lol, not that there is really any way to SAFELY steer an SUV to the side of the road when a tire blows out at 90MPH; but I know what youre saying.

 

yeah, seats are already unbolted so ill just pull them tonight...maybe try to take the rest of the panneling out tomorow... this is NOT how i want to spend my weekend. i will pour rubbing alchohol on the carpet. ive done this before and it killed whatever was smelling bad...this was another car... used 2 bottles of rubbing alchohol and just dumped them on the carpet... it eventually evaporates and leaves no smell afterward.... just dont light a match cause your car will literally blow up! that would be the grand finally for my weekend!


to jimlab and others, this was NOT caused by wiping the pannels down with the (clean) wet rag cause i did that when i first got the car 6mo ago and havent had a problem untill now. what may have happend is it could have spread a very thin layer of fire extinguisher dust (could promote mold growth possibly???) over all the pannels. then with the glass sunroof with the leaky seal, combined with heavy storms that last few weeks, combined w/ the car cover trapping the moisture, and the fact that mold grow the best in the dark (under the car cover)... i just got screwed!

 

You may want to put some baking soda (do not pour the powder out just completely open the top of the box) inside the car to catch some of the odor/smell. Baking soda should absorb some of the moisture inside the car.

 

Not even close. FORD manufactures the latches used in the F-150 Series Trucks with plastic components that easily break in roll-overs. At which time the doors will open and kill any occupant that happens to be thrown towards the opening as the vehicle is rolling. FORD also glues, not welds,parts of the cab hood which has a tendancy of collapsing as the vehicle rolls. AND alot of other problems that were ordered by the Court that they not be disclosed. In Court testimony, FORD Engineers testified that it would only cost 14.00 dollars per vehicle to make the Latch(s) stronger and safer.

IN FACT, Ford used to make latches with metal componants in the 50s. But decided to halt production as lighter componants were developed.

FYI: FORD has an annual budget of 185 million dollars for advertising and marketing the F-150 Series Truck. JUST THE F-150 SERIES. You think FORD would use a little of that marketing money to develope a better, safer latch.

ONE MORE THING: FORD doesn't manufacture tires.

 

The truth is, with a leaky sunroof, stormy weather and hot cali, your car was essentially a steam room. Ever square inch of the interior is covered in moisture and grew mold. I feel bad for you man, that looks somewhat worse then the nightmares i have. lol

 

I have my doubts about that much mold growing in just two weeks because of some moisture. You said the seller told you there was an engine fire. Do you know this to be absolutely true? Maybe the mold was already there and just multiplied while you left it covered. I'm sure the moisture didn't help, but I find it hard to believe that moisture alone caused all that mold.

Depending on how bad the fire was, could the fire department have completly soaked the car? If the car sat for a while at a junk yard after being soaked, I could see the mold being introduced there. The mold could have been cleaned up to sell the car. Maybe the white stuff wasn't from a fire extguisher. Maybe it was there to kill, or prevent mold growth until they sold the car. This is all just a theory...

Good luck though man. I feel for you.

 

Not to sidetrack the thread, but your point being? Just because Ford did not manufacture the tires does not (and did not) exclude them from the law suits that resulted from the blow-out/roll-over accidents with their SUVs. You should know that better than anyone, I'd think.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

 

Holy Shiet, the first thing that came to my mind when I read the subject line was that you blew your engine, but this probably sucks just as bad and I don't know if that or the mold is worse! Looks like you're going to have to get your toothbrush out, and a bucket of bleach, remove EVERYTHING, and start scrubbing all of that off inch by inch!

 

A little more advice. Back when I drove my 83 my company insisted that a 2 way radio be installed in my car. The company that did it pulled out the air conditioning drain tube from the firewall and guess what ... I ended up with two inches of water in the car. I managed to drain it out and clean up the mold, but the smell wouldn't leave. Finally I talked to a cleaning service and they advised that I pull every thing out and air dry it in the sun. It worked. It seems that mold of this type doesn't like sunlight. It dies when exposed to the sun, they said. So, I guess it might be worth rolling down the windows and opening the sunroof and back hatch and laying the carpet and seats outdoors on a sunny day.

 

Ahh man that sucks dude. I would think a good clearner mix could get rid of that junk.

