Foul Smell Coming from Car AC

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Foul Smell Coming from Car AC

meetmarvin

19 posts

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#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

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#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

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#1919630 14-Dec-2017 15:31

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.

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plod

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#1919635 14-Dec-2017 15:39

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

Boeingflyer

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#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

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#1919683 14-Dec-2017 17:27

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

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

jnimmo

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#1919760 14-Dec-2017 18:02

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

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cadman

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#1919941 14-Dec-2017 23:59

I'm going to go with dead rat.

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meetmarvin

19 posts

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#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