File in Section:
Bulletin No.:

Service Bulletin

Date:

00 - General Information
00-00-89-027G
December, 2012

INFORMATION
Subject:

Eliminating Unwanted Odors in Vehicles

Models:

2013 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Trucks

Attention: Please direct this bulletin to the PARTS, USED CAR, BODY SHOP and SERVICE
Managers.
This bulletin is being revised to add the 2013 model year and update the Parts Information.
Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 00-00-89-027F (Section 00 – General Information).

Vehicle Odor Elimination
General Motors offers a product that may control or
eliminate odors in the interior and luggage
compartment areas of GM vehicles. GM Vehicle Care
Odor Eliminator is a non-toxic, biodegradable odor
remover. This odorless product has been shown to
greatly reduce or remove objectionable smells of mold
and mildew resulting from vehicle water leaks (as well
as customer created odors, i.e. smoke). You may use
GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator on fabrics, vinyl,
leather, carpet and sound deadening materials. It may
also be induced into HVAC modules and instrument
panel ducts (for the control of non-bacterial related
odors).
Important: This product leaves no residual scent and
should not be sold as or considered an air freshener.
Product action may result in the permanent elimination
of an odor and may be preferable to customers with
allergies who are sensitive to perfumes.

How to Use This Product
GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator may be sprayed on in
a ready-to-use formula or used in steam cleaners as an
additive with carpet shampoo. This water-based,
odorless product is safe for all vehicle interiors. Do not
wet or soak any interior surface that plain water would
cause to deteriorate, as this product will have the same
effect. Also avoid letting this product come into contact
with vinegar or any acidic substance. Acid-based
products will hamper the effectiveness of, or render GM
Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator inert.
Instructions and cautions are printed on the bottle, but
additional help is available. If you encounter a difficult
to eliminate or reoccurring odor, you may call
1-800-955-8591 (in Canada, 1-800-977-4145) to obtain
additional information and usage suggestions.

Copyright 2012 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important: This product may effectively remove odors
when directly contacting the odor source. It should be
used in conjunction with diagnostic procedures (in
cases such as a water leak) to first eliminate the root
cause of the odor, and then the residual odor to
permanently correct the vehicle condition.
Vehicle Waterleak Odor Elimination
STEP ONE:
Confirm that all water leaks have been repaired.
Determine what areas of the vehicle were water soaked
or wet. Components with visible mold/mildew staining
should be replaced. Isolate the odor source inside the
vehicle. Often an odor can be isolated to an area or
component of the vehicle interior by careful evaluation.
Odor evaluation may need to be performed by multiple
persons. Another method of isolating an odor source is
to remove and segregate interior trim and components.
Plastic sheeting or drop cloths can be used to confine
seats, headliners, etc. to assist in evaluation and
diagnoses. If appropriate the vehicle and interior trim
should be evaluated separately to determine if the odor
stays with the vehicle or the interior components. Odors
that stay with the vehicle may be isolated to insulating
and sound deadening materials (i.e. water leak at the
windshield or standing water in the front foot well area
caused mold/mildew to form on the bulkhead or kick
panel sound deadening pads. If the interior is removed
the floor pan and primed/painted surfaces should be
treated with bleach/soap solution, rinsed with clean
water and dried. Interior surfaces should then be
treated with GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator product
before reinstalling carpet or reassembling.

Page 2

December, 2012

The GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator product is an
effective odor elimination product when used properly.
It must come into direct contact with the odor source. It
should be used in conjunction with diagnostic
procedures to first eliminate the root cause of the odor.
Some procedures for use after odor root cause
correction are:
STEP TWO:
• Use the trigger spray head.
• Put a drop of dish soap the size of a quarter in the
bottom of a bottle.
• Add 8 oz. of GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator
(1 cup) to the dish soap and top off the bottle with
tap water.
• This formula should be used on hard surfaces
(dash, interior plastic molding, and floor pan).
STEP THREE:
The third step to neutralizing the vehicle is a light to
medium treatment of all carpeting and upholstered
seats with the GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator
formula and a wide fan spray setting (at full strength)
(i.e.: carpeting on the driver's side requires 4-5 triggers
pulls for coverage). The headliner and trunk should be
sprayed next. Lightly brushing the formula into the
carpeting and upholstery is a recommended step for
deep odor problems. The dash and all hard surfaces
should be sprayed with dish soap/water mixture. Let
stand for 1-2 minutes then wipe off the surface.
STEP FOUR: (vehicle ventilation system treatment)
The ventilation system is generally the last step in the
treatment of the vehicle.
– a. Spray the GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator
formula into all dash vents. (1-2 trigger pulls
per vent).
– b. Start the vehicle and turn the vehicle fan on high
cool (not A/C setting).
– c. Spray the formula (10 trigger pulls) into the outside
fresh air intake vent (cowl at base of windshield).
– d. Enter the vehicle after 1 minute and wipe off the
excess formula spurting out of the dash vents.
– e. Smell the air coming from the dash vents. If odors
are still present, spray another 5 triggers into the
cowl, wait another minute and smell the results.
Once you have obtained a fresh, clean smell coming
from the vents, turn the system to the A/C
re-circulation setting. Roll up the windows, spray
3-5 pumps into the right lower IP area and let the
vehicle run with the fan set on high for 5-7 minutes.

Bulletin No.: 00-00-89-027G

Additional Suggestions to Increase Customer
Satisfaction
Here are some additional ideas to benefit your
dealership and to generate greater customer
enthusiasm for this product.
• Keep this product on-hand for both the Service
Department and the Used Car lot. Add value to
your used car trades; treat loaner and demo cars
during service and at final sale to eliminate smoke,
pet, and other common odors offensive to
customers. Make deodorizing a vehicle part of
your normal vehicle detailing service.
• Consider including GM Vehicle Care Odor
Eliminator as a give-away item with new vehicle
purchases. Many dealers give away as “gifts”
various cleaning supplies at time of delivery. GM
Odor Eliminator is one of a few products GM offers
that has as many uses in the home as in the
vehicle. Customers may find this product can be
used for a host of recreational activities
associated with their new vehicle, such as
deodorizing a boat they tow, or a camper.
• GM Odor Eliminator and many of the GM Vehicle
Care products offer you the chance to increase
dealership traffic as these superior quality
products cannot be purchased in stores. Many
Dealerships have product displays at the parts
counter. Consider additional displays in the
Customer Service Lounge, the Showroom and
at the Service Desk or Cashier Window. Many
customers who purchase vehicles and receive
regular maintenance at your dealership may
never visit the parts counter, and subsequently
are not exposed to the variety and value that
these products offer.

Parts Information
Part Number

Description

88861431
(in Canada,
88861436)

GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator – 32 oz
(946 mL) Non-Aerosol Bottles (Case of 6)

88861432
(in Canada,
88861437)

GM Vehicle Care Odor Eliminator – 8 oz
(237 mL) Non-Aerosol Bottles (Case of 12)

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a
job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

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