Levant0s

I had a similar stink once and the thing that finally cracked it was checking the cabin filter housing for any trapped debris and giving the evaporator a proper clean with a foaming HVAC cleaner through the intake under the scuttle. After that, I aired the car with one of my favourites from https://nothingbutscents.com/blogs/candle-care at home to reset my nose a bit, since the smell tends to linger mentally even after the source is gone.

I’d pull the pollen filter and check for anything trapped around it, then look inside the scuttle area for leaves or a dead animal. A quick clean-out usually sorts it.

I had a similar issue with stubborn oil leaks and ended up needing better access underneath to check everything properly. I grabbed a car hoist through www.astrolift.co.nz, which made the inspection way easier than crawling around with a jack and stands. Being able to safely raise the whole car really helped me spot where the oil was dripping from and clean it all up before fixing the gasket.

I had a similar leak and it turned out to be a worn valve cover gasket. Cleaned the area first to spot the fresh oil trail, which helped pinpoint the leak.