3rd Generation Tacomas will eventually smell like old socks

I just spray Ozium. Done deal.

Used it in all my vehicles, neutralizes almost every odd smells. Truck still smells new to this day.

 

There are some excellent suggestions here. Windshield 3rd brake light, clogged water passages in weather stripping, most of all, if you have a sunroof, you may want to check that also.

 

I also I have to say this just as a "duh" moment for me. Getting in and out of the truck for short trips with wet feet will keep the carpet on the floor wet for prolonged periods of time. If it doesn't have a chance to dry out well consistently in the fall/winter you will smell it consistently. Esp when you turn on the air. Plus change the cabin filter.

 

lol. Good one

 

When’s the last time you changed your cabin air filter?

could also rig up dehumidifier and/or desiccant in the cab.

 

Fantastic feedback from everyone, thanks so very much, will chase most of these leads... as i said, please dont recommend a new cabin air filter, i have more than once ruled that out in more ways than one. It could be true that at some point once i find the likely source of the water ingression that i will put in a new cabin air filter but that is absolutely positively not the source of my problem. Sorry, but another friend kept pushing this was the problem and it just drove me crazy so i have been thru this one 5 ways to sunday.

on a related but side note, i would assume since i have the extended warranty that once i actually find the leak that the dealer should be able to remedy?, but then again, i dont have 10 days to be without the vehicle and i dont have high expectations from the local dealer. i wouldnt let them change the oil or anything for that matter, so i might be doing the repair as well as the find out what is wrong.

in an ideal world i should be able to take this to the dealer and say please find this water leak but i know that would absolutely never happen. I think also folks should realize that the extended warranty are for serious problems not ones on the minor side of things... they dont tell you that but it is absolutely true. Minor problems like this they are going to stone wall and make it more difficult to set service than its worth.

will update tomorrow after i have had a chance to further investigate.
thanks so much for all the help and suggestions, invaluable.

 

2016+ models have the same cabin as a 2005-2015, they don't smell.

I park all my cars with the windows down to avoid this.

 

Right, i have had Toyota trucks since right out of high school, this one is my fourth. I have never had a leak of any kind in any of them and never had any smell like this in any of them ever. I am convinced i must have a leak but i fear it might be hard to find, but the process is started and am actually hoping to find one for sure, will update tomorrow

 

roger that, thanks for sharing your input. will check all this

 

hahahah, yep, had dogs for almost 20 years in my trucks, these days its kids and they make smells just as bad but different... hahaha

 

i didnt know there were already holes there but it makes sense i suppose. I am a bit surprised they just covered these with tape... gesh... that may likely be the water source. will fill these with polyurethane caulk.

 

I assume the weather stripping keeps most of the water “away”, and the tape does the rest. It’s a thicker kind of tape so there is that.

My truck had a rack in the showroom, but I asked that it be removed because I didn’t want it. Then one day I got curious and pulled back the weather strip... “Idiots!!” I shouted, when I saw completely open holes under the strips.

But I digress.

 

Every fall my 2018 smells like skunk. I haven't changed the cabin air filter yet. I'm thinking it could be related to the skunk scent glands and other fisher lures that are in the bed of the truck (under a topper).

 

Make your next Covid mask out of an old sock. When you drive your truck, remove mask, and no more smell.

 

So I can actually add to this. My 17’ offroad smelt like this for a minute. After investigation i was getting water in the head board. Which finally led to the oem roof rack that was installed at the factory. The holes they drilled were way larger then the bolts and washers meant to hold the rack to the roof. Someone at the factory f*%#ed up. I filled all the messed up holes with jb weld water seal. Haven't had a problem since. If you have the roof rack id give that a quick look.

 

I have the same problem of condensation on the inside of the windshield. 2019 Sport. No musty smell though. If there’s a leak, I can’t find it. I’ve seen several Tacoma owners complain about the condensation and none of them have found leaks which leads me to believe it has more to do with outside air entering the cabin through the A/C. It’s an annoying problem for sure.

 

I bet there is mold in your headliner and back seat from a leaky third brake light.

 

Don't over think it. Get some Damp Rid. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=damp+rid...bmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_3gusa177aj_b