Disinfecting A/C system

[Brent Chiswick]

2007 CLK and the aircon/ventilation system is smelling pretty rank at the moment. I have tried using the cans of aircon disinfectant available from motor factors, followed the instructions on the side and all they seem to do is mask the smell for a few days, whereupon it eventually returns.

I have already spoken to a local auto a/c specialists and it seems they only use the same type of disinfectant that I've been using without much success, so I think it needs something a bit more aggressive. I know the problems normally start from damp and moisture in the a/c, so for a couple of weeks now, I have purposely left the a/c off and only used the ventilation side, yet still it smells bad and is, I'm sure, affecting my breathing now (I'm asthmatic)

Anybody know of a more effective solution that will clean and disinfect the system more thoroughly please?

[Big Brin]

I had a similar rank smell in my beamer coming from the a/c ( I thought) and disinfected with the a/c cleaner. Few days later same smell. I cleaned the leather seats with dettol disinfectant, hoovered everywhere and hey presto the smell went and stayed away. It was probably from my dogs dirty feet and exasperated by parking in the sun.

Rgds, Brin

[Brent Chiswick]

Definitely the a/c system rather than the interior generally or leather seats. Anyhow, took advice from another forum and had a result. Advice was to go for long run to get the engine good and hot, then let it idle on the drive, turn climate auto off, a/c on, fan up to max, temperature setting on max, recirc on and leave it idling for an hour. Then turn a/c off, recirc off but still with fan and temperature on max and leave idling for another hour.

So after 2 hours of this, the interior was like an oven, but the high temps had 'cooked' out the mould, so I switched off and left it until this morning. Got in, started up and it now smells fresh as a daisy, so well pleased with that.

[mbtech01]

Would be interested to know if anyone else has tried this method & found it to work. Like other people i've tried various a/c disinfectant sprays & never been that impressed with the results. If this method of leaving the system on max hot etc for a couple of hours works i know a lot of other people who would be interested in this solution.

Brent Chiswick said:

Definitely the a/c system rather than the interior generally or leather seats. Anyhow, took advice from another forum and had a result. Advice was to go for long run to get the engine good and hot, then let it idle on the drive, turn climate auto off, a/c on, fan up to max, temperature setting on max, recirc on and leave it idling for an hour. Then turn a/c off, recirc off but still with fan and temperature on max and leave idling for another hour.

So after 2 hours of this, the interior was like an oven, but the high temps had 'cooked' out the mould, so I switched off and left it until this morning. Got in, started up and it now smells fresh as a daisy, so well pleased with that.

[UltimaCH]

Have you thought of changing the cabin air filter? That could be the cause of your problem.

[Brent Chiswick]

I'd already changed the cabin filter in mine and whilst the one that came out was slightly grubby, it wasn't too bad. Nevertheless, the new filter media didn't make the slightest difference to the awful odour. Cooking it with the cars own heater, most certainly has though.

The guy who advised it on the other forum, said it worked well for him, although I can't verify that, but 3 days on and mine is still odour free, so I am very hopeful. It hasn't smelt this sweet for months!