Stale smell from A/C
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: TX
13 Lunar Blue GL550, 06 Imola Red BMW X5 4.8is, 04 Gold Honda Ody
Stale smell from A/C
Hello,
I have been having a weird problem with my A/C lately. Sometimes when I turn the A/C on the smell from it is kinda stale almost musty. But sometimes when I turn it on it's the fresh smell thats distinct to MB and the one I am used to. This started Monday, the only thing I did over the weekend was to remove the stereo, the ashtray and the console above the ashtray to get to the stereo as it was not coming out with the stereo removal keys. I did notice that behind the ashtray compartment there were three white chalky tablets almost looked like altoids and left a powder on my fingers when I removed them and threw them away. I don't know if they were air freshners or not. Has anyone come across this issue or seen the white tablets before?
Thanks in advance.
I have been having a weird problem with my A/C lately. Sometimes when I turn the A/C on the smell from it is kinda stale almost musty. But sometimes when I turn it on it's the fresh smell thats distinct to MB and the one I am used to. This started Monday, the only thing I did over the weekend was to remove the stereo, the ashtray and the console above the ashtray to get to the stereo as it was not coming out with the stereo removal keys. I did notice that behind the ashtray compartment there were three white chalky tablets almost looked like altoids and left a powder on my fingers when I removed them and threw them away. I don't know if they were air freshners or not. Has anyone come across this issue or seen the white tablets before?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by sbarsap; Mar 16, 2005 at 09:34 PM.
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
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From: Los Angeles, CA
'84 911 Carrera & '01 E320
um, are you kidding? I am.
Neighbors' cat is most likely stuck up between the heater inlet and the exhaust manifold.
It's either time to remove the cat or replace the filter, your choice.
My neighbors' cat doesn't eat altoids, so I can't comment on why yours left them inside the console. Suggest a better food for the next cat so that breath mints are not required.
Check for free french fries under the seat, I hear they were offered with some models.
+++
It's either time to remove the cat or replace the filter, your choice.
My neighbors' cat doesn't eat altoids, so I can't comment on why yours left them inside the console. Suggest a better food for the next cat so that breath mints are not required.
Check for free french fries under the seat, I hear they were offered with some models.
+++
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
Likes: 1
From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
Assuming that you have removed the cat and the smell still lingers, I see that you are from HumidHouston. The smell may be mold or mildew on the AC evaporator coils. There are several mold and mildew spray products that could help your problem. I have a similar problem when the humidity is high in the DFW area. I spray down the air intake with the fan on low until I can smell the spray coming out the vents in the car. This usually solves the problem for a month or so.
Jim
Jim
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 6
From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Could be that the condensate drain has been clogged or restricted causing moistute to remain in the unit. Check out the drain. In fact you may have disturbed it and restricted it by what you did.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: TX
13 Lunar Blue GL550, 06 Imola Red BMW X5 4.8is, 04 Gold Honda Ody
Thanks guys, I suspected it was mold but the smell is different. I had mold in my previous car, so I know what is smells like. I fixed it by using lysol. I actually tried one of those mold away sprays from auto zone and it went away for a day but the lysol worked great.
On a serious note I am not kidding about the white tablets, maybe the previous owner was a drug dealer, LOL. I guess I should have sold the tablets to some crackhead.
On a serious note I am not kidding about the white tablets, maybe the previous owner was a drug dealer, LOL. I guess I should have sold the tablets to some crackhead.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: TX
13 Lunar Blue GL550, 06 Imola Red BMW X5 4.8is, 04 Gold Honda Ody
Originally Posted by sosh
Could be that the condensate drain has been clogged or restricted causing moistute to remain in the unit. Check out the drain. In fact you may have disturbed it and restricted it by what you did.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 6
From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
I am not quite sure. However it would be under the condensor and there is probably a tray or such to catch the condensate that the drain goes into. Never had this problem with the 210 I had but did have it with my ML and it was the drain tube, repaired by dealer.
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Member
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From: Los Angeles, CA
'84 911 Carrera & '01 E320
in all seriousness....
the easiest way to determine if the drain is plugged would be to run the A/C until the output is as cold as you might expect it to get, then park the car on a clean, dry driveway. Within a few minutes (or less), the condensate should be discharged onto the ground. If not, then the tube may be plugged leaving this liquid somewhere in the car to either overflow to where it shouldn't be (carpet, padding, etc.), or to mold up the fins, etc. of the condenser unit.
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