Getting rid of cigarette smell?

[Texas Marauder]

I wonder what a used matching healiner would cost from a parts car? IIRC in the early SHO cars people were removing the windshield to get the board piece in without breaking it. I think? Been a long time since I was reading those.

Not a job for the faint of heart.

Partial list of steps:

1. Remove the front and rear assist handles.
   • Open the assist handle retainer screw covers.
   • Remove the assist handle retaining screws.
   • If equipped, disconnect the ambient light electrical connector.

1. Remove the left rear passenger side door check arm bolt.
   • Remove 1 door check arm bolt from the body.
   • To install, tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).

1. Remove the LH and RH front seats. For additional information, refer to Section 501-10.

1. Remove the front floor console. For additional information, refer to Section 501-12.

1. Flatten the LH and RH carpet against floor and tape into position.

1. Remove the LH and RH B-pillar trim panels. For additional information, refer to B-Pillar Trim Panel in this section.

1. Completely remove the left rear door weatherstrip from opening.

1. Remove the LH and RH C-pillar trim panels. For additional information, refer to C-Pillar Trim Panel in this section.

1. Lower the door weatherstrips where they contact the headliner.

1. Remove the 2 trim panel retaining clips from the rear of the headliner.
   • Remove the 2 retaining clips using a pushpin puller.

Vehicles with roof opening panel

1. Disconnect the roof opening panel electrical connector.

Vehicles without roof opening panel

1. NOTICE: Do not cut below the front reinforcement support or damage to the headliner will occur.
   NOTE: The base headliner front reinforcement support must be cut to allow for flexing when removing through the door opening. Cut the support on the outer side of the reinforcement support rib.
   NOTE: Replacement headliners have been pre-cut.
   Lower the headliner and cut the front reinforcement support.
   • Using a cutoff wheel or suitable cutting tool, cut the support 8 mm (0.314 in) away from both the center support ribs, 20 mm (0.787 in) deep.

All vehicles

NOTE: The headliner is made of new material that will allow for specific folding and flexing during removal and installation.

1. NOTICE: To avoid damaging the headliner when folding the headliner, only fold the headliner backing-to-backing. Never fold the headliner cloth-to-cloth or cloth-to-backing or damage to the headliner will occur.
   Remove the headliner.
   • Rotate the headliner 90 degrees clockwise and remove the headliner through the left rear door opening.

 

[yaycandy]

I wonder what a used matching healiner would cost from a parts car? IIRC in the early SHO cars people were removing the windshield to get the board piece in without breaking it. I think? Been a long time since I was reading those.

I have friends that go to easy pull all the time and take headliners out and i dont understand how they pull it out lol

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

The headliner can be surface cleaned, just can't saturate it, steam it, vacuum it, or scrub too hard

 

[javon7065]

After much reading and a cleaning with the Zero Odor pro product on the headliner and carpet, I have decided to get those two items replaced. It's not as expensive as I thought it would be AND would have been $750 dollars cheaper if I didn't need to get the front carpet from Ford. The upholstery shop I am using cannot get an after market carpet from his supplier due to the age of the car. Also, Ford only has the front carpet as the rear has been discontinued. He's just going to use a generic auto carpet for the rear. Hopefully this will help a lot. I will follow up back here afterwards.

 

[Ta2dResqr]

After much reading and a cleaning with the Zero Odor pro product on the headliner and carpet, I have decided to get those two items replaced. It's not as expensive as I thought it would be AND would have been $750 dollars cheaper if I didn't need to get the front carpet from Ford. The upholstery shop I am using cannot get an after market carpet from his supplier due to the age of the car. Also, Ford only has the front carpet as the rear has been discontinued. He's just going to use a generic auto carpet for the rear. Hopefully this will help a lot. I will follow up back here afterwards.

Age of the car? As in too old or too new? Should be the same from 2010-2019. That is 5-14 yrs old. Seems like a sweet spot to be replacing carpets.

 

[javon7065]

Age of the car? As in too old or too new? Should be the same from 2010-2019. That is 5-14 yrs old. Seems like a sweet spot to be replacing carpets.

It is a 2015. I thought that was kind of young to not be carried but perhaps he meant they didn't carry carpets for the Taurus at all. Was surprised to hear that the rear carpet has been discontinued by Ford.

 

[javon7065]

So after a few months with the new headliner, carpets and sun visors (recovered) the smell is a bit less. I've been opening the windows remotely about 30 minutes before I go somewhere which helps a lot. This weekend I am going to do another round of a chlorine dioxide tab. That was done before but I highly doubt they ran the A/C on recirculate mode for 15 - 30 minutes as the instructions state. Stupid question but is there any issue with running the car that long parked with the A/C on?

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

So after a few months with the new headliner, carpets and sun visors (recovered) the smell is a bit less. I've been opening the windows remotely about 30 minutes before I go somewhere which helps a lot. This weekend I am going to do another round of a chlorine dioxide tab. That was done before but I highly doubt they ran the A/C on recirculate mode for 15 - 30 minutes as the instructions state. Stupid question but is there any issue with running the car that long parked with the A/C on?

