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I posted this in the GLA45 forum, but then realized the A/C is common across the chassis, so I might have a better chance of finding someone here that has had a similar problem.
I got a 2019 GLA45 about a week ago and it smelled like air freshener when I first got it. Almost every car I've ever bought smelled like this at first. Dealers do it to cover up smoke smells. The air freshener smell wears off after a few weeks and then the cigarette smell wears off after a few months. It's not a big deal...
But this time, it appears to be covering a musty stench. I don't know if it's coming from the A/C or the upholstry. When I get in the car after it has sat with windows closed for a few hours, it's kinda dank. It goes away after airing out for the rest of the drive, but then it's back the next time I get in the car.
Is this a common issue with the A/C on these cars? If so, how do you clean it out?
I posted this in the GLA45 forum, but then realized the A/C is common across the chassis, so I might have a better chance of finding someone here that has had a similar problem.
I got a 2019 GLA45 about a week ago and it smelled like air freshener when I first got it. Almost every car I've ever bought smelled like this at first. Dealers do it to cover up smoke smells. The air freshener smell wears off after a few weeks and then the cigarette smell wears off after a few months. It's not a big deal...
But this time, it appears to be covering a musty stench. I don't know if it's coming from the A/C or the upholstry. When I get in the car after it has sat with windows closed for a few hours, it's kinda dank. It goes away after airing out for the rest of the drive, but then it's back the next time I get in the car.
Is this a common issue with the A/C on these cars? If so, how do you clean it out?
Thanks.
Try ozone, use a suitable amount (and time) to prevent the chances of damaging leather and plastics, do not breathe it in, use it in a well ventilated area.
Try ozone, use a suitable amount (and time) to prevent the chances of damaging leather and plastics, do not breathe it in, use it in a well ventilated area.
I think this is a good nuclear option in case I can't get it out some other way. As you said, I want to make sure I don't degrade the already brittle plastics and rubbers...
Where is the car from? There are a **** TON of cars that were under water at the coast of the Gulf of America in the past year. Many are showing up on the used car market place (clean title).
I think this is a good nuclear option in case I can't get it out some other way. As you said, I want to make sure I don't degrade the already brittle plastics and rubbers...
Where is the car from? There are a **** TON of cars that were under water at the coast of the Gulf of America in the past year. Many are showing up on the used car market place (clean title).
It actually came from very close to the coast of the Gulf of America.
Close could be as far in as North Carolina....seriously. The flooding (salt and fresh water) was tens of thousands of cars.
Yeah, this one came from about 1 mile from the Gulf of America. As you can imagine, it floods during storms often in those parts. But this also means it has to be really bad for a car to get dunked. Helene didn't do anything "abnormal" in this area.
I don't see evidence that it actually got wet, but I haven't crawled around under it yet, or lifted carpets and such...
Not for nothing, but I have socks in the door storage slots. After my socks wear out, I throw them in the wash, then use them to wipe down the interior. I better not let that car get water intrusion, it will really smell like wet socks.
Not for nothing, but I have socks in the door storage slots. After my socks wear out, I throw them in the wash, then use them to wipe down the interior. I better not let that car get water intrusion, it will really smell like wet socks.
I don't see evidence that it actually got wet, but I haven't crawled around under it yet, or lifted carpets and such...
Years ago a buddy purchased a Dodge Viper SRT high end version of the Viper (ACR???). Well, it had "minor water damage" in its history. This was only found out due to pictures of the car in the Mississippi River (maybe it was the Rock River). Well, the car was imaculate in every way. Super clean, sparkled.
Then, on a warm humid day, any warm humid day the car would stink like rotting catfish. I mean, it was bad.
I would take it to a detail shop, explain the issue you are having. Ask them to do an inspection to find any water intrusion. See if they can find out where the smell is coming from.
As for the A/C system, there are two cabin air filters which could be musty. Have someone swap those out too.
Might cost a few pennies to do these things, but that comes with buying a pre-owned vehicle. Good luck! Let us know what you can find.
I would take it to a detail shop, explain the issue you are having. Ask them to do an inspection to find any water intrusion. See if they can find out where the smell is coming from.
