Lexus GS 2006-11 :: Unpleasant Odor In Cabin Of GS450h

For the past month or so, I've noticed a rather unpleasant odor in the cabin of my '11 GS450h, which was brand new in April (it was a demo vehicle, never sold or titled). I've never had food in it, never spilled anything, and prior to a month ago, it still had the new car smell.

I can't tell where it's coming from. It isn't a moldy smell at all, but rather something like a dead mouse. Simply put, it smells like hot garbage that's been sitting in the garage for a few weeks.

I put my nose to every surface, to the rugs, leather, dash... can't find the source. I took out the cabin air filter in hopes of finding the source, but the filter was very clean and i didn't see any debris in there. I tried to stick my nose in, but i couldn't smell anything.

I "think" it's coming from the A/C/Heater vents, as when running if i put my nose up to the vent, i can really smell it.

I really need to find the source of this smell... Are there any schematics for the duct-work for the A/C inlet? Maybe there's something trapped.

I've always run it on "recirculate" mode, preferring to cycle inside air rather than take in outside air. So my "thinking" as that if there was a dead animal in the duct-work for the outside air, i wouldn't be smelling it, no?