My air con smells of dog - how do I get rid?

[thenortherner]

Hi,

When the air con is switched on the scent of dog fills the car. I've only had the car a week, so the previous owner must have ferried their retriever around in it. Interestingly, the car only smells when the air con is on - otherwise there's no smell whatsoever.

So, how do I get rid? The car is an Ep3 Type R.

Thanks,

[mercfunder]

Get one of those aerosols that you spry inside the car, with the air-con running full blast on recirculate for 10 mins, should get rid of most smells.
Local pound shop had them in the other week, otherwise any car store.

[balders118]

Pretty sure you can get air con cleaning agents from halfords or similar. Open the canister, leave in the car and run the A/C. bobs your mothers brother, cleaned air con. Don't know how well it works though.

[jayfish]

might need a pollen filter change

[Valetco]

Replace the pollen filter and then use a air con cleaner or get a valeter in with an aromatek machine and set the ac to circulate

[thenortherner]

Pretty sure it had a pollen filter done at its last service 10 months ago. But I spose that's a fair amount of time if they've used the car to carry a dog regularly.

Chanel No. 5? I don't fancy that, thanks.

[Valetco]

I've seen lots of fsh cars with receipts for filters but minging old original filters still in situ !

[CoolC]

Valetco said:

I've seen lots of fsh cars with receipts for filters but minging old original filters still in situ !

^^This^^

Has the filter actually been replaced? Also check under the plenum cover, there might be lots of soggy rotting leaves under there.

[giw12]

Turn the aircon on and up the temp to the max (probably 32 deg), then let it run for 10 mins.

This kills all the bacteria that are the source of the problem.

[thenortherner]

Probably some sense in what you're saying, wouldn't surprise me if they hadn't changed it.

I'm mechanically inept - how difficult are these things to change?

[thenortherner]

giw12 said:

Turn the aircon on and up the temp to the max (probably 32 deg), then let it run for 10 mins.

This kills all the bacteria that are the source of the problem.

Will have a bash at this too. In general the AC is pretty weak and not particularly cold when compared to other cars I've had.

[marsred]

giw12 said:

Turn the aircon on and up the temp to the max (probably 32 deg), then let it run for 10 mins.

This kills all the bacteria that are the source of the problem.

32 degrees kills the bacteria?? That explains why those hot southern hemisphere countries have so little disease then.

[pilchardthecat]

thenortherner said:

My air con smells of dog - how do I get rid?

As an animal lover i wouldn't condone it myself, but a swift smack on the back of the head with a spade should probably do it

[irodger]

My old Foosty had this problem, (I'd say it was more of a wet dog smell) due to the previous owner never using the aircon. The gas gets stale/stagnant and the system doesn't blow particularly cold. Pollen filter change did nothing. A re-gas solved both temperature and smell issues.

[Valetco]

If the ac seems weak I'd be pretty confident on it being the pollen filter - had the same problem exactly with my lexus, filter was black and about 3 the weight it should be once replaced the climate was twice as powerfull. Sadly running it a 32 degrees is just going to get the bacteria in the mood for some serious breeding!

[Soovy]

thenortherner said:

Hi,

When the air con is switched on the scent of dog fills the car. I've only had the car a week, so the previous owner must have ferried their retriever around in it. Interestingly, the car only smells when the air con is on - otherwise there's no smell whatsoever.

So, how do I get rid? The car is an Ep3 Type R.

Thanks,

Autoglym aircon satitizer

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/autoglym-air-con-san...

[8400rpm]

thenortherner said:

Probably some sense in what you're saying, wouldn't surprise me if they hadn't changed it.

I'm mechanically inept - how difficult are these things to change?

If it's the same as the other Hondas I've worked on, you remove the glovebox, remove a small piece of metal and then it pulls out like a cassette, looks like a panel air filter. It's not difficult to do.

[CoolC]

thenortherner said:

Probably some sense in what you're saying, wouldn't surprise me if they hadn't changed it.

I'm mechanically inept - how difficult are these things to change?

Real easy, Youtube will have loads of "how to's"

[Ash From Flux]

I have the same problem with mine too. I bought my car brand new so no dog has ever been in it though. Its 3 years old now. The pollen filters were changed with services (apparently) I thought it might need re gassing.

[Webber3]

marsred said:

giw12 said:

Turn the aircon on and up the temp to the max (probably 32 deg), then let it run for 10 mins.

This kills all the bacteria that are the source of the problem.

32 degrees kills the bacteria?? That explains why those hot southern hemisphere countries have so little disease then.

I'm sure things get a a lot hotter than 32 degrees internally