kidluvsole

iTrader: (2)

hi everyone, its a newbie question, when i turn on my A/C it gives out a nasty oder and after a while its disappears, is it the air cabin filter? what can i do to fix the problem? i dont really have time to bring it in for service right now, give tips please...thankss...so cal CL the best..

radicalrev

iTrader: (2)

air fresherners would help

XprincoX

iTrader: (10)

it's moisture thats left in the pipes... you can always press that lil filter air button too.

tfz_hebe89

iTrader: (1)

i heard that air fresheners are causing the bad smell. i had a tech advised me not to have any kind of air fresheners in the car. it will build up that bad smell over time

hihi410

There are a lot of possible reasons why your A/C can smell.

One of the most common is mold.

Here are some suggestions that you can try it out.

1. Natural way: Best time to do it is after you drove around. Leave your car on outside air (which means take it out circulate air), turn off the A/C button, change the Air flow mode to front vent (can do bottom later) and turn your heat up max with max air. I would suggest wide open areas and open window. Let the car run about 5-10mins while you wait outside..unless you wanna faint. Repeat step few times during the week and hopefully that will help.

2. Make sure its not your interior that smells, check your carpets, shampoo if needed.

3. If step 1 didn't help, you can always buy car odor elminator such as car febrez, ozium or any type of spray that kills bacteria and odor. Dont' spray inside the car. Keep the car running, and shut the window. Step outside the car and in the middle beneath the front windshield, you should see an air vent. Spray few times into it and let the car run for a while. Repeat process through out the month. Just few treatments should help.

To prevent smell from reoccuring.

1. If you constantly run A/C, turn it off few blocks before you reach your destination. This will prevent condensation which will later on create mold.

2. Try using non circulate air, nothing better than fresh air to keep the smell nice and fresh.....eh unless you run through a skunk.

Hopefully that helps.

iSuxeL

iTrader: (21)

Its called change the cabin filter! LOL

Tajman82

Febreeze it! or ozium !

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Here is an easy fix: turn on your HEAT at full blast (max at 85 degrees F) for about two minutes.

It will go away.


And next time, turn off your A/C about a minute or two prior to turning off the car...

carchitect

iTrader: (1)

Change your a/c filter and trun off your a/c before you shut off the car. The system will revert to fresh and the moisture won't remain in the cabin of the vehicle.

Most treatments seem to be temporary fixes.

nabbun

yup. i always turn off the A/C about a few minutes before i arrive and let the outside air thru the vents to let them warm out.

Bichon

Ah, the HVAC guys refer to this as "dirty sock syndrome". It's caused by bacteria, mold, fungi and other nasties growing on the A/C evaporator core (cooling coils) behind the glovebox. When you first turn on the A/C, condensate rehydrates the coil, causing the smell. Changing the pollen filter won't help. Some of the other suggestions, i.e., running the heat on high, turning off the A/C before reaching your destination should help. For severe cases, your dealer or a mobile air conditioning specialist can clean and disinfect the evaporator using special chemicals.

nabbun

well that settles it. my 94 ls400 is going to the dealer lol

Brian231

I am very impressed with this accurate description with my science background. This is most likely the issue. I had this big-time with my gen 1. I had installed a new cabin filter and still had this to an extent. I then remembered and old detailer trick, Lysol in the front vents with the outside air (non-recirculation) mode on. Even Heppa filters trap odors. It is easy to notice on allergen vacuum cleaners when you first turn them on, you get that wet dog smell. Most important thing, these filters should never become wet or saturated, they are ruined after that.

MLIAISON

Does this happen with all cars? If you leave the A/C on you get moisture build up and the car stinks?


I never noticed that with my other cars....maybe I like that smell lol.

Brian231

Most cars that have the in-cabin micro filter seem to be more susceptible to this. The filter traps odors to some extent.

Also, Richie, take a shower!!! Your going to scare off the ladies if your GEO doesn't already!!!