Does the vinyl in your VS smell bad?!

So I just got home with my new beautiful Vintage Speedster. What they say about people having their pictures taken near it is true!

BUT:

Driving home 400 miles yesterday I kept smelling a disagreeable odor. Sorts like the elephant poop smell at the circus--(I'm not making this up.) Today I was determined to find out where it was coming from and quickly isolated it to the vinyl used for the seats. The smell was on all the seats--front backs, front bottom and the little jump seat. It was unmistakable and the source of the odor.

I spoke with Vintage and was told that no one has ever mentioned it.

Well, I smell it and really don't like it at all. Has anyone ever noticed this in your car's vinyl---I guess this pertains to Vintage brands. Any ideas of what to rub on it to get rid of the odor?

I'm just waiting to be chased by an elephant wanting a better "whiff"!

Thanks for any input---I will appreciate a solution.

---Jack, Hot Springs

Maybe its not vinyl, maybe its elephant skin... I think its an upgrade... you lucky dog.

Congrats on the new car.

James

Jack,
Some leather cleaners/ rejuvenators smell pretty bad. Perhaps the previous owner used some by mistake?
Try some vinyl cleaner on it. Something that smells good.

Jack, is it possible that something died in this car, a rodent or something? This is about the most bizzare thing I have ever heard of and can think of no explanation why your seats should smell so bad. Perhaps some vinyl cleaner would help and plenty of fresh air; don't keep the car closed up or it won't get any better.

BTW, you probably would be wise to stay away from zoos until the problem clears up.

I need more help tahan I'm getting! Really this is a problem for me!

The car has only 750 miles--maybe the last owner felt the same way?? It's a nice looking tan vinyl. It's not a spill--I wish it were as then I could do something about it. I have sniff checked all the seat vinyl---top, botton, back, front as well as the jump seat--it all has this odor. A spill wouldn't be everywhere like this.

I guess I'll give it a good scrub with good old soap and water--maybe some of that "new car smell" or something.

I can't imagine why my car has this and no one elas has ever experienced it. It's a Vintage Speedster. I may try to get the name of the vinly supplier or manufacturer.

My wife says it's "not all that bad" and really not so objectionable to her. I wish my trunk----oops, my nose--- wasn't so sensitive!

Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated!---Jack, Hot Springs

Vinyl smells for one of three reasons. 1. it is new and "outgassing". This is not your problem. 2. it has been in close proximity with someting hideous like limburger cheese and absorbed the smell. Probably not your problem on such a nice car. 3. Someone has put a vinyl protectant on the seats that while well intended actually smells foul. Some of them smell like a full garbage bag to me. This is probably what happened.

Clean the interior with a mild detergent and a stiff brush. Park the car in direct sunlight all day afterward. Bring it into the garage, let the interior cool. Clean it a 2nd time. The sun heats the vinyl and helps it "release" the foulness. The 2nd cleaning "should" get rid of it.

After that, treat the vinyl with something you like. I have used baby oil with great success on vinyl. Wipe it on, let the sun soak it in, wipe off the excess. Very pleasant smell.

angela

Jack, if the vinyl is in good physical condition ,no tears rips or delamination , smear it well with hand cleaner and rub it in well with ytour bare hands.Then wipe off with soft towel. I removed gasoline odor from trunk carpet this way. good luck, Tom

Years ago we has a customer that was a real pita every time he came into the shop. One day at lunch "Larry" stored a half of a fish sandwich in the guy's door panel and the reas is history .
Seriously, take a good look under the seats etc you might be able to locate something like a part of a Happy Meal, dead mouse, Jimmy Hoffa etc.

Jack,
Is this a "New" Vintage Speedster as in "Just Built", or a used Speedster that is "New" to you?
I picked-up my "Just Built" VS speedster a few weeks ago, and there is just a very faint smell of new vinyl; not bad at all.

So, I would say that new Vintage Speedsters don't stink.

Could the stuffing have got wet: Mold?

Were either of these people the previous owners?

The vinyl in my VS smells bad only AFTER I get out of it! If I have the top up - it's like a 'Dutch Oven'!! 8>)

Hey Jack
your problem is simple
Vince must have been at the shop before u picked up your car and he must have sat in it.
Easy fix
sell it

MUSBJIM- You are not right...not right at all!

How about Frebreeze? That stuff works miracles on my Hockey gear.

Aloha from a Newbie whose still look for a ride!

Now we're cooking! Great suggestions and very much appreciated by yours truly. This is a brand new car ---700 miles when I bought it.
The smell didn't hit me when I was checking it out when I bought it two days ago. Honestly it seemed to have gotten stronger as I drove it home.

Anyway--thanks to all for the ideas--I'll get started working on this right away.

--What a wonderful site with great folks!----Jack Crosby, Hot Springs, AR

I JUST noticed the exact same problem just last Friday night, at the local cruise night ! I guess that some manufactured leather-like vinyl has a terrible odor that gets worse with time. The locals use a leather treatment, like what you would rub onto a leather jacket to soften it up, in order to protect the vinyl surface and totally hide/remove the smell. You can get the stuff at Auto Zone. PEP Boys and even CXS Pharmacy (with the shoe polish), a really common leather treatment

It seems to work WONDERS ! ! !

One little Model A Coupe smelled like a dung heap, the other two smelled like new leather gloves.

Luck ! !

I know you are looking for real viable answers to this question, and I don't blame you.. but I have never seen anyone punt easy joke material at this group like you are in this thread...

So, you didn't seem to notice the smell till you were in the car for a while alone...wow, my brain actually hurts from all the one liners that could come from this one sentence alone.

Anyway, I hope it works out for you, things like that in a car you just bought can really get you down. I would personally go to a marine or auto upholstery shop and see what they say. They are sure to have some good recommendations. I was in a boat once that a friend spent mucho money on and it had the same problem. They fixed it for him with some sort of treatment they put on the seats.

James

Hey Jack....Smell this...

Jack -

All kidding aside - I 'second' James Alderson's recommendation. I've had a similar experience with a leather-care product applied to vinyl with 'odiferous' results. Angela's suggestion is also one of your more viable do-it-yourself remedies. I've used the method she suggested with good results. My guess is that the previous owner detailed the car for your pre-purchase inspection with the wrong product for the vinyl material in the car (perhaps thinking erroneously that it was leather; or, that what harm could be done by using leather-care products on vinyl?).

Vince - I got your smell right HERE!! BTW - looking forward to our cruise in the mountains to Arrowhead Lake - see ya then!

RM - Aloha, my Speedster-seeking-paradise-living-brudda! You're right, I am NOT right! Haven't been for nearly 60 years. Hence my previous handle of 'Guamaniac' now aka; MUSBJIM or El Guapo-the most Guapo hombre in all of Orange County, after Gabe 'GQ', that is!

Bottom line - once you get that bad-boy sorted out (mechanically and odor-wise) you'll be having more fun than humans are allowed to have!! Welcome to the Madness!!

Peace - Out!

TC--is what you are talking about saddle soap? If not I sure would like the name of it!

I was going to start washing the vinyl surfaces with a detergent but will wait to see about the treatment you said worked so well.

I am thrilled to have found this site---what a resource. As a newbie here I have so many questions. I think the best bet will be to do searches for my questions.

Thanks to all! Jack, HOt Springs

Jack; never had a problem with my VS so I agree with the previous posts. Angela's suggestion makes sense to me. After you clean it up use some Armor All or some other protectant that acutally smells good.