2016 Encore-White Pad Behind Glove Box?!

[Haggardhag]

Hello, I am inquiring what the purpose behind this white pad that is stuck to the back of the glove box is. I ask because I recently purchased a 2016 Encore and the thing stunk from here to high heaven of mildew/mold. It was a musky smell and I have changed out the cabin filter (that had leaves and acorns in it), steam cleaned the seats/head liner/carpet multiple times and the smell has not went away! I JUST ran a mold/mildew cleaner through outside intake and the vents so we shall see. But my question is this dirty nasty white pad that is attached to the back of the glove box, can I just pull off and throw away, or should I replace it? Thanks!

 

[Smoothsailer717]

I don't know about the pad but a ozone generator or air ionizer might help with the smell. Nothing deodorizes like o3.. Just don't breathe that ozone. It doesn't absorb into the blood like regular oxygen..

I have one of those $50 ozone machines. I drink ozone water and it has other uses

 

[Guro305]

Strange. I've changed both of my cabin filters and never saw this.

I have a reusable cabin filter so when I change the oil over the weekend, I'll take the cabin filter out for cleaning and have a look. You could spray that pad with Ozium. It's cheap and effective but like Smoothsailor said, don't breathe that stuff in. I worked for a guy that was former DoHS and he said they'd use it at clean-up scenes because it kills everything.

 

[Again]

That pad is for sound deadening the fan impeller noise. Just spray it with lysol spray, it kills 99.9% (lol) You may have to to it a couple of times. That one there looks like the cabin air filter was never changed in a long time and air was forces around the filter. Don't discard it, you will regret it. If the door for the filter is removable you could soak it in oxiclean overnight and re-install.

 

[Haggardhag]

Thank you all for the replies! I wasn't going to throw it away until I knew what it was. Again, that makes total sense and I appreciate the help! I have sprayed and sprayed and sprayed and sprayed that car and I believe I FINALLY, after 3 weeks, have the smell mostly gone. There is still some kind of smokey smell but at least it doesn't smell of mold/mildew anymore. I used the Ozuim and a duct cleaner spray. So far so good! Thank you all for the replies!