Stinger has become a stinker

[DonD]

Don— Was the stench you experienced a no-doubter dead mouse or animal? —Dave

Technician took a picture, pretty large rat. Don

 

[Deviate]

Kia uses a soy based wire cover rodents like the taste.

 

[AdrianG]

Why would you leave it in a garage for two weeks instead of taking it to the dealer and leaving it there for 2 weeks with a warranty.

LoL. You are truly the king of bad takes. Telling someone to leave it with a dealer instead of in their own garage for 2 weeks just because they have a warranty is just silly.

 

[TSchmelt]

Figured it out. This morning, dropped the belly pan, removed grill/bumper and looked down the sliver between radiator and fan shroud. Dead rat at the bottom between radiator and shroud, driver's side. Removed some bits, pulled the fan up and got the thing out. The reason for the lack of the traditional stench is because it had been cooking somewhere between 120 and 190 degrees. Still no idea how a large mouse thing got into the garage and why it picked the Stinger and in that location. So, if you have a smell that's like a fertilizer in the engine compartment, remember this...

 

[JSolo]

^^Better check for chewed wiring while you're still in there.

 

[AdrianG]

That's crazy. Glad you found it. Probably got in there because it was warm or something.
Definitely check the wires, at least around that area.

 

[DonD]

Figured it out. This morning, dropped the belly pan, removed grill/bumper and looked down the sliver between radiator and fan shroud. Dead rat at the bottom between radiator and shroud, driver's side. Removed some bits, pulled the fan up and got the thing out. The reason for the lack of the traditional stench is because it had been cooking somewhere between 120 and 190 degrees. Still no idea how a large mouse thing got into the garage and why it picked the Stinger and in that location. So, if you have a smell that's like a fertilizer in the engine compartment, remember this...

ICK! Glad you resolved the issue. Don

 

[Snicklefritz]

yes, check the insulation throughout the engineroom. soy makes rodents salivate apparently. stupid greenies.

 

[TSchmelt]

yes, check the insulation throughout the engineroom. soy makes rodents salivate apparently. stupid greenies.

I should have gotten pictures of the disassembly, as I suspect most Stinger owners haven’t had a need to pull the grill / bumper cover. The foam is in the cover along with a wire harness that connects forward of the splash shield on the driver’s side. No signs of gnawing on the foam or harness. If you ever need to pull the bumper cover, you’ll want the car on ramps and also some boxes or crates about the height of the ramps. It’s easiest to disconnect the harness with the bumper cover away from the car a few inches resting on the boxes. This cover is easier to remove than my Passat and CR-V.

 

[AdrianG]

It's not too bad to remove the bumper cover without lifting the car at all if you are comfortable with just lying flat on the ground for a minute or two. Most awkward part is the few little push pins underneath.

 

[DonD]

Figured it out. This morning, dropped the belly pan, removed grill/bumper and looked down the sliver between radiator and fan shroud. Dead rat at the bottom between radiator and shroud, driver's side. Removed some bits, pulled the fan up and got the thing out. The reason for the lack of the traditional stench is because it had been cooking somewhere between 120 and 190 degrees. Still no idea how a large mouse thing got into the garage and why it picked the Stinger and in that location. So, if you have a smell that's like a fertilizer in the engine compartment, remember this...

ICK! Glad you resolved the issue. Don