Help with smelly aircon!

[BHML]

Ever since I got my car 1.5 years ago, I've kept the aircon constantly running as I was led to believe this would prolong the efdiciency of the system and make it less likely to go wrong. But in the last few days I've noticed a really bad smell whenever aircon is on. Maybe bacterial build up in the vents or a soggy pollen filter?

Anyway is there a quick fix as we will be travelling in a few days. I remember hearing about sprays that you can spray into the vents to take away the smell- do these work? Any other suggestions please? The vehicle is a 60 plate Octavia vRS.

[TheD]

It isn't a curry type of smell is it.

[GroundEffect]

Someone's farted in your vents.

[Burrito]

I've used similar stuff to this before and it's worked okay. Usually get a mildly damp smell when the ac is turned off though. Could be a faulty unit, is it blowing cold?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-76107-Vehicle-Condi...

[mybrainhurts]

You can get an aerosol that discharges inside the car with the aircon on. Tesco used to sell them for a fiver, but I've not seen them there for a while. Carplan, I think.

Halfords do one, but it costs more.

It certainly works, but not for long.

[SmoothCriminal]

I had this stale smell in my car also, what I found that cleared it up was to turn the air con off 5 mins before the end of your journey and just run it on the fans clearing out the air con system.

[mybrainhurts]

That won't get rid of bacteria.

[Zoobeef]

I would make sure the drain pipe is clear that drains the condensation from the evaporator. Then change the pollen filter and use a bug bomb inside the car. That should clear up the probs.

[Pothole]

Zoobeef said:

I would pipe bomb the car. That should clear up the probs.

EFA

[mybrainhurts]

Harsh...

[klonB]

Check cooling coil. might have to dismantle half the car to get to it .

[jbi]

there are various disinfectants that can be used to clean out your vents.

To clean out the evaporator itself requires degassing at a garage.

here are some good tips from another forum...

- Clean the car once every 15 days and make sure any food crumbs or other material which can foster fungi is cleaned out using a good cleaner
- Make it a point that you park your car in sun once in a while so that inside of the car gets heated. This helps especially in our cold damp British climate
- When ever you get a chance make sure that you take air from outside into the car. Closed air helps fungi grow faster than clean air from outside.
- Use some good car perfume, Amby pure is one I have been using for a while, I am not sure if this has any anti fungi and anti bacterial properties but it atleast masks the foul smell that emanates from the AC ducts.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/2878...

[98elise]

You don't need to run the AC all the time, it jas moving parts so will wear out quicker. It will also sap power and use more fuel.

You just need to run it once in a while to keep everthing free/lubricated.

Its also a good idea to shut it off 5 minutes before the end of your journey to dry the coils as much ad possible

[RicksAlfas]

98elise said:

You don't need to run the AC all the time, it jas moving parts so will wear out quicker. It will also sap power and use more fuel.

You just need to run it once in a while to keep everthing free/lubricated.

Its also a good idea to shut it off 5 minutes before the end of your journey to dry the coils as much ad possible

Many cars now have climate control rather than the old fashioned on/off AC button, so this advice may be a bit counter productive for some cars.

[Number 5]

60 plate, take it back to the dealer and ask them to take a look.

[Dr Interceptor]

Can just be a little bit of bacteria in the aircon system causing the smell... To kill it:

Turn on the vents and aircon at full power on maximum heat, run for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes, switch the temp setting to maximum cooling as quickly as possible, and run for another 2 minutes.
Again after 2 minutes, switch to maximum heat as quickly as possible.

Repeat for as long as you care, or can be arsed to.

The wild extremes in temperature can help kill off the nasty stuff that makes the smell.

[98elise]

Duplicate post....bloody phone!

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 27th March 17:26

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 27th March 17:27

[98elise]

Duplicate post....bloody phone!

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 27th March 17:26

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 27th March 17:27

[Condi]

Get some anti-bacterial stuff. I try and use it at work on machines which only get used during summer, nearly always end up with a throat infection within a few days of being in them for 12 hours a day. 10 minuet recirculate with a bacteria bomb or whatever it was called - £11 from Halfords I think? kills everything and makes it smell nice for a while.

[nosuchuser]

Condi said:

Get some anti-bacterial stuff. I try and use it at work on machines which only get used during summer, nearly always end up with a throat infection within a few days of being in them for 12 hours a day. 10 minuet recirculate with a bacteria bomb or whatever it was called - £11 from Halfords I think? kills everything and makes it smell nice for a while.

+1 for the Halfords thingy. Brought a car from a smoker, it reeked but the aerosol sorted that out nicely.