How long does it take softex in $50k 4 Runner to stop smelling like nasty panties?

[Ruby Khan]

The rubber floor mats have been removed. I double-checked for anything else that might be hidden in the car and contributing to the smell; the car was/is basically empty, like a showroom model.

I put my nose to the floor mats and did not detect an obvious odor, certainly not the odor I am concerned with. So, it will be interesting to find out if some sort of volatile compound has been escaping from the rubber and infusing the air with the smell.

I bought a black rubber dead-weight mallet from Harbor Freight many years ago. It still smells like an asphalt plant.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

The rubber floor mats have been removed. I double-checked for anything else that might be hidden in the car and contributing to the smell; the car was/is basically empty, like a showroom model.

I put my nose to the floor mats and did not detect an obvious odor, certainly not the odor I am concerned with. So, it will be interesting to find out if some sort of volatile compound has been escaping from the rubber and infusing the air with the smell.

I bought a black rubber dead-weight mallet from Harbor Freight many years ago. It still smells like an asphalt plant.

Volatile rubber and skanky panties, you could be onto something.

 

[Mr_Bingley]

"How long does it take softex in $50k 4 Runner to stop smelling like nasty panties?"


This is a bad thing?

 

[Humble Leader]

The rubber floor mats have been removed. I double-checked for anything else that might be hidden in the car and contributing to the smell; the car was/is basically empty, like a showroom model.

I put my nose to the floor mats and did not detect an obvious odor, certainly not the odor I am concerned with. So, it will be interesting to find out if some sort of volatile compound has been escaping from the rubber and infusing the air with the smell.

I bought a black rubber dead-weight mallet from Harbor Freight many years ago. It still smells like an asphalt plant.

hopefully that's it. rubber is known to off gas VOC. I have some horse stall mats in my basement for my gym and when they were new they off gassed.

 

[02SE]

We have the Softex seats in our TRD ORP. I can't say it's ever smelled like nasty panties, or alluring smelling panties for that matter. Might need to work on the latter...

 

[seatia]

Bad rubber can be nauseating. I cant handle a tire store.
FYI, we toured a modular home manufacturer in Tennessee last year, in the spring so not even hot out.
Probably went thru 10 or more completed models and we both had splitting headaches.
The use of vinyl products is very high, including flooring, fake wall coverings and cabinet finishes etc. One could definitely smell an odor.
Had to be a lot of VOCs.
Probably the same thing going on in the runner. Lot of work, but perhaps take the seats out to test, if unbearable.

 

[mrblah]

I’ve never had the privilege of smelling nasty panties, only the smell of baby powder, glitter, and a heavy dose of regret.

 

[bzizzi]

I welcome the smell of nasty panties, you are lucky !

 

[Humble Leader]

the amount of nasty panty jokes did not disappoint

 

[Ruby Khan]

Hi,
After removing the rubber floor mats and leaving the car sitting in the sun with the windows up for seven days, we were curious to learn if the smell had gone away.

Our first impression is that the smell is much less intense than it has been, so the next step will be to air the car out over several days.

Then we will close it back up and see what happens.

It would be great to learn that the smell is largely attributed to the floor mats.

Perhaps the smell we still detect is a residual odor left behind by the floor mats that will dissipate if we continue to not use the mats.

I'll post updates on what we experience.

 

[fkheath]

Hi,
After removing the rubber floor mats and leaving the car sitting in the sun with the windows up for seven days, we were curious to learn if the smell had gone away.

Our first impression is that the smell is much less intense than it has been, so the next step will be to air the car out over several days.

Then we will close it back up and see what happens.

It would be great to learn that the smell is largely attributed to the floor mats.

Perhaps the smell we still detect is a residual odor left behind by the floor mats that will dissipate if we continue to not use the mats.

I'll post updates on what we experience.

Why not get rid of the rubber floor mats and replace them with something non rubber?

I think the WeatherTech brand is not made of rubber. I have those in my RAV4 and they have never, ever, smelled.

 

[Ruby Khan]

I think I can consider the floor mat experiment complete.

It's been a couple of weeks with no floor mats, and the interior still stinks.

It's hard to believe this is not a big issue for Toyota owners, but I guess it is caused by the intense heat and absence of humidity here in the southwest desert.

I can't imagine anyone, even people who say they are not sensitive smellers, not being forced to wonder what died in this car.

We bought it in Salt Lake City with 6 miles on the odometer just a few days after it was unloaded off the boat in California. It smelled fresh and clean.

Oh well.

I hope it goes away soon.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

My wife has a sensitive nose. So sensitive that she will ask me to move when driving behind a diesel truck due to the smell. She’s ok as a passenger in my diesel truck.

Not once has she complained about the smell of the Softex in her 2023 ORP. No one else has either. I can sense a different smell when Input my nose up to it, but it does not smell like anchovy pizza.

 

[fkheath]

It's hard to believe this is not a big issue for Toyota owners, but I guess it is caused by the intense heat and absence of humidity here in the southwest desert.

I've gone a week on vacation in Page, AZ, temp 110 degrees, and never smelled anything.

 

[Ruby Khan]

I've gone a week on vacation in Page, AZ, temp 110 degrees, and never smelled anything.

Stop by Moab next time, and you can smell for yourself.

Does your 2018 4Runner SR5 have the softex seats?

 

[Nickk116]

Stop by Moab next time, and you can smell for yourself.

Does your 2018 4Runner SR5 have the softex seats?

haha, "I came by to sniff your seats"

 

[02SE]

I think I can consider the floor mat experiment complete.

It's been a couple of weeks with no floor mats, and the interior still stinks.

It's hard to believe this is not a big issue for Toyota owners, but I guess it is caused by the intense heat and absence of humidity here in the southwest desert.

I can't imagine anyone, even people who say they are not sensitive smellers, not being forced to wonder what died in this car.

We bought it in Salt Lake City with 6 miles on the odometer just a few days after it was unloaded off the boat in California. It smelled fresh and clean.

Oh well.

I hope it goes away soon.

Maybe something DID die in your 4Runner. Such as a mouse, etc. A common place to find such a thing is on top of the cabin air filter.

 

[Ruby Khan]

Maybe something DID die in your 4Runner. Such as a mouse, etc. A common place to find such a thing is on top of the cabin air filter.

Yes, that is possible and has been suggested by others.

Running the fan or AC helps replace the smelly air in the car. The air pushed through the cabin air filter smells clean and fresh.

Thank you.

 

[fkheath]

Stop by Moab next time, and you can smell for yourself.

Does your 2018 4Runner SR5 have the softex seats?

Yes.

Edit: Also my '21 RAV4. Neither smells.

 

[Saker]

Yes, that is possible and has been suggested by others.

Running the fan or AC helps replace the smelly air in the car. The air pushed through the cabin air filter smells clean and fresh.

Thank you.

Sorry to hear you still have the unpleasant odor in you T4R.

You can order this online, it should get rid of the odor. Maybe the smell had permeated your headliner and soft fabrics.
OZIUM(R) Air Sanitizer Cleans the Air You BreatheTM and Eliminates Odors
– Ozium Air Sanitizer