Killing mold in AC with Lysol ???
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Canada
2003 C240
Killing mold in AC with Lysol ???
Hey everyone,
I've got some mold build up in the AC/heater and it's giving off an unpleasant scent. So I'm thinking of spraying Lysol (disinfectant, kills mold and bacteria)
but don't know where to spray it. The air exits via the air vents but I need help figuring out where the air enters. I realize that I need to put it on recycling air from within the car mode vs taking air from outside of the car.
Thanks
I've got some mold build up in the AC/heater and it's giving off an unpleasant scent. So I'm thinking of spraying Lysol (disinfectant, kills mold and bacteria)
but don't know where to spray it. The air exits via the air vents but I need help figuring out where the air enters. I realize that I need to put it on recycling air from within the car mode vs taking air from outside of the car.
Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 466
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
2005 Volvo S40 T5 AWD, 2004.5 C230 Sport Sedan, 2005 E320 CDI, 2008 C300 4-Matic Luxury
Originally Posted by Outland
Have the dealership blow out the drain vent. Also, run your AC more often. Using the economy setting allows moisture to accumulate easier.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Canada
2003 C240
My last sevice B included a new airfilter. Still got the problem. I'm going to ask the dealership to blow the drain vent. I hope that works. Do you guys think that spraying the lysol will do any good?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 1
From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
Ive already had this problem with my car. Its the drain hole, and lack of using the AC to reduce moisture in the car.
Once that's blown out, run the car's heater on high for several days. Then make sure you don't use the economy setting when you defrost the windows or in the rain. That's what the tech said, and its not returned.
Once that's blown out, run the car's heater on high for several days. Then make sure you don't use the economy setting when you defrost the windows or in the rain. That's what the tech said, and its not returned.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: West Covina, CA
2004 C230k (SOLD), 2005 C230k (Lease ended), 2004 Carrera 4 Cab, 2007 530i
Good luck with that...I had same problems...took it to dealer they sprayed disinfectant but smell came back in less than a week. Ended up they had to replace the whole respirator. So dar the smell is gone...hope it will never come back.
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area, CA
06' W164
203 evap
Originally Posted by polar240
Hey everyone,
I've got some mold build up in the AC/heater and it's giving off an unpleasant scent. So I'm thinking of spraying Lysol (disinfectant, kills mold and bacteria)
but don't know where to spray it. The air exits via the air vents but I need help figuring out where the air enters. I realize that I need to put it on recycling air from within the car mode vs taking air from outside of the car.
Thanks
I've got some mold build up in the AC/heater and it's giving off an unpleasant scent. So I'm thinking of spraying Lysol (disinfectant, kills mold and bacteria)
but don't know where to spray it. The air exits via the air vents but I need help figuring out where the air enters. I realize that I need to put it on recycling air from within the car mode vs taking air from outside of the car.
Thanks
My understanding is that this problem is caused by the compact design of the a/c evaporator core...the spaces between the fins are soo small that moisture does not drain properly from the heater case (whether the drain is open or not). MBZ recently release a bulletin to all dealers regarding this issue. There is a special foam cleaner to be injected into the heater case to eliminate bacteria. Once you have killed all the bacteria in the system, the best way to keep this from re-occuring is to turn off the a/c and allow the blower to run, with or without heat, for several minutes before leaving the vehicle.
Several other automotive mfg's have had the same problem in the past, one example I recall was on several GM vehicles a special module was installed that would run the blower motor to dry out the heater case for 10-15 minutes after the ignition was switched off.
Hope this helps.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Unbelievably,
When I got my car back from Smyth recently, there was a rotted orange sitting on the floor, completely covered in grey mold.
Since then, I cannot get rid of the smell, and the stench permeates everything that I put in the car, including me, and my clothing.
Opening my laptop bag, releases the fragrant odor of rotted fruit.
When I went to pick up the car, they made me wait for 30 minutes while they washed, and supposedly vacuumed the car.
Yet, when I looked on the floor of the back seat, there sat the most disgusting thing....I took into the service dept and asked,
WTF? Didn't get an answer....how could they leave an orange to rot in my car?
I may have been guilty of putting the orange there in the first place, missed it, when I dropped off the car, but certainly would not have left it to rot for 2 weeks.
NOW, as far as solutions, there are devices that generate
Ozone which kills bacteria and mold.
Some detail shops have them, and I found a local dealer willing to loan me one, since he rents them to Realtors to remove odors from mountain (read moldy) homes....
I'll let you know how that works out.
I shoulda made Smyth keep the car and have their detail shop do it.
When I got my car back from Smyth recently, there was a rotted orange sitting on the floor, completely covered in grey mold.
Since then, I cannot get rid of the smell, and the stench permeates everything that I put in the car, including me, and my clothing.
Opening my laptop bag, releases the fragrant odor of rotted fruit.
When I went to pick up the car, they made me wait for 30 minutes while they washed, and supposedly vacuumed the car.
Yet, when I looked on the floor of the back seat, there sat the most disgusting thing....I took into the service dept and asked,
WTF? Didn't get an answer....how could they leave an orange to rot in my car?
I may have been guilty of putting the orange there in the first place, missed it, when I dropped off the car, but certainly would not have left it to rot for 2 weeks.
NOW, as far as solutions, there are devices that generate
Ozone which kills bacteria and mold.
Some detail shops have them, and I found a local dealer willing to loan me one, since he rents them to Realtors to remove odors from mountain (read moldy) homes....
I'll let you know how that works out.
I shoulda made Smyth keep the car and have their detail shop do it.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 466
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
2005 Volvo S40 T5 AWD, 2004.5 C230 Sport Sedan, 2005 E320 CDI, 2008 C300 4-Matic Luxury
UV light also works, if you can get your hands on a UV light and shine it on that spot or where ever else, the longer you keep it shining on, the more it kills 
