I just picked up my car from detail shop and started noticing a strange smell when I come to a stop or turn off the recycle button in ac. It is not a coolant smell and basically smells like cat pee no pun intended. I'm panicking that a cat sleep on the warm hood and possibly peed in the vents below the windshield.

 

Febreze everything in sight.

Also, I am sure that you can spray some water in there since when it rains some water has to go into there. Get it out quickly, before it soaks into everything in the interior.

 

Hi Phil,
You could also try changing out the pollen filter if, as you say, you can only smell it when you take the system off recirc and onto fresh.

 

I would suggest using an enzyme

 

Agree - try pee-b-gone

Or maybe one of these: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...%3Apee+be+gone

 

Hypoid oil smells like cat pee - spillage perhaps? Just another thought.

 

I wouldn't be doing anything until I'd taken it back to the detailer.

Car goes in smelling sweet ........... car comes out smelling of cats. Detailer has some explaining to do and some more work to put it right.

Graham

 

I couldn't agree more Graham

 

I concur. This is obviously your detailer's problem to resolve....

 

Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode!

 

Maybe they have some serious large rats.... or maybe a stray cat lingering around.

Certainly give them an opportunity to correct it if they're to blame....

 

The Cat must be in LOVE with your Cat, just Marking it's Territory !!
Ah, young LOVE...

 

It's been over 4 hours and no word back from Phil.

I wonder if it's been a poison gas attack by some paint sprayer he's upset.

Graham

 

OK,.... "that" was funny.

 

Here's smoker's trick I've used:
start car open hood and cabin vents, clean pollen filter (in your case I would replace) spay vents down with an odor eliminator (not air freshener) turn on cabin fan a/c off, vents set to open, temp set to cool, repeat with temp set to heat. Repeat through various cycles of a/c on or off and temp hi and lo with recirc on and off. This way the odor eliminator goes through all baffles. Spray odor eliminator through interior of cabin on clothe areas such as carpet.

Used to do once a week with a car wash and mom never knew I smoked.

 

US XKR had pollen filters for what years?

 

I had a stupid Christmas thing to go to!! Earlier I poured some hot water with baking soda down the vents followed by regular water and it seems to be gone.
Oh, and everyone I asked what I should do had a smart *** Jaguar cat comment!!

 

Here's the VIN ranges and Part Numbers for the Pollen Filter:




Although many US cars had them fitted, it does appear to have been an option so not every XK8/XKR will have one fitted. Also, in many cases, the PO may have just thrown the old one out and not replaced it.

It's not an essential fitting. I've never seen a UK car with a filter in the housing.

Replacement will be a pain. The wiper arms and vent grille have to be removed to access the pollen filter housing.

Graham

 

Once source is located and fixed, open a small bag of charcoal and let it set in the open bag in the car for about a week. It will clear any residual smell. Then some leather conditioner on the seats will magnify the heavenly smell of a Jaguar!
2X

 

The smell of cat pee or sometimes smelly socks is caused by bacteria build up in the air con evaporator and it needs to be disinfected you can by a spray can in any auto shop