As long as everything is in good working order shouldn't hurt it one bit. Cops idle for hours with the ac on, recirculation or "max ac" forces the cooling fans on so it will cool fine, dont park on tall grass and don't pop the hood, that's a myth that it helps, it actually makes cooling less efficient. I've left mine idle for 30 minutes before no issues, if you're trying to treat the ducts I'd recommend pulling the cabin filter out for the duration.

 

[javon7065]

As long as everything is in good working order shouldn't hurt it one bit. Cops idle for hours with the ac on, recirculation or "max ac" forces the cooling fans on so it will cool fine, dont park on tall grass and don't pop the hood, that's a myth that it helps, it actually makes cooling less efficient. I've left mine idle for 30 minutes before no issues, if you're trying to treat the ducts I'd recommend pulling the cabin filter out for the duration.

OK, thanks so much for the response. I knew about the cop cars, but I figured that the police package was what was enabling them to do that. I was waiting for the cooler weather to get this done and when I asked the guy about the cabin air filter, he actually said to keep it in or replace it with a new one so then it will continue to clean the air as it would absorb the gas when going through it.

 

[Texas Marauder]

If you haven't changed the cabin air filter and don't know if or when it was changed, do it now. It will not affect the smoke smell effect because it filters fresh air coming into the car, not recirculating air.

 

[javon7065]

If you haven't changed the cabin air filter and don't know if or when it was changed, do it now. It will not affect the smoke smell effect because it filters fresh air coming into the car, not recirculating air.

I changed it back in May, but have purchased a new one and plan to change it during this process. The question that is whether to leave it or not.

 

[Zpak]

A few Safrax chlorine dioxide tabs in a cup of water left to sit for a day will knock everything out. You can get 100 1 gram tablets for like thirty bucks. Great item to have on hand anyway for a multitude of uses.

 

[Texas Marauder]

I changed it back in May, but have purchased a new one and plan to change it during this process. The question that is whether to leave it or not.

Since you have already changed the filter, just let it be. It only filters outside air coming in. Change it every 12 months.

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

I'm not an expert on the process but I'm figuring that the only way to clean your ducts short of taking out the dash and soaking the vents in soap would be to recirculate a solution through the hvac intake either cowl or footwell.

That said, no air passes through the vents before the cabin filter, the filter new or not is a restriction therefore in my mind would hinder the efficiency of the process. By removing it and closing the filter door then your fogging will recirculate through the vents faster and more often.

My approach would be: remove the cabin filter, spritz some ozium in the intake side, set to recirculate full fan speed with ac on lowest temperature, place the fogger on the passenger side floorboard and let it run for 30 minutes windows up, then a good 20 minute all windows open with hvac full blast cruise to air it all out. Then replace cabin filter with a charcoal infused filter. Park it in the sun for a few hours and see if the smell comes back

 

[Texas Marauder]

When the A/C is in recirculate mode air does not pass thru the cabin air filter. The cabin air filter ONLY filters air coming into the cabin.

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

When the A/C is in recirculate mode air does not pass thru the cabin air filter. The cabin air filter ONLY filters air coming into the cabin.

I could be mistaken then, other vehicles I've worked on the filter slips in just after the fan and the recirc/fresh air door actuates between ducts going into the blower housing.

 

[Texas Marauder]

I'll admit I was mistaken on the function of the cabin air filter.

From the service manual:
The vehicle is factory equipped with a cabin air filter. The cabin air filter is positioned at the blower motor inlet and filters both fresh and recirculated air. The cabin air filter can be accessed though the glove compartment.

Other filters I've seen are mounted in the cowl, outside the passenger compartment, and only filter incoming air. Examples are 2012 Mustang, 2019 Charger.

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

I'll admit I was mistaken on the function of the cabin air filter.

From the service manual:
The vehicle is factory equipped with a cabin air filter. The cabin air filter is positioned at the blower motor inlet and filters both fresh and recirculated air. The cabin air filter can be accessed though the glove compartment.

Other filters I've seen are mounted in the cowl, outside the passenger compartment, and only filter incoming air. Examples are 2012 Mustang, 2019 Charger.

I saw one that blew my mind, years back I googled to see if my 05 f150 had one and found they offered a "optional dealer installed cabin air filter" where they would cut a hole under the cowl engine side and put in a tray assembly. Seems to me that it would get musty real quick.

 

[javon7065]

A few Safrax chlorine dioxide tabs in a cup of water left to sit for a day will knock everything out. You can get 100 1 gram tablets for like thirty bucks. Great item to have on hand anyway for a multitude of uses.

Thanks for the reply. I bought two tablets from PDP (Professional Detailing Products). Used one yesterday. I'll see what it's like in a week.

 

[javon7065]

Since you have already changed the filter, just let it be. It only filters outside air coming in. Change it every 12 months.

ah, yes. good point. I changed it anyway at it was pretty gross after just five months.