Foul Smell Coming from Car AC

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meetmarvin

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#225993 14-Dec-2017 15:26

Hi,

Anyone here can help me diagnose what is causing that foul smell coming out from my car's AC? I recently bought that car and just noticed that smell after a month. It is very random and I can't figure out what is causing it. I had it fully serviced by Toyota and they recommended replacing my water pump due to leak and also a regas. They said that they didn't smell what I mentioned before they check it. It is really a weird smell and I'm not familiar with it. Something like a spoil food. It is really annoying because it is very random. Any recommended AC specialist in Christchurch?

TIA

RunningMan

5766 posts

Uber Geek

#1919629 14-Dec-2017 15:31

It's likely bacteria growing in the system. Various products to address it

http://search.supercheapauto.co.nz/search?w=air%20conditioner%20cleaner

kiwifidget

1812 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1919630 14-Dec-2017 15:31

One person supports this post

One time, in band camp, my car aircon smelled.

It was because a rat was living in my engine and its poos and wees smell was coming through the aircon ducts.

Rat was duly killed, and engine cleaned as best I could, but it was some weeks before the smell went away.

Life is too short to remove USB safely.

plod

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1919635 14-Dec-2017 15:39

One person supports this post

Have you changed your cabin filter? Ususally located in glove box if you drop the glove box door down.

Boeingflyer

586 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1919681 14-Dec-2017 17:19

Let me guess, a jap import?

If so this happened to me, they did a good job masking it and it took approx a month to come back up. It's from all the smoke built up in car from smoking with the windows up because its so cold over there.

Tried everything and had no luck.

MikeB4

14899 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1919683 14-Dec-2017 17:27

Are you sure it's the AC and not your cleaner water bottle?

Mike
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jnimmo

What does this tag do
1025 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1919760 14-Dec-2017 18:02

2 people support this post

Had this issue for a while and addressed it by learning to to turn off the AC cooling a few minutes before turning off the car. i.e. when turning onto my street got in the habit of turning it off. Apparently this gives the system a little time to release any moisture instead of it sitting within the ventilation system.

You could try running the fan for 10 minutes on full heat to dry out the system; do that over a few days and see if it helps

cadman

1014 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1919815 14-Dec-2017 19:34

MikeB4: Are you sure it's the AC and not your cleaner water bottle?

Are you saying there are actually people other than me that put something other than just plain water in there?

cadman

1014 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1919820 14-Dec-2017 19:41

jnimmo:

Had this issue for a while and addressed it by learning to to turn off the AC cooling a few minutes before turning off the car. i.e. when turning onto my street got in the habit of turning it off. Apparently this gives the system a little time to release any moisture instead of it sitting within the ventilation system.

You could try running the fan for 10 minutes on full heat to dry out the system; do that over a few days and see if it helps

The air coming out after the evaporator will be much drier than atmospheric air. The act of cooling the air over it forms condensation on the evaporator from the atmospheric air which drains to the road. So there's less moisture in the ducts than if you used atmospheric air.

If that method you've suggested works for your car, you probably have at a partially blocked drain from the evaporator housing preventing the condensation drain away fast enough, which is then re-evaporating before condensing in the ventilation ducts again. You should see water coming from a hose (normally close to the firewall) on humid days with the A/C running as the condensation drains away.

Fred99

9667 posts

Uber Geek

#1919925 14-Dec-2017 23:05

meetmarvin:

Any recommended AC specialist in Christchurch?

http://www.vantageauto.co.nz/

Horrible website, but very good service from my past experience.

Technofreak

3576 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1919928 14-Dec-2017 23:11

jnimmo:

Had this issue for a while and addressed it by learning to to turn off the AC cooling a few minutes before turning off the car. i.e. when turning onto my street got in the habit of turning it off. Apparently this gives the system a little time to release any moisture instead of it sitting within the ventilation system.

You could try running the fan for 10 minutes on full heat to dry out the system; do that over a few days and see if it helps

I do the same. I've found this works with two cars I've owned. It seems a small amount of water (condensation) always remains trapped (at least in some aircon systems) if the engine is switched off while the aircon it still operating. A musty smell is the outcome. Shutting off the aircon a minute or so (in fact 15 to 30 seconds seems enough) prior to switching off the engine stops the musty smell occurring. It's my guess this gives enough time to purge the moisture that is being created by the aircon process.

My wife leaves the aircon on and nearly every time I get into her car I notice the musty smell. She doesn't notice it.

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lNomNoml

1477 posts

Uber Geek

#1919941 14-Dec-2017 23:59

I'm going to go with dead rat.

meetmarvin

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1920125 15-Dec-2017 12:01

Thank you very muc for all your inputs. I really appreciate it. I'll check it tomorrow morning. I have a mechanic friend and will see what is the one causing it.

PS
The rat thing is the best. lol