 

if it doesnt rain thats probably what i will do tomorow along with a good cleaning solution

 

[threadjack]
The Explorer/Firestone debacle was caused because Ford spec'd their tire inflation pressures 5psi lower than Firestone recommended (for increased ride comfort), and also never tested those tires on an actual Explorer (they instead used a Ranger w/ extra weight added to the bed of the truck). A good amount (around 5-10%, IIRC) of the Explorers that rolled were NOT on stock Firestone tires. A few things all accidents had in common: vehicle loaded heavily, driving high speeds, in warm weather, and on tire pressures even lower than Ford specified (which was already 5psi too low for the tire) due to driver neglect.
[/threadjack]

Back on topic, I would call a detailing shop about your interior, the sun-dry idea sounds like a good one. You really want to avoid breathing mold if possible, it's nasty stuff for your lungs. Buy a mask or respirator or something.

PS , check your insurance papers closely, my State Farm policy changes this year included the addition of "mold is not covered" or something to that effect.

-scott-

 

all i can say is WOW!!!

 

wow ... that really sucks man ... my parts car was flooded cause it hada garbage bag as a sunroof and another bag coverin the window. it was flooded with about a foot of water a month ago and it doesnt look as bad as yours ... i can only imagine how much water got in

 

i think its more about how much didnt get out!

 

I didnt read the entire thread so if you have already come across the fix sorry to repeat it.
I have had alot of experience fixing water damage and mold.

Denatured Alcohol kills mold.
I would disassemble the interior, rub it all off with denatured alcohol and then recondition it with leather conditioner and Meguires products.
It will clean up just fine I promise you.
Just gonna take some patience and elbow grease..
Good luck.

 

I had an Audi that had a small leak SOMEWHERE that allowed the carpeting in the trunk to get damp and it developed a totally heinous mold like that.
And I did EVERYTHING to kill that **** off, used bleach solutions and other commercial 'mold-killers' to no avail.

I ended up having to replace the carpet. The worst thing was that the carpet had this thick, sisal fiber-like padding, and it was what was propagating the continuance of the mold.
So....I fear your seats are toast....I just don't see how you can EVER get them right, based on my experience.

Good luck though, I hope it works out.

 

man that is harsh sorry that had to happen....but that is freaking funny man....well hopefully you will find the hole in the exterior that is letting all the moisture in and accumulate...oh and make sure that before you put your interior back in after you clean it you test your car for moisture again...put something in the car and see if after two weeks there is mold or any signs of damnpness and growth of mold then if its all good and there is no mold start putting the interior back in...good luck bro peace out

 

RotorMotor - I'm SO SORRY! That's horrible. Like SpeedKing said, I expected to come into the thread hearing about a blow motor or something, but this is on a whole nother level! Good luck getting all of that cleaned up...

This makes me afraid for whats happened to my FD which has been back home in NC for the past month...

 

i think if you talk to a place that cleans cars that have been in fresh water floods they can tell you how to get rid of it pretty fast. i know i see lots of cars for sale from texas due to fresh water flood. any detial shop should be able to get it all cleaned up.
still sucks tho.
joel

 

Off topic, but I worked for the firm that was on the other side of that case. Small world.

 

Are you in CC?

 

we had a similar thing happen with one of our cars, and the mould can grow like that in a couple of days, if theres enough water, and we did get a lot of rain.

 

thanks everyone for your sympathy! i just hope this never happens to you so check your seals, and get some dry-z-air or something to put in your car if you leave it for awhile. i actually have a new dash to put in, and have been contemplating purchasing a set of rear seats for a few days so, this gives me a good excuse to get off my lazy *** and put some work into the car! i guess the only pieces that i will be keeping anyway are the center console, doors, carpet and seats.


Fd3boost: about the rubbing alchohol... the ony thing im worried about using it on is our rubbery door pannels/dash.... i have a feeling it may turn them whitish, or discolor them.... any experience actually applying the alchohol to pannels like this?? the seats and carpet will do just fune with the rubbing alchohol though.


heath

 

well i got a few cleaning products... rubbing alchohol for the carpets, and seats. leather cleaner/conditioner for hte seats after the alchohol. patio furnature cleaner that kills mold and wont discolor plastic or rubber for the other interior parts..it also smells nice too. unfortunatly i only could pull out 2 pannels before it started raining again, so back on with the car cover.... looks like the mold is gonna get worse before it gets better.