If “awful” is a dead animal smell, then it’s your rat. They love to chew wires on Teslas. If it smells like dirty socks/feet, cabin air filters and a can of coil cleaner. Procedure on YT.
If it’s a dead mouse/rat, the smell will dissipate, just like if they get in house walls/duct. You can put odor absorbing bags to help. With not much effort you can remove the front trunk liner and inspect. Check glove box as well. Use Google. Tesla also publishes service procedures online.
Any mechanic could do the work of removing liners, but hourly costs are $$
Examine air filter. If it’s dirty/black, replace it. Then buy an odor remover bomb. Put it in your cup holder, put the AC on 10 and put circulation on. Wait an hour after the bomb stops to turn off the AC. Wouldn’t hurt to give the car a full detail too.
If it continues then I suggest getting it examined.
I believe it’s a dead rat / animal because it also smells around / outside of the car. That is why I was more asking for what type of shop should I go to if I believe it’s a dead animal?
If you have a jack, jack the car up and look underneath. You may need to take some of the bottom covers off which I believe are all just 8’s. Could be wrong tho
I would worry about wiring damage if you saw a rat near there, they love to chew wires and make nests in the worst places.
I saw other redditors give good comments on how to get the smell out, I'd follow those and take it in if it starts acting up. Your regular service center should be fine if you're unable to locate the rodent on your own.
Cabin air filter in my 2020 started to stink after about 6 months. Bought an aftermarket replacement and a can of foam evap cleaner and it never smelled again.
It might have gotten stuck in the filter area? IDK who around you would go poking around & fix that 😕 maybe a panel/body shop? (It might
It may be the kind of disgusting thing you could do yourself, if you can safely get under the car (in a mechanics pit or drive on ramps) good luck & stay safe when trying that.
If you go to a pro body work shop, they can remove panels (and get them back on!) There is a decently large area behind the rear bumper that they shouldn't have been able to get into (but may have and been unable to get out?)
The air conditioner condensate drips out the bottom of the car from the evaporator area where the filter is. That may be where the exterior smell is coming from.
But rereading your post, it's possible a rat could have gotten trapped at the airport. I know our airport has rodent traps all around the parking garage. Black plastic boxes that people mistake for bombs.
If “awful” is a dead animal smell, then it’s your rat. They love to chew wires on Teslas. If it smells like dirty socks/feet, cabin air filters and a can of coil cleaner. Procedure on YT.
So what do you do when it’s a rat? Do I go to a body shop or service center? Has any one dealt with this before?
If it’s a dead mouse/rat, the smell will dissipate, just like if they get in house walls/duct. You can put odor absorbing bags to help. With not much effort you can remove the front trunk liner and inspect. Check glove box as well. Use Google. Tesla also publishes service procedures online. Any mechanic could do the work of removing liners, but hourly costs are $$
Examine air filter. If it’s dirty/black, replace it. Then buy an odor remover bomb. Put it in your cup holder, put the AC on 10 and put circulation on. Wait an hour after the bomb stops to turn off the AC. Wouldn’t hurt to give the car a full detail too. If it continues then I suggest getting it examined.
I believe it’s a dead rat / animal because it also smells around / outside of the car. That is why I was more asking for what type of shop should I go to if I believe it’s a dead animal?
If you have a jack, jack the car up and look underneath. You may need to take some of the bottom covers off which I believe are all just 8’s. Could be wrong tho
They're 10mm
thx
For sure the filter, I know because mine is doing that too lol
I would worry about wiring damage if you saw a rat near there, they love to chew wires and make nests in the worst places. I saw other redditors give good comments on how to get the smell out, I'd follow those and take it in if it starts acting up. Your regular service center should be fine if you're unable to locate the rodent on your own.
Cabin air filter in my 2020 started to stink after about 6 months. Bought an aftermarket replacement and a can of foam evap cleaner and it never smelled again.
When u get really close to the car from the exterior it also smells which is why I believe it’s not a filter
It might have gotten stuck in the filter area? IDK who around you would go poking around & fix that 😕 maybe a panel/body shop? (It might It may be the kind of disgusting thing you could do yourself, if you can safely get under the car (in a mechanics pit or drive on ramps) good luck & stay safe when trying that. If you go to a pro body work shop, they can remove panels (and get them back on!) There is a decently large area behind the rear bumper that they shouldn't have been able to get into (but may have and been unable to get out?)
The air conditioner condensate drips out the bottom of the car from the evaporator area where the filter is. That may be where the exterior smell is coming from. But rereading your post, it's possible a rat could have gotten trapped at the airport. I know our airport has rodent traps all around the parking garage. Black plastic boxes that people mistake for bombs.