Hi everyone,

In the last few days I've noticed a horrible damp smell in my Seicento. Where should I look for it and how should I get to it? I don't mind taking seats / carpet out if that's what it takes to get rid of the horrid stench ruining my Magic Tree Black Ice!

If there's a damp smell, chances are that water is getting in. Prime candidates are the rear light cluster and blocked sunroof drain holes.

Might be worthwhile taking the car to a carwash, see if that throws up any clues.

Do you mean one of the automatic car washes or a jet wash? I'll take a drive over later today for whichever one you mean

Check to see if your boot carpet is wet as well in case you have a rusty inner rear arch problem

An automtic one -- idea is, if you're in the car you may be able to see where the water comes in.

Boot carpet is damp what's the next step?

Remove rear lights and check seals, buy and fit replacements if required.

Wheeless said:

Boot carpet is damp what's the next step?

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And check for rusty rear arches (especially at the back). It's a big problem with Cinqs, but will be affecting earlier Seis by now.

Have a look from the inside and downwards in back corners and check from the outside, just look up and around the wheel arch for rust holes.
Check boot seal, rear lights and washer jet pipe/fitment

Come to think of it, when it rains I can hear a lot of noise coming from the area where the damp is. I'll take the lights off later.

Sounds like a rust hole to me . . .

Here's my light hole - anything look out of the ordinary?

That looks pretty normal.

How about the arches?

I had a look and I'm fairly sure that the water was getting in around the bolts that bolt the seats into the body of the car. I've taken the seats and boot carpet out to let them dry but I'm not sure what I should do from here.

The car is certainly a lot noisier now! (apologies for the terrible photo)

No. Can't happen (through the bolt threads, anyway). Serious poke around needed.

You sure? It was all wet around the bolt threads and there was moisture around that area.

Yep. Think about the amount of pressure it would take to force any quantity of water through the threads. Chances are there's a hole somewhere near the bolt.

fingers99 said:

Yep. Think about the amount of pressure it would take to force any quantity of water through the threads. Chances are there's a hole somewhere near the bolt.

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That makes sense, I suppose. No water came in last night but I can still smell the damp How can I check for a hole?

Best bet is a blunt screwdriver or a very light hammer. MOT folk use a 4oz plastic hammer. You're sort of listening and feeling. But, my guess, rear underside of rear arches.

One way to do it is to remove as much of the trim from the inside as you can, dry out the interior, sprinkle baby talk (cheap, and not overly smelly), and look for runs created by damp/rain/water after a wet drive.

do the talc trick fingers mentioned... wipe it all clean and dry in back first and then spray all inside the arch with a jetwash. Then go inspect inside for traces to water