I have an MY98 WRX and got in it the other day to be met with a smell between off milk and serious damp which wasn't there the prevous day.
There were no wet patches anywhere in the car and there have been no spillages.
Anyone got any ideas what this could be and what to check.

I'm completely stumped

 

Aircon system need cleaning?

 

As above air con. Try running the car and turning the heater on full for 10-15mins. See if it gets rid of it a little. Good luck.

 

When I have the heater or air con on (although admittedly not full) no smell comes from the vents although I will try, thanks.

 

defo air con. leave it on for a few days to clear out

 

Ive had the smell in both the imprezas ive owned, it only happens on re-circulation, in my first one the smell was like somebody had peed in the car it was really bad, the typeR ive got now didnt smell to great but went to my local Hyundai dealer (of all people!) and bought an aerosol can of aircon cleaner-about £7 you set the can off and shut all doors with ac on full - it worked a treat,

ive heard that the smell is actually bacteria in the vents and pipework, and can cause legionairres disease- dont know how true it is but for £7 its not worth the risk,
Andy

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll be off to get a can of aircon cleaner tomorrow and am looking forward to a fresh clean smelling car

 

...are you getting any overheating problems with the engine?
I had all the same symptoms you described, but also erratic engine overheating, turned out to be a hole in the heater matrix which was causing the leak, about 500 notes to fix it unfortunately

 

Bad eggy smell will be the cats