Allergic to the RTL Interior

[buffy]

Guys & Gals: I know I sound like a pansy, but I'm allergic to this new interior. I'm assuming it's the outgassing of the plastic. Does anyone have any experience with this problem. Any way to minimize it?

[Oxi]

It sounds like a hypersensitivity to a chemical smell. I work as a chemist, and have experience with a few people who have become sensitized. It did not come from your RTL, it came from something in your past, whether it be a certain chemical exposure at tiny level over a long period of time, or a short term, high level exposure. I am not saying you have Chemical sensitivity syndrome or anything, just that you are a little sensitized. It is offgassing from the interior plastics, probably not the leathers. They are usually tanned and dyed with analine, and that was not the smell I picked up in the rtl when i got mine. It was the plastics. Open the windows, especially when it sits in the heat, and that will air it out pretty quickly.

Keith

[jd144]

Take up smoking? :confused:

Okay...not an option. Would sprinking Arm & Hammer help? Also, I know with the Accord, I could get a carbon cabin filter. This would maybe help get rid of these chemicals?

[Pug]

Is your's a respiratory or skin reaction? For about 3 weeks after I picked up my RL, there was a definite odor of formaldehyde. You remember the smell in the biology lab when we had to dissect the frogs, sharks, cats, etc...? Well... it was like that. Pretty stinky. I don't know if any acetal resins (Delrin, Celcon) are being used in the cabin, but they are notorious for giving-off that smell.
Having bought it during winter (end of Feb.), it was difficult to air it out for very long periods of time. That's probably why it lasted as long as it did.
Now, only once-in-a-while does the smell return, if I forget to crack the windows a bit, and the vehicle is sitting in direct sun. The new car, leather smell is still there, even though I smoke in the truck off & on.
If you're having a dermatological reaction, you may need to seek professional help.
If it's just the smell that you have an "aversion" to, take heart that it WILL go away. Like Keith says, just be sure to air it out as much as possible.
good luck.

[buffy]

My reaction has been respiratory, not dermal. I'm gonna run with the windows down for a couple of weeks to see if that does it. I'll keep y'all updated.

[lsakos]

I recommend a set of vent visors to keep the weather out so that you can keep your windows more safely rolled down a bit to air out.

Laura

[Pizza Man]

I don't want to drive this thread in a different direction, but I do remember reading here of a few members experiencing mold related allergies. Are you sure, buffy, you're not reacting to mold due to AC condensation or even one of those nasty leaks?

[brich]

I don't want to drive this thread in a different direction, but I do remember reading here of a few members experiencing mold related allergies. Are you sure, buffy, you're not reacting to mold due to AC condensation or even one of those nasty leaks?
I was going to say the same thing. I currently have a leak and it has not been a problem but now it's starting to get a bit "smelly" when first opening the truck up... Check your floors for dampness or smell. It's worth checking into... Good Luck:)

[Rick Walker]

I was going to say the same thing. I currently have a leak and it has not been a problem but now it's starting to get a bit "smelly" when first opening the truck up... Check your floors for dampness or smell. It's worth checking into... Good Luck:)
Yes - Absolutly check for dampness. But find a place where you can check UNDER the carpet padding.

[Whaleya]

If it is the plastics, park the RL in the sun. Roll down the windows when you get in the truck (all windows). Really air it out. The combination of high heat from the summer sun and ventilation will get most of the nasties out quickly.

In the future you may want to buy a car off lease. Auto companies are working to reduce outgasssing of new cars but getting a car that is a few years old would go a long way to helping you.

[buffy]

There are no leaks, and I had the service guys check it before I bought it. It's outgassing of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Today I drove my Tahoe to ease the suffering. Tomorrow I'm heading to the Allergist for suggestions. I've never been sensitive to it before, but this is my first Japanese vehicle.

Here are some interesting articles:
http://www.air-purifier-power.com/new-car-smell.html
http://www.achooallergy.com/blog/news-01-31/
http://img.azcentral.com/health/wellness/articles/1003newcarsmell03-ON.html
http://nofragrance.org/

[buffy]

I went to an allergist that's been treating my family for years. He believes that I have pretty bad seasonal allergies and that the truck was the straw that broke the camels back. It makes reasonable sense based on the fact that my symptoms did not improve after not driving the truck for two days. he gave me an arsenal of allergy medicines to get things under control before jumping back in the truck. I'm also leaving all the windows open for the time being. I'll update you guys with results.

[mugen1]

I've never been sensitive to it before, but this is my first Japanese vehicle.

One that is designed and built in North America using mostly North American parts.

[jd144]

Designed in US?

I sure hope it had Japanese designers.

[tlaudio]

Must be allergic to Canada ? :eek:

All Ridgelines are made in Canada.....

I read somewhere that this year is the worst allergy season in several years.

[mugen1]

Yeah, it's a conspiracy. You should see what we do to the water we export.

[cdepuydt]

Yeah, it's a conspiracy. You should see what we do to the water we export.

Well, you Canadians should have lots of water to export...God knows you don't use any for bathing!!!! :D

(Kidding, of course...just couldn't resist)

[buffy]

Alright funny guys, here's my update. The medications got my allergies under control. So thankfully, all I'm doing now is enjoying my purchase. This is truely a fantastically engineered piece of equipment. Again, if you can get past the "pu$$y truck" comments, you'll be well ahead of meatheads running 1500 Chevys and Fords.

[carlnunes]

I got nauseous when I rode in my roomates 06 Tacoma. The plastic smell overwhelmed me. No problems with the Ridge. Sometimes the leather smell is a bit odd, but it's my first leather interior. :D

[Pug]

I recommend a set of vent visors to keep the weather out so that you can keep your windows more safely rolled down a bit to air out.

Laura

An excellent recommendation!

After I got mine, as a matter of fact, was when I stopped noticing the "fishy odor" eminating from the odoriferous interior!
The visors allowed me the opportunity to open my windows to a substantial degree... even in inclement weather.

I believe one of the ROC sponsors has them listed as this month's "special"?

Good to hear you've got things "under control".

Frank

[Tim1954Tinman]

Guys & Gals: I know I sound like a pansy, but I'm allergic to this new interior. I'm assuming it's the outgassing of the plastic. Does anyone have any experience with this problem. Any way to minimize it?

I found this. Maybe it will help you.

"When I found Beano, it was the best day of my life. My gas problem completely disappeared. Thank you." (http://www.beanogas.com/Testimonials.aspx)

:eek:

[ChrisM]

Another thread resurrected from the archives... :confused: :confused:

[OwnerCS]

When I was in high school, in the mid-seventies, I worked at a Fiat, SAAB, and Subaru dealership after school as the lot detail guy. I remember Fiat had a strange oily film that would appear in the inside windows after the cars would sit in the sun with the windows rolled up. The film was so thick that I could scrape it off the windows with a razor blade. A motor oil looking substance would run off the razor blade after a few swipes. I asked the owner about it and he said it was plastisizer being released from the vinyl seats. It was a mess to clean off and customers complained about it during the first year of ownership. It seems that once the seats stopped emitting the oily substance, they would dry out and begin to crack and take on a shredded appearance. Neither the SAAB nor the Subaru vehicles had this problem. We determined that automobiles that released an excessive amount of plastisizer were more prone to more interior wear, dash cracks, and early deterioration.

[codda]

Any stats on how many owners went on to get cancer.....?

[Jack]

FIAT ...

F riggin
I talian
A utomobile
T rash

Oops, I called a Fiat and automobile!

[OwnerCS]

At the dealership we would ask: Fix It Again Today?

There are some great cars from Italy in the premium market segment. :-)