A/C smells terrible
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Dallas
2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
A/C smells terrible
For the past month or two..my a/c smells NASTY for about 5 mins when first turning it on. I immediately get a blast of something similar to...rotting garbage..then it eventually goes away. The weird part is that it only happens sometimes, not every time. Mostly if my car has been sitting overnight, or all day.
Very irritating..anyone else experienced this?
Very irritating..anyone else experienced this?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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2008 C300 Sport
there's a thread about this somewhere. if I remember correctly, the condensation from the A/C builds up and when you turn your car off it starts to build mold in your A/C lines. That's the smell.
You can get them cleaned out by your dealer. At the end of every long car ride with the A/C I blast it on high with the AC off to "wash-out" the built-up condensation - some even turn on the heater for a minute, but I still get the "smell" only on a much smaller scale.
You can get them cleaned out by your dealer. At the end of every long car ride with the A/C I blast it on high with the AC off to "wash-out" the built-up condensation - some even turn on the heater for a minute, but I still get the "smell" only on a much smaller scale.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 556
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From: California
2008 Sport C-300, 2003 Accord Coupe V6
For the past month or two..my a/c smells NASTY for about 5 mins when first turning it on. I immediately get a blast of something similar to...rotting garbage..then it eventually goes away. The weird part is that it only happens sometimes, not every time. Mostly if my car has been sitting overnight, or all day.
Very irritating..anyone else experienced this?
Very irritating..anyone else experienced this?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
For the past month or two..my a/c smells NASTY for about 5 mins when first turning it on. I immediately get a blast of something similar to...rotting garbage..then it eventually goes away. The weird part is that it only happens sometimes, not every time. Mostly if my car has been sitting overnight, or all day.
Very irritating..anyone else experienced this?
Very irritating..anyone else experienced this?
It seems we have the same model year/same model....I never get this problem. But, I notice one difference....you said, "...when first turning it on". I never turn it on...its been on AUTO since delivery almost a year ago with only minor temp dial change or an occasional MAX COOL when I'm trying to get ice cream home from the grocery store. The system works perfectly, is powerful, and has no smell at all. Maybe it needs to always be on?
Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 232
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From: Southern Cali
CLK320, Honda Ruckus, pinto & BMX
moisture causes mold build up.. yeah...
happened to my integra.. turned it on and it smelled like ****.. then goes away or maybe i got used to it since i m in the car...
happened to my integra.. turned it on and it smelled like ****.. then goes away or maybe i got used to it since i m in the car...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Mold
It seems we have the same model year/same model....I never get this problem. But, I notice one difference....you said, "...when first turning it on". I never turn it on...its been on AUTO since delivery almost a year ago with only minor temp dial change or an occasional MAX COOL when I'm trying to get ice cream home from the grocery store. The system works perfectly, is powerful, and has no smell at all. Maybe it needs to always be on?
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Toronto
2008 C300 Sport 4matic
Mine doesn't smell like garbage, luckily, but it does smell like musty wet plywood.
I've heard a lot of good reviews for Einszett A/C cleaner:
http://www.1z-usa.com/AC_Cleaner.html
I've heard a lot of good reviews for Einszett A/C cleaner:
http://www.1z-usa.com/AC_Cleaner.html
Thread Starter
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From: Dallas
2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Southbay
'86 190E, '93 CAMRY V6 XLE, '94 626-LXV6, '96 328is, '09 C350
depends on place where people lives.. for people who lives in high humidity area. after run the A/C the A/C line will accumulate condensation water around the pipes and absorbed into insulation and ducts.. sometime the mold grows in the ducts and that is why it smells like garbage.. if the smell persist. need to have the ducts cleaned out.. clean the cabinet filter might help .. and have some dessicants inside the car to obsorb the moisture..
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
There is a simple solution in high humidity areas . Turn off the A/C 5 minutes before shutting down at the end of each day. A matter of management .Try it .
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From: Dallas
2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
Dallas isn't really a high humidity area though..I'm reluctant to think that's the problem. None of my other cars have done this and I lived in New England which was even more humid.
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
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C300 Sport 6MT
My Volvo XC90 has what has to be the best "Why don't all manufacturers have this?" feature: Approximately 15mins after the car has been shut off and the A/C had been used, the car turns on the fan blower to high for 5-10mins, then shuts down. Four years later and not a single weird smell from the A/C!!!
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From: Inland Empire, CA
C300, 330i, MDX
