Just bought an immaculate 99' E350 V10 for a great price to pull my TT with but the previous owner was a smoker and when I turn on the heat I get blasted with that dirty ashtray smell. Other than tearing it apart and cleaning the fins on the heater coil is there any tricks out there for circulating anything to rid the smell plz? 
Thanks!

Try turning on your A/C and then heater and spray Febreeze throughout the unit and even into the vents. Douse the carpet, all fabrics and even spray the walls.

I don't know that you will find an easy solution to your problem.  You may have to try several until you find something effective.  Also, when you are in a hot and humid environment you will probably experience a re-occurance of the odor.

Now, having said that I can recommend a product called Fresh Wave.  You can Google it.  It might be available at an Ace Hardware store near you.

Good luck.

In a former career, I was a Master Mechanic in a large, mutiline GM dealership. Occasionally a vehicle would come in with "odor" coming from the HVAC system. I can tell you I tried pretty much everything. And honestly nothing really worked.

Sure the "odor" changed for a bit (usually worse, in my opinion), but in a short time, it was back.

Bottom line was, either you become desensitized to it and don't notice it as much, or you have to replace the vehicle. That is, unless disassembling the HVAC system and thoroughly cleaning it, replacing the carpet, upholstery and headliner is within your budget.

I wish I could have been a little more positive, but if it's bad, you are most definitely fighting an uphill battle.

Humbly,

Dutch

-- Edited by 4x4given at 19:16, 2008-11-06

We had a tom cat that sprayed or urinated on the hood of our car and it went down into the vent. We tried everything. I finally got on line and googled for an oder remover.  I found a website that sold one that sounded really good, but you never know if these things really work. I ordered a product called SCOE 10X and decided to try it out since nothing else worked. I ordered the starter kit. It was kind of expensive, about $19.95 I think. It comes concentrated and you have to mix it in a spray bottle that is included. We sprayed it down into the vent from the hood and then opened the hood and sprayed it in from there. It helped but was still there. We ended up re-spraying about 3 times. That was a year ago and the smell is gone and never returned.  The link is:   
http://www.scoe10x.com/scripts/VideoReviews.asp?OVRAW=scoe%2010x&OVKEY=scoe%2010x&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=32707688522&OVKWID=147549926022

I hope this helps you.

-- Edited by netters at 20:16, 2008-11-06

-- Edited by netters at 20:18, 2008-11-06

Thanks everyone.
No, the odor is not that bad. I will try the febreeze idea.

The products metnioned, do certainly help mask the odor, often to the degree that it is no longer objectional. But since the odor is caused be a chemical that has dryed in place, that is bonded to the surface to which it was applied, the truth is that it is still there. It's really like the old saying goes, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig." Granted it may be a bit more attractive. ;) There is also another (phycological) phenomena, known as "two week blindness". That is to say that after a couple of weeks, you adapt, and often no longer notice what previously had you attention. Tina and I tend, like many, to favor Febreeze, Bounce and Resolve, and while the smell is less noticeable, sometimes it even seems a bit pleasant, it is chemically still there and if you spend some time away from it, then come back, you do notice it again. Humbly, Dutch

davidh, the product that I wrote you about disolves the chemicals or matter. I is not made to mask the odor. Read the website and see what it says. I was reluctant, but I tried it because nothing else worked. It DID do what it said it would do.

netters wrote:

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davidh, the product that I wrote you about disolves the chemicals or matter. I is not made to mask the odor. Read the website and see what it says. I was reluctant, but I tried it because nothing else worked. It DID do what it said it would do.

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Thanks netters. I am going to check it out.

David.