Smelly Aircon

[Ianb]

Hi guys, very recently my car a/c has started to become quite smelly... It's normally the first 30 seconds or so of using it that I get a real nasty stink, then eventually it goes and everything is normal.

I know that parts of the A/C are prone to harbouring fungus and bacteria etc and as I don't particularly want to develop some sort of superbacteria thing I'd like to get rid of it.

I'm just wondering what I might need to do. I've heard about these canisters you buy and you put the car a/c on, and recirculation on and then let it rip...ahem.. but I'm not sure where to get them (do most auto shops have these?)

Thanks

[alexp999]

Mine stinks of damp if the last time I used it I kept it running right up until stopping the engine.

Now I always turn the AC off and let it "blow through" so to speak before I stop the car.

[IINexusII]

Halfords have the comma air con cleaner, does a good job

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/air-conditioning-recharge-supplies/comma-aircon-cleaner

[btmaldon]

I would change the pollen filter before using the canister, especially if it hasn't been changed for a bit.

[higgsy]

The normfest stuff from eurocarparts is good and cheap £4.99 at present. I have used the one shot bomb and the spray can that you spray down the vents (on the same day - overkill). Personally in future I will use the spray. The one shot just left a big puddle of wet in the footwell, so alot of waste imo. I would remove tje existing filter (ball ache believe me) then do the cleaner then put a new active carbon filter in after. Well known that garages dont replace the cabin filter even thouhh they say they have as its such a time consuming job.

[Andy.B1971]

As Bruce has said change the pollen filter then use a de bug canister, you can get all different smells, citrus, apple, orange even new car smell but that doesn't really smell nice at all. :D

[jg321]

Changing the pollen filter is an absolute nightmare. Took me ages, and ached for days afterwards. Never again.

[alexp999]

I thought they were just in the footwell?

[Ianb]

Lol, changed the Pollen filter about a year ago, the garage I took it too to get 'serviced' (the same ones that jacked the car up by the body work skirt and left dents) said they would change the filter, but I very much doubt they did. Might get another filter and go that route too...

Although it's 'just' in the footwell, it's a damn squeeze to get into it for some people - being 6'6 and over 100kg's I'm one of those people!!!

[Ianb]

The normfest stuff from eurocarparts is good and cheap £4.99 at present. I have used the one shot bomb and the spray can that you spray down the vents (on the same day - overkill). Personally in future I will use the spray. The one shot just left a big puddle of wet in the footwell, so alot of waste imo. I would remove tje existing filter (ball ache believe me) then do the cleaner then put a new active carbon filter in after. Well known that garages dont replace the cabin filter even thouhh they say they have as its such a time consuming job.

Can't find the stuff on eurocarparts :/

[IINexusII]

Can't find the stuff on eurocarparts :/

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-cleaning-accessories/car-interior-cleaners/air-con-cleaner/?NOR2897300&0&cc5_101

its not too hard to get to the pollen filter, you just need to lie under the footwell with your legs outside the car

[higgsy]

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-cleaning-accessories/car-interior-cleaners/air-con-cleaner/?NOR2897300&0&cc5_101

its not too hard to get to the pollen filter, you just need to lie under the footwell with your legs outside the car

That's the one I used, still have 1/2 a can left actually

I tip my hat to anyone who has changed the cabin filter without having to remove the glovebox/fusebox/fusebox bracket. I'm not sure how you can remove the screws without doing this, and then there is getting the actual filter into the slot without !Removed!/squashing in the process.

[Ianb]

Ordered some, many thanks :)