Smelly aircon - how to resolve?
Discussion
Just bought a 15 year old car that is in overall great condition, including the aircon working well; however it stinks - nothing unusual, just that rather noxious chemical smell you get from older AC systems. Is there anything that can be done to remove the smell? I'm thinking of checking out/cleaning the ducting and making sure there is no residue in there, but I think the crux of the smell is the actual AC itself. Would a system refresh remove the smell? I'm not sure when the system was last touched.
ollie plymsoles said:
You could try one of those bomb things that you set off and leave with the aircon running for 10 mins. Got rid of a doggie smell in one of my old cars.
My Son drove his car through a flood and killed the engine (another story) but the inside got very wet and smelt really bad, including the AC. One of these helped greatly.JDM_Fiesta said:
Link to one of these please and any further instructions?
Halfords AC Purifier linkBe careful with those bomb things if you have very light coloured interior .
The smell is usually due to a bacteria build up due to condensation.
Get quality products to disinfect the vents and pipes and use the A/C regularly and on high heat settings as well as cold .
Unhygienic A/C systems can make you quite poorly .
The smell is usually due to a bacteria build up due to condensation.
Get quality products to disinfect the vents and pipes and use the A/C regularly and on high heat settings as well as cold .
Unhygienic A/C systems can make you quite poorly .
Cold said:
JDM_Fiesta said:
Link to one of these please and any further instructions?
Halfords AC Purifier linkThanks for the tip of running it hot for a while, will try that one out. Want to look into how easy it is to get to the insides of the vents (it's a Z4) and give them a clean if possible.
ETA also planning to inspect the filters.
parabolica said:
the car only smells when the AC is on and it's definitely the AC gas that is the source.
It definitely isn't the "AC gas". That's sealed well away from the air entering the car in the same way as coolant going through the heater matrix, or the refrigerant in your home fridge. Not only would any leak be impossible to detect by smell, but it wouldn't last long before the relatively tiny amount of gas was totally lost and the AC just stopped working.All that enters the car from the AC is cool, dry air. If you're on recirc, it's the same air that was already there.
Mr_Yogi said:
I had this earlier in the year. A friend told me to run the AC hot for a whole long journey, as it was probably moisture in the system somewhere. So windows down, sunroof open and full heat too and from work (50mins each way) and all was fine again.
Do this first. If it doesn't work, then try solutions that cost money. Sometimes mine smells and I find just 10 minutes at full heat is enough.gottans said:
Try the Bilt Hamber air con bomb, much better than the stuff in halfords, be careful which direction it sprays in as it will coat the windscreen given a chance. If you can get access to the condensate drain pipe, Wurth do one that is sprayed in this line and is the best of way.
I tried the BH bomb to get rid of fag smell in my car. It worked to an extent (not 100%, but did improve things) and I can vouch that it left my windscreen coated in a residue that took a few goes with IPA to get rid of. I used this a few years ago on a RAV4 my missus bought. It smelt like wet dogs when the air on was switched on, it was gross.
It did a good job, she had the car for a couple of years and the smell never returned.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Comma-AIRCC-150ml-Air-Cle...
It did a good job, she had the car for a couple of years and the smell never returned.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Comma-AIRCC-150ml-Air-Cle...
The smell is likely to be bacteria. One of these
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories...
Replace the cabin filter, then spray this down the vents.
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories...
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories...
Replace the cabin filter, then spray this down the vents.
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories...
The smell is usually a mould or bacteria, it's a good indication that you need to replace filters and put cleaning material through it.
The smell is usually most pungent when the insides of the air conditioning are moist. Running the aircon and full heat dries it out but does not remove the bacteria or spores of mould. As soon as it is moist again the smell returns.
Interesting this can happen to self defrosting fridges, where the excess water goes through tubes to a tray above or near the hot fridge motor. If this tray of water fails to evaporate a slurry develops and it smells like dead rats.
The smell is usually most pungent when the insides of the air conditioning are moist. Running the aircon and full heat dries it out but does not remove the bacteria or spores of mould. As soon as it is moist again the smell returns.
Interesting this can happen to self defrosting fridges, where the excess water goes through tubes to a tray above or near the hot fridge motor. If this tray of water fails to evaporate a slurry develops and it smells like dead rats.
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