(Here come the relentless jokes)

I bought a 1996 TE Exec the other day and it has some funky stains in the rear of it, they smell really bad and have tried everything to get them out! (Steam clean, chemicals, orange/clove/natural oils)

Anyone know what it could be, or how you have tackled similar situations in the past?
I thought it cant help to get some other people's advice on it

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r307/likalron/Car/Iphone080.jpg

[also sorry if this is in the wrong section of the forums, I didn't know where to put it]

-LClarke

Sounds pretty in-ground. The $2 cans of interior cleaner used a few times have gotten rid of heaps of things in my carpet.

Honestly, better off finding a better condition carpet and swapping it over.

Dude what the hell is on your carpet?! looks like a transformer icon lol lol (fuzz yours eyes-it does!) ive always had good luck with laundry detergent "edit" looks like rust stains

@[TUFFTR] How much do you think it would cost to get it re-carpeted?

@Peaandham Yeah I have them but it also smells, so like its more the smell I am worried about. Air fresheners don't work either :(

just thinking are you sure you dont have a leak? looks like carpet does when water is moisture from underneth, and it smells horrible and musty, plus stain follows the ribs of the floor underneth. Maybe a rubber bung for the floor drain is gone (if our cars have these)

@[TUFFTR] How much do you think it would cost to get it re-carpeted?

@Peaandham Yeah I have them but it also smells, so like its more the smell I am worried about. Air fresheners don't work either :(

Another carpet is about $35 from the wreckers. take out the seats, few bits of trim and the centre console and bam, nice clean carpet, for $35 and an hours work, beats trying to clean that crap out.

+1 for re-carpeting.... when i had my heater core seals bust up, stank to high heaven. got mine for $50 from wreckers.
Fast and easy job. :P

Keeping an eye on this thread. Remember helpful posts peoples!

I myself would re carpet but i used a shampoo machine at my local happy wash to clean my seats and carpet, came up a treat !

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MOULDED-CARPET-FOR-MAGNA-TM-TN-TP-TR-TS-TE-TF_W0QQitemZ120433170423QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Car_ Parts_Accessories?hash=item1c0a6057f7

Thanks for all the help guys. I decided to just replace it with some new carpet :D

@Peaandham Yeah I found one similar to this but for $123 so I will go for it, thanks again though

-LClarke

ive had this problem MANY times, take the carpet out, get some cheap degreaser & a firm broom to scrub it in with & go to the high pressure wash, after it drys it will look brand new again !..

tea tree oil will work on some stains too , without damaging the carpet.

That's too far gone to clean IMO.. It appears that the dirt itself is actually coming up from underneath (wet or dirty underlay I reckon)

Definately replace the carpet and also the underlay under that section aswell. If the underlay is causing it, new carpet will only cover it up temporarily until it comes back up over time. Once underlay is wet or damp it is impossible to get it to dry out without removing it and hanging it up to dry, usually for a few days.

That is a mega major water and rust stain, what I would do is remove all seats and take out the carpet. Seen these stains before in flooded cars, the smell is fungus growing under the carpet. Wear a breathing mask if you find lots of grey fluffy stuff under the carpet, fungi can be lethal if breathed in by a sensitive person. If you find lots of rust use a steel wire brush and vacuum up the dust. Hit it with some deruster chemical and then brush paint with black rustguard. If its all over the floor I'd want to know why, is it a recycled flood car? If its just in one area you need to find our if you have any leaks. Run a hose over the outside of the car in that area, windows up of course, and see if you get a trickle from somewhere. New carpets and underlay needed I'm afraid.

If the whole floor is rusty then its a flooded car, sitting in deep water possibly for days. It is also likely that there will be rust starting up in the boot, under the bonnet and under the car. If you bought the car from a dealer go back and get them to do a rust treatment on it.

If you are lucky its just a local leak, or someone left the window down in the rain. A badly flooded car is easily identifyable, lift the spare tyre out of the boot and look for rust stains in the wheel well and on the tyre itself. Also, it is worth checking (if you are
suspicious about the car's history) is to remove a door card and look for tide marks on the inside and mud in the door. A dead giveaway!

Worthwhile checks for anyone buying a second hand car at the moment, flood damaged and hail damaged cars are on the market! Buyer beware!