Looking for suggestions to get smoke smell out of the vents 2003 Tahoe

[Flingflanger]

So the prev owner of my 'Hoe was a heavy smoker. Like he put the butts out on the drivers side floor because he didn't have an ashtray. I wasn't too concerned about the carpet, its nothing some shampoo and a good floor mat couldn't fix.

But the vents, oi. I'm using some little clip on deodorizers in the vents but that doesn't fix the problem at all. Its an 03 that doesn't have a replaceable cabin filter, its all sealed up. I've but the ac on max and ran some febreeze in the intake. I think that helped but it doesn't last. On a hot day, the first couple minutes of AC is straight old smoker funk!

Does anyone have any suggestions to help get that funk out? Am i doomed to perpetually febreeze the intake until some magic happens?

 

[RaiderRodney]

My Hoe was the same way when I purchased her. The older gentlemen used it to smoke like a freight train on his way to the Casino lol. It takes time but you can get it cleaned up. First off clean everything good. You can use a mixture of TSP, clorox, and dawn to help remove odors. After that, change your cabin air filters and then again every few months. Ozone machines can help a bunch as well just be sure to use as directed because they can be very dangerous if you don't! Good luck!

edit - Just saw you said it doesn't have a cabin air filter....hmm...I thought all the NBS had one!? In that case I'd really suggest investing in the ozone machine, you can pick them up on Amazon fairly cheap and they come in handy more than you'd think.

 

[drakon543]

you could saturate one of those febreeze air freshener style trees in febreeze and attach it to the intake. it will last alot longer than spraying febreeze into the intake. i used to drench the cabin filters in febreeze and run it until the febreeze smell you stop then change the filter.

 

[Cbncanada]

Good luck. Once a smoker has used a vehicle the walls of every place where the air can go get coated with residue. That never comes out by itself. You could take all the ventilation system apart and manually clean each piece, then have the interior detailed by a pro. They do have stuff that will remove much of the smell from the places they can get at.

 

[Fless]

Seems to me that I recall there being an airconditioning vent system treatment that is supposed to eliminate smells. I think it's meant for mold and such, but might be something to look into for this.

 

[Flingflanger]

Good luck. Once a smoker has used a vehicle the walls of every place where the air can go get coated with residue. That never comes out by itself. You could take all the ventilation system apart and manually clean each piece, then have the interior detailed by a pro. They do have stuff that will remove much of the smell from the places they can get at.

I hear ya. This is what i'm going to call the nuclear option.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Vinegar worked really good for me. I used it in a spray bottle and practically soaked my entire truck.

 

[Flingflanger]

My Hoe was the same way when I purchased her. The older gentlemen used it to smoke like a freight train on his way to the Casino lol. It takes time but you can get it cleaned up. First off clean everything good. You can use a mixture of TSP, clorox, and dawn to help remove odors. After that, change your cabin air filters and then again every few months. Ozone machines can help a bunch as well just be sure to use as directed because they can be very dangerous if you don't! Good luck!

edit - Just saw you said it doesn't have a cabin air filter....hmm...I thought all the NBS had one!? In that case I'd really suggest investing in the ozone machine, you can pick them up on Amazon fairly cheap and they come in handy more than you'd think.

An ozone machine eh? Something like this? That's a good idea. An expensive but good idea.

In fact there's been a lot of good ones. I'll try a few out and report back!

 

[OR VietVet]

I am surprised no one else said this, "Perfect time to buy another Tahoe". I hate smoke smell of any kind. Personally, I could not live with it.

 

[Rocket Man]

I am surprised no one else said this, "Perfect time to buy another Tahoe". I hate smoke smell of any kind. Personally, I could not live with it.

We don’t give up on our Hoes here...

 

[OR VietVet]

Yep, that's why I said "another". I understand completely.

 

[Fless]

Chemical Guys

 

[Larryjb]

I managed to get rid of some old smells, but it took some effort.

1) Remove all seats, perhaps even carpeting to change the underlay.
2) Get a small handpump garden sprayer and fill it with a carpet cleaner with deodorizer. Soak all fabric and carpet areas.
3) Use a wet dry vacuum to remove cleaning solutions. Repeat 2-3 as necessary.
4) Remove bezel from dash and clean insides of vents as far as you can reach.
5) Use an AC cleaner
6) Get the leather cleaner from the Chemical Guys. It is good stuff.
7) Dry the interior thoroughly (heat).
8) use the flooding method with an ozone generator.

 

[Steve Waddington]

All the above info is a good start! Glad you’re trying to save her!

Unfortunately, the stench will be in the headliner too. You just have to clean every surface as much as you can, multiple times. Cig smoke is the worst!

(And, by the way, the ‘03 did not come from the factory with cabin air filters, but look at my previous posts for how to install the cabin air filters. It’s a good idea to have cabin filters in general anyway, although you still have to go through the rest of the work for the cig smoke. And what kind of person just grinds the butts into the floor? )

Good luck!

 

[Larryjb]

Be gentle cleaning the headliner. I did it, but cleaning it could break the glue between the fabric and base of the headliner. I replaced the headliner in a Grand Marquis once. I removed it and had a guy glue on new fabric. It didn't cost that much as long as I got the headliner out and back in myself. This could be a better option.

Removing the headliner would give you the opportunity to add heat and sound insulation to the roof if desired. I don't know if GM is doing this now or not, but the rain makes a heck of a noise on the roof. A little insulation up there would help, perhaps the peel and stick sound deadener?

 

[HACK BLOCK]

I had a bmw x5 that has a strong smoke smell and while I didn't get the smell out myself it eventually went away after about 2-3 months. one thing that helped was my father had used a foam cleaner for the vents that cleaned them out good but the smell was still in the carpet and headliner

 

[HACK BLOCK]

take a look at these products. they are about $5 each. just put the AC on recirculate and place it on the arm rest and leave it for 10 minutes.

https://www.armorall.com/car-air-fresheners/product-types/smoke-x-rapid-odor-eliminator

https://www.meguiars.com/automotive...-odor-eliminator-black-chrome-scent-g181302-2

 

[Flingflanger]

The smell is just really in the vents upfront. You can feel and smell the oilyness like the tar lining the vents has been activated. It comes on really strong at first and dies out for the most part. But that initial blast....omg i'm surprised no one has asked me if i started smoking again lol!

I can tell you, febreeze isn't enough!

 

[Flingflanger]

Wanted to post an update. I got the Meguires Black Chrome scent bomb. It seems to have done the trick. Its only been a few days but i don't smell the tar funk i was smelling. We'll see if it lasts.

 

[Flingflanger]

Update to the update.

The Megurires has lost the war. They won the first battle but today i got a huge whiff of funk. I think it might take at least 3 of them over a week or two to totally get rid of things. I might try the ozone. I've seen spray ozone called Ozium in the past. Maybe that'll work.