File in Section:
Bulletin No.:

Service Bulletin

Date:

00 - General Information
00-00-89-027J
March, 2018

INFORMATION
Subject:

Eliminating Unwanted Odors in Vehicles

Models:

2019 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Trucks

Attention: Please direct this bulletin to the PARTS, USED CAR, BODY SHOP and SERVICE
Managers. This Bulletin also applies to any of the above models that may be Export
from North America vehicles.
This Bulletin has been revised to add the 2017-2019 Model Years and update Parts
Information Description. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 00-00-89-027I.

Vehicle Odor Elimination
General Motors offers a product that may control or
eliminate odors in the interior and luggage
compartment areas of GM vehicles. ACDelco 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
ACDelco 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
ACDelco 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
ACDelco 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 2018 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 ACDelco Odor Eliminator product before
reinstalling carpet or reassembling.

Page 2

March, 2018

The ACDelco 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 ACDelco 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 ACDelco 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 ACDelco 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.: 00-00-89-027J

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 ACDelco Odor Eliminator as a
give-away item with new vehicle purchases. Many
dealers give away as “gifts” various cleaning
supplies at time of delivery. ACDelco 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.
• ACDelco 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)

ACDelco Odor Eliminator – 32 oz (946 mL)
Non-Aerosol Bottle

88861432
(in Canada,
88861437)

ACDelco Odor Eliminator – 8 oz (237 mL)
Non-Aerosol Bottle

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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