As for the A/C system, there are two cabin air filters which could be musty. Have someone swap those out too.
Might cost a few pennies to do these things, but that comes with buying a pre-owned vehicle. Good luck! Let us know what you can find.
Never bought a new car... In fact, this is the by far the newest and lowest mileage car I've ever had. I'm no stranger to putting together a maintenance plan for a car and then spending a big portion of my free time researching, ordering parts, and wrenching....
I've never had to deal with the A/C or sock smells though, so here we go...
The car is at the dealer this weekend to take care of some more stuff the selling dealer tried to brush under the rug. Selling dealer is taking care of it so I'm not worried about the cost. They're replacing the cabin filter(s?)... Where is the second one, besides the one under the passenger side dash?
Never bought a new car... In fact, this is the by far the newest and lowest mileage car I've ever had. I'm no stranger to putting together a maintenance plan for a car and then spending a big portion of my free time researching, ordering parts, and wrenching....
I've never had to deal with the A/C or sock smells though, so here we go...
The car is at the dealer this weekend to take care of some more stuff the selling dealer tried to brush under the rug. Selling dealer is taking care of it so I'm not worried about the cost. They're replacing the cabin filter(s?)... Where is the second one, besides the one under the passenger side dash?
The second one (which is stage 1 of the filtration system) is usually where the battery is under the hood, the one you mentioned is stage 2 of the filtration system.
I don't think there is another one in that area... It seems to suck air from straight under the drip tray.
Apparently this fills with leaves and sticks and they get sucked into the fan and it pisses people off. Good thing I'm in the habit of vacuuming my car's external nooks and crannies.
For now, the smell is gone though I can't point to a specific thing that resolved the issue.
It could just be that I've driven the car enough to blow out some crap that settled in there while the car wasn't being driven on the dealer's lot. It could be that I had the cabin filter replaced while the dealer was doing some other stuff (I didn't pay for it, but also didn't see the condition of the old filter). I also steam cleaned the carpets, floor mats, and alcantara, but I think the smell was mostly gone by that point.
I'm going to continue just leaving the A/C set to AUTO 24/7 as I've always done, and not follow "proper protocol" and see what happens.
For now, the smell is gone though I can't point to a specific thing that resolved the issue.
It could just be that I've driven the car enough to blow out some crap that settled in there while the car wasn't being driven on the dealer's lot. It could be that I had the cabin filter replaced while the dealer was doing some other stuff (I didn't pay for it, but also didn't see the condition of the old filter). I also steam cleaned the carpets, floor mats, and alcantara, but I think the smell was mostly gone by that point.
I'm going to continue just leaving the A/C set to AUTO 24/7 as I've always done, and not follow "proper protocol" and see what happens.
For now, the smell is gone though I can't point to a specific thing that resolved the issue.
It could just be that I've driven the car enough to blow out some crap that settled in there while the car wasn't being driven on the dealer's lot. It could be that I had the cabin filter replaced while the dealer was doing some other stuff (I didn't pay for it, but also didn't see the condition of the old filter). I also steam cleaned the carpets, floor mats, and alcantara, but I think the smell was mostly gone by that point.
I'm going to continue just leaving the A/C set to AUTO 24/7 as I've always done, and not follow "proper protocol" and see what happens.
Not to be too terribly blunt, but you are complaining about a problem and not willing to follow the solution that has been working for others for well over a decade (I first encountered this 19 years ago) that these problems have been happening. good luck. after you decide which natural disaster, insurance fraud, water infiltration from a random unknown seal or other thing that didn’t happen, revisit the first thread you posted this in and just follow the solution. If this were a towel that you dried off from a shower with, and you continually smelled mildew in your towels because you leave them on your floor wet, but someone said if you hang them up to dry each time they won’t smell anymore, most would expect that you’d learn to just pick up the towels instead of trying to figure out if the towels came from a certain region that had cotton that smells different due to the rainy season it was grown in or the fertilizer used.
It really doesn’t cost much in time or attention to run the vent for 2 minutes before turning on the air conditioning, and 2 minutes prior to turning the ignition off.
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