Air vents terrible smell
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10
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From: Bradford, ON
2009 W211 Bluetec
Air vents terrible smell
Hi everyone!
Newbie here and in MB world in general. My W211 has about 230k km's on it and is has a pretty nasty smell coming out the vents no matter if heat or AC is on. I went to Canadian Tire and bought a can with supposedly cleaner that you turn on and close doors with full blast AC with air re circulation on. But I think that made it worse... I was looking at products like this, looks like it's basically a foam that expands within the heater core/evaporator and cleans out all the nastiness magically. Has anyone had experience with this or any other product that does the trick? Any how to's would be much appreciated as well
Thanks!
Newbie here and in MB world in general. My W211 has about 230k km's on it and is has a pretty nasty smell coming out the vents no matter if heat or AC is on. I went to Canadian Tire and bought a can with supposedly cleaner that you turn on and close doors with full blast AC with air re circulation on. But I think that made it worse... I was looking at products like this, looks like it's basically a foam that expands within the heater core/evaporator and cleans out all the nastiness magically. Has anyone had experience with this or any other product that does the trick? Any how to's would be much appreciated as well
Thanks!
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 55
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From: Mid-Atlantic
W211 - 2003
I'd start with changing the air filters. Depending on your model, there may be cabin filters below the glove compartment that you can change or it may be one single air filter under the hood in the rear left section of the bay.
The old filters could be musty and gross... but I'd start there before I started spraying foams into the vents.
The old filters could be musty and gross... but I'd start there before I started spraying foams into the vents.
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Sacramento, CA
2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2008 ML550 4Matic; 2004 C320
I'd start with changing the air filters. Depending on your model, there may be cabin filters below the glove compartment that you can change or it may be one single air filter under the hood in the rear left section of the bay.
The old filters could be musty and gross... but I'd start there before I started spraying foams into the vents.
The old filters could be musty and gross... but I'd start there before I started spraying foams into the vents.
Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 238
Likes: 9
From: Toronto
2009 e class 2012 ml350
if it smells like burned rubber, look up one of my old posts
Hi everyone!
Newbie here and in MB world in general. My W211 has about 230k km's on it and is has a pretty nasty smell coming out the vents no matter if heat or AC is on. I went to Canadian Tire and bought a can with supposedly cleaner that you turn on and close doors with full blast AC with air re circulation on. But I think that made it worse... I was looking at products like this, looks like it's basically a foam that expands within the heater core/evaporator and cleans out all the nastiness magically. Has anyone had experience with this or any other product that does the trick? Any how to's would be much appreciated as well
Thanks!
https://www.amazon.ca/Lubegard-96030...V1CW8B5SVKN7XN
Newbie here and in MB world in general. My W211 has about 230k km's on it and is has a pretty nasty smell coming out the vents no matter if heat or AC is on. I went to Canadian Tire and bought a can with supposedly cleaner that you turn on and close doors with full blast AC with air re circulation on. But I think that made it worse... I was looking at products like this, looks like it's basically a foam that expands within the heater core/evaporator and cleans out all the nastiness magically. Has anyone had experience with this or any other product that does the trick? Any how to's would be much appreciated as well
Thanks!
https://www.amazon.ca/Lubegard-96030...V1CW8B5SVKN7XN
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
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w211 03'
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 106
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2008 E550
Pretty sure his 09 doesn't have the option to "Activate" it as I've read the previous models can. But he can still get the carbon air filter and it just functions automatically.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
Evap coils may need to soak in some klima detergent... also you must change the air filters
additionally if still bad you can run an ozone machine for 30 min in the car on recirc air mode
additionally if still bad you can run an ozone machine for 30 min in the car on recirc air mode
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Bradford, ON
2009 W211 Bluetec
I'd start with changing the air filters. Depending on your model, there may be cabin filters below the glove compartment that you can change or it may be one single air filter under the hood in the rear left section of the bay.
The old filters could be musty and gross... but I'd start there before I started spraying foams into the vents.
The old filters could be musty and gross... but I'd start there before I started spraying foams into the vents.
But I've never heard of the glove department filters - is it possible for my model year to have both?
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Bradford, ON
2009 W211 Bluetec
And yeah there is no Activate button anywhere around the HVAC controls...
Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 238
Likes: 9
From: Toronto
2009 e class 2012 ml350
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Bradford, ON
2009 W211 Bluetec
Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 208
Likes: 46
2012 E350 4Matic
Thank you, sorry I should have mentioned that I changed the under the hood filter that was pretty much the first thing I tried But I've never heard of the glove department filters - is it possible for my model year to have both?
But I've never heard of the glove department filters - is it possible for my model year to have both?
If you have the standard dual-zone climate control, you'll have a combination pollen and charcoal filter under the hood and no provision for filters under the dash.
The underhood filters are the same size and physically interchangeable, but if you have the standard dual-zone climate control you need to make sure you get the "combination" filter in order to get the odor absorbing benefits of the charcoal.
An ozone generator would be the best way to deal with the odor as it leaves no residue and uses no chemicals, as long as the source of the odor isn't still present. Have you cleaned out the fresh air intake yet? If there's a lot of leaves and debris built up, it can cause a musty smell. Same thing for standing water anywhere in the system, make sure the evaporator drain is clear. Could even be a dead mouse somewhere.
If you don't have access to an ozone machine, most detail shops have one to deal with cars that have been smoked in. There's also the Dakota Odor Bomb if you wanted to try another product first. They make a neutral one that won't leave a lingering odor.
Last edited by Andre91; Apr 7, 2017 at 12:38 AM.
