Musty Odor

HI! I am new to this forum as well as being a first time Saturn owner. I love the car but I am having a bit of a problem. I bought it used and when I got it it had a musty odor but I figured it had just been sitting in the garage a while. I thought if I scrubbed the interior and the floor mats it would cure the problem. I was wrong. The day I scrubbed the car there was only a faint odor left so I figured if I just aired it out it would be fine. I took the mats out of the car to wash them as well. It's been a week and I haven't put the mats back in but the musty smell is back. Almost as bad as the day I picked it up. Does anyone know what is causing this smell? I was thinking maybe the foam underneath the actual carpet may have gotten wet but I am not sure how to fix the problem. Should I just have a mobile steam cleaner come and inject some kind of fluid into the foam? Not sure what to do and the smell is driving me crazy....it was so bad the day I got it that when I got out of the car my clothes had taken on a musty smell! Thank you so much for any help you can give me!

do you have A/C? there have been several TSBs on a odor from the A/C unit (mildew build-up IIRC) your saturn dealership should be able to give you more information. or if you are more of a DIYer and feel confident about taking the dash and blower apart. if you have a later model(2001+ i beleave) saturn can program your BCM to have a "afterblow" feature to prevent this build-up.

what year do you have?

Thank you so much for responding!

I actually picked up a '98 SL1 (should have mentioned that!)

It does have an A/C but I haven't put it on at all. Would there still be an odor coming through the vent if it's not on? Last night I sniffed around a bit and noticed the smell is seriously coming from the driver side floor.

I myself am not a do it yourself kinda gal but I think my b/f would be able to take the dash out if it is in fac the A/C. Is it a big job?

Thanks for the help...I am afraid to drive the car anywhere as when I do I smell like a basement when I get out!

i double checked the TSB, and it was for 91-94, not to say it isn't the A/C, since the TSB is a little old(issued in 94). acuilly there are two TSBs:"Musty odor from A/C system, most noticeable at start-up" (remove debris, clean, and disinfect evaporator, install delayed blower motor) and "Front footwell carpet is wet and/or has musty, mildew odor" (indentify waterleak)

does ether of those two sound right? book time for both TSBs is about 3 or 4 hours, but if this is your first time doing this kind of work, i would alot some extra time. if it was the A/C the dash needs to be torn out. not really hard, just time consuming.

Thanks again sierrap615!!

This is what it sounds like to me "Front footwell carpet is wet and/or has musty, mildew odor" (indentify waterleak)." I am pretty sure the smell is coming from the footwell carpet on the drivers side. I am going to try scrubbing it again today (may just end up taking the carpet up and re-doing the foamy part underneath) I'll let you know how it works out.

Thanks again for all the info!!!