guy friends got in the car and were like "dude, your car smells like crayons" i laughed at them cuzz i thought it was funny but i kinda like the smell...everytime my friend David goes in my car he comments on it...haha i love my car