Odd Smell when A/C is on!?!?!

[knowles_101]

My 03 Jetta just started this a few weeks ago and I havent been able to figure it out. When I start the A/C there is a weird smell in the air. Any thoughts?

[figo]

how weird ?? My Corolla has that on really hot days but I figure the car is 14 years old.

[Andre]

define weird smell? Like something burning? Something old? Soemthing dead?

[figo]

Like something burning?

:P it is a VW

[SHOmethemoney]

Probably mold growing on the evaporator. You can spray Lysol or some other disinfectant in the air intake to try to clean it up but that won't do the job right. Unfortunately in most cars the evaporator isn't easy to get at.

[DevilOnWheelz]

Change your Cabin Air Filter/Polen Filter

[Andre]

or change your undies.

[b18c]

or change your undies.


:lol:

[knowles_101]

its like a sweet/sour smell...only in the a/c is first turned on, after 4-5 minutes the smell is gone. Ill replace the filter see if that does the trick

[GoGo240SR20]

its like a sweet/sour smell...only in the a/c is first turned on, after 4-5 minutes the smell is gone. Ill replace the filter see if that does the trick


coolant? try replacing the cabin filter to see if the smell goes away?

[The Full Monty]

condenser mould. reason is when you use the ac, condensation sits on the condeser overnight, in the heat, and creates mold. Every car does it, it stinks. best thing to do is before you arive to your destination, turn your AC off, and let the fan blow the remaining cold air, this way, the cold air doesnt turn into condensation and smell up your core.

Con-den-sa-tion

[Shawarma]

It's probably coolant.

[tRanSfoRmeRs]

you can get stuff that clears everything out in the air ducts...
cant remeber waht it was called tho.... but just go to any place like princess or CT and ask for the air ducts cleaner....

you just spray the can into the entry ducts and leave your fan on high so it pushes right thru...

[The Full Monty]

If it was coolant, when the car warms up, it would be steaming everywhere.

-Not Coolant.

[lurkingknight]

did you go through a touchless carwash and have your fan on or venting air in from the outside? Your vent system could've sucked in water in the carwash and now it's getting moldy.

I know I forgot to close the vents in my civic and I couldn't get rid of the sweetish smell of moldy car wax. :oops: :cry:

[LooseCannon]

condenser mould. reason is when you use the ac, condensation sits on the condeser overnight, in the heat, and creates mold. Every car does it, it stinks. best thing to do is before you arive to your destination, turn your AC off, and let the fan blow the remaining cold air, this way, the cold air doesnt turn into condensation and smell up your core.

Con-den-sa-tion

you mean evaporator (like SHO already said). the condensor is mounted in front of the rad. but good idea on turning the a/c off & leaving the fan on for a bit.