Odour problem - SLK Air con

[gpilko]

Hi

I've got a 99 SLK 230K which has covered 20K miles. Air con works great and is nice and cold, but if you've been using it and switch it off, there is a strange almost fishy smell for about 5 mins afterwards.

I know if I go down to the stealer, they'll tell me it needs the full Air con service and regassing, but I'm sure this is way over the top. I know you can get a build up of bacteria in the system, which I think could be the cause?

Is there a nice sensibly priced way to cure this problem, as I say, the air con works great, it's just a shame about the smell!!

All advice welcome.

Guy.

 

[mjtray]

Bacteria builds up in the air vents of an air conditioned car and this can lead to all sorts of strange smells.

There are some new products on the market at the moment which you can buy which will get rid of the smell for you.

Its in a spray can which you let off in the cabin whilst the air con and engine are switched on. Make sure you switch on the air recirculation switch and leave it running for 15 minutes. The substance in the can will be vented into your cabin and then recirculated through the air vents killing off the bacteria.

Halfords or a good autofactor should stock it....if I remember correctly I think Wynns may have been one of the companies making this stuff.

By all accounts it works very well.

 

[gpilko]

Thanks for the reply.

I couldn't find the Wynns stuff, but I got an equivalent by Comma, which I found on ebay. I tried it last night and it seems to have got rid of the smell, although the spray ends up everywhere!!

Cleaning the dash/seats sure beats having the car making you feel ill though, Thanks!

Guy.

 

[190]

Filter

Try changing your pollon Filter about £15

 

[landrover]

SMELL

HAS YOUR DOG DONE ANYTHING IN CAR .[EVEN A LITTLE SH**E]?????JUST ASKING.

 

[mark999]

A tip on Honest Johns forums was to use Neutradol as a cheaper alternative

 

[gpilko]

Thanks for the reply. I thought about the air freshener, but apparently you get a build up of bacteria, which is what causes the odour, Neutradol just masks the smell for a bit - then it comes back.

I'd recommend the Comma air con cleaner, it's completely cured the problem on mine, I do admit to being a bit sceptical, Comma don't usually make the highest class of car accessories but, credit where credits due, this stuff was really good.

I think this sort of problem only occurs when you hardly ever use the air con, like in a convertable. I've had plently of other cars of a similar age with air con and never had a problem.

Thanks for the help.