My AirCon STINKS!

[benzo]

Went away for 14 days. Left the car parked... Came back on Sunday and took the car out.

A couple of minutes driving and I notice a really horrible smell in the car, like I have driven past an open sewer with the windows open -only the smell is coming from my A/C vents. It goes away if I turn the AC off and leave just the fan on. Can't do that constantly in this warm weather.

Anyone know what might be wrong? The car was just serviced at MB last month!

04 E320CDI

Thanks.

 

[inah]

I guess your car have a bunged or mold growing on the A/C evaporator in the HVAC ducting. It comes from excessive moisture building up in the HVAC. The drain tube is probably clogged. You must get water dripping from the drain on the ground behind the pass tire after using the A/C. Or maybe any sort of disinfectant spray would work too-watch out for the perfume ones though-I think cat would smell better...

 

[vijilants]

Get a can of the air con cleaner from Halfords. You discharge the can inside the car with the aircon running and it cleans out all the bacteria.

That should sort it out

 

[Chas]

Went away for 14 days. Left the car parked... Came back on Sunday and took the car out.

A couple of minutes driving and I notice a really horrible smell in the car, like I have driven past an open sewer with the windows open -only the smell is coming from my A/C vents. It goes away if I turn the AC off and leave just the fan on. Can't do that constantly in this warm weather.

Anyone know what might be wrong? The car was just serviced at MB last month!

04 E320CDI

Thanks.

Its a common complaint.

Get a can of COMMA air con cleaner from Halfords-£11.

This should eliminate viruses/bacteria for about 4 months.

The trick is to put your air con on full for 5 minutes before you finish every journey. This should keep the bugs at bay on a more permanent basis.

 

[benzo]

Thanks all, I'll visit Halfords first thing tomorrow.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Get a can of the air con cleaner from Halfords. You discharge the can inside the car with the aircon running and it cleans out all the bacteria.

That should sort it out

Yep - did that treatment to my ML 12 months ago - no problems since.

 

[rapide]

air con stink

park up ( engine running) put heater controls on full heat, blower on full it will dry out any left over condensate left in trunking, leave for a couple of minutes then go to extreme cold the temp change will kill bugs , like pasturising food / drinks. been doing it with mine for 6 years no smells at all and cheap! , well it was( petrol prices). of course open doors or you might cook!

 

[pma]

I had a Volvo V70 a half hour after you stoped the heater fan went on for about 15 mins to dry out the system you never got any bad smells
If I remeber I switch off the AC 10 or 15 mins befor the end of my trip so any damp can dry out

 

[benzo]

The comma treatment worked. Smell has disappeared. The alternate extreme heat and extreme cold method crossed my mind also, but never got round to trying it.