Why is that? Is like an old musty smell when I first crank the car with the AC on and then it dissapears after a while. What can be done for this minor issue? It happened to one of my other vehicles a long time ago, but I cannot remember what they did to alleviate the smell.
2007-08-23 08:35:45 · 7 answers · asked by Ashlie 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It has mold or fungus on the AC evaporator. (the part in the dash). It gets there because all that water/condensation you see running out of the car starts on the evap. When you shut the car off in the heat and roll up the windows the bacteria in the condesation on the evap now has a perfect environment to grow.
A number of products on the market claim to help with this.
I have found running the car with the AC on, the windows cracked and the temp selector cranked up 90% towards HOT(not 100% because you want the heat to mix with the AC) Run the car for at least 30 minutes. IT WILL GET HOT inside the car. HOT AND DRY, Turn it off, don't use the AC for a day or so and retry it. Works about 1/2 the time and usually at least helps.
2007-08-23 08:51:35 · answer #1 · answered by 25 years experience! # 2!!!!!!!! 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
THE MOLD WILL HAVE TO BE KILLED OFF FIRST AND THIS PROCESS MAY TAKE A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DO.
WHAT I HAVE DONE ON SOME VEHICLES IS INSTALL A SEPARATE SMALL BLOWER IN THE EVAPORATOR HOUSING IF THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM THAT WILL RUN FOR 5 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURN OFF.
THIS WILL DYE OUT THE EVAPORATOR CORE ASSEMBLY AND STOP THE MOLD BUILD UP.
THE OTHER WAY THAT YOU CAN DO THIS IS BEFORE YOU TURN OFF THE CAR TURN OFF THE A/C AND RUN THE BLOWER IN THE VENT MODE ONLY AND THIS WILL DO THE SAME AS I STATED ABOVE.
2007-08-27 03:31:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the drain for the A/C system. Sometimes these become clogged, allowing water to stay inside the vehicle and in turn cause mildew which doesn't smell very pleasant. When you have the A/C running, get out and look under the vehicle to see if water is dripping down. If it's not dripping at all, or very slowly, you could have a clog. Also check to see if your car has cabin filter, changing it will help too
2007-08-23 08:41:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its mold and it builds up over time. My mechanic poured some disinfectant down the outside vents in front of the windhshield and then ran the ac on high for a few minutes. the smell went away.
2007-08-23 08:44:23 · answer #4 · answered by psstoffagain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They may have sprayed a cleaner into the heater box where the cooling coil and the heater core are located. It is most likely a form of mold. Stop by the dealer and see what they suggest. Good luck.
2007-08-23 08:40:42 · answer #5 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a fungus amungus or
heater core leaking rad juice.
if it smells sickeningly sweet , its rad juice.
if it smells funky like under your house then its fungus.
if its the former you will soon know by the leaking for green or orange juice on passenger floor.
if its that latter, you can buy a special spray that kills fungus in car AC units, just use it.
Its the fungus. if it goes away.
you could drive around with the heater on full bore to kill it
but you wont like that.
FUNGASCIDE to the rescue.
2007-08-23 13:31:55 · answer #6 · answered by gearhead 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you might have a freon leak
2007-08-23 08:43:06 · answer #7 · answered by k 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