My car smells old and musty everytime i turn on the air conditioner!! any advice? its embarassing! also, the air freshners that hang from rearview mirrors, they give me a headache!
2006-08-21 10:13:51 · 16 answers · asked by Me 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Have an auto tech remove the evaporator coil from under the dash and clean out the leaves and things that are rotten at the bottom of the unit when cleaned up reinstalled and a/c is running make sure the drain to the outside is dripping water. This damp A/C evaporator collects some funky stuff Lysol and high pressure washer to get the crud out and Citrus dish washing liquid cleaner to freshen things up if that smell you like.
2006-08-21 10:33:06 · answer #1 · answered by John Paul 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The evaporator draws the hot moist air out of the car. The moisture acculates in the housing that contains the heater core and evaporator. If not all the water drips out of the housing it will accumulate and start to smell. If you have a vehicle that has a blower fan that is easy to get out you could take that out and pour some hot soapy water into the housing. Use a funnel or something to make sure you are getting it under the exaporator. Somehow the drain hose may be clogged too and not allow the water that has condensed on the evaporator to drain. Look unerneather the car on a hot and humid day and see where or if water is coming out of the car. It is usually on the passenger side near where a passenger would put their feet.
2006-08-21 11:13:37 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what you car is. Most late model cars have a cabin filter that can become clogged and could start smelling, however it most likely is not that. The air conditioner uses an evaporator in side the car that produces water as a by product of turn hot air to cold air. This usually drains under you car, the puddle you see under peoples cars at the mall. If the drain gets plugged mold will grow. That is most likely the smell. Take your car to a shop and have it checked. Some cars its easy to get to others harder so it could cost $ 85 to $300.
2006-08-21 10:32:16 · answer #3 · answered by uthockey32 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A very common problem that the dealer shop is used to fixing. Sometimes the A/C condensate drain line needs cleaning and then they spray disinfectant into your evaporator coil housing to kill the mold and mildew that makes the smell. When you start using the heater, the smell will probably eventually go away as the system dries out. Try driving around with all the windows open and the heater and fan on high for a few days. Maybe that will temporarily solve the problem, and you'll be nice and warm too!
2006-08-21 10:26:37 · answer #4 · answered by bobweb 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have mold growing on the a/c evaporator, like a window a/c unit, water condensates on it and it drains off out of the car,
There is a good possibility that your drain is clogged and water is remaining in the evaporator pan,(under center if dash, near the floor), If you hear water sloshing around when you take a corner, that's it. But this can occur even without a drainage problem, As you are breathing mold this Is not good for you, try to locate the rubber drain tube on the fire wall(underhood) that is just below the two aluminum a/c lines going into car, poke it out and try to remove any leaves and debris clogging it, otherwise consider taking it in for the expensive cleaning and repair as this is not good for you to be exposed to everyday, good luck
2006-08-21 10:37:37 · answer #5 · answered by supervfive 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds as if your condensation line is plugged up and you're getting blockage, which creates a musty/moldy smell.
Have your mechanic check on the drainage line from your cars' air conditioner.
This is a problem I had once a year with my Volvo.
Always had to have the line cleaned out.
2006-08-21 10:21:09 · answer #6 · answered by docscholl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bobweb is right on this one. This is a fairly common problem. Have it checked out to insure the A/C drain hose is free so that the moisture can escape the heater/AC housing and then find a dealership or parts store that sells the evaporator cleaning solution and follow the instructions that come with it and it should help your problem.
2006-08-21 15:31:44 · answer #7 · answered by Iknowthisone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LoL... My car use to smell when I turned on the air conditioner... It would blow out dust and stuff... I just brought it to the mechanics to get an oil change and they told me it was my air filter... It only cost like $15 now it's clean and new smelling...
Well now I need to clean my apholster in my car and it will be sparkling.
2006-08-21 10:22:41 · answer #8 · answered by thought 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it does sound like mold somewhere in the air-con system, i would take it to a garage and get them to do a clean out of all the air-con vents and systems, the mold can be hazardous to Ur health, if Ur breathing in the mold spores, they can cause all sorts of problems, so get it fixed quick
2006-08-21 10:30:49 · answer #9 · answered by caprilover79 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is caused my mold and/or mildew in evaporator case. Try this link and you can find a shop that can clean it without tearing the whole dash apart. http://www.bgprod.com/products/climatecontrol.html
2006-08-21 13:25:05 · answer #10 · answered by TonynNC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