Mildew/Bad Odor from A/C 05 6mt coupe
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Mildew/Bad Odor from A/C 05 6mt coupe
I just bought my 2005 6mt coupe. The owner who drove the car previously drove it only on weekends, and let it sit a lot. Now, every single time I start the car, for the first 20 seconds the A/C is on, there is a mildew/mold type smell that comes from it. It goes away after about 20 seconds, but is horrible for that first little while. I took the car to Infiniti, and they did a "air filter system cleaning" along with a carbon air filter which they said takes care of most all smell issues for the A/C. I got the car back, and it still has the smell right when you first start the car.
Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, HOW CAN I FIX IT? It is disgusting when someone gets in a "brand new car" and smells mildew. Please help!
Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, HOW CAN I FIX IT? It is disgusting when someone gets in a "brand new car" and smells mildew. Please help!
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Its the evaporator core that is in the air duct. The core is cold and as the air from inside you cabin passes through, moisture and other airborne nasties condenses on the core.
You can get it cleaned out by a mechanic but that will cost you and won't last very long. Or turn on the AC next time it rains, make sure the vent is taking fresh air from the outside. If it gets too cold then dial up the temperature.
The cleaner moist air from the outside will condense on the core. Since there is no shortage of moisture on the outside, the core will keep pulling moisture out of the air. Water droplets form on the core and carry some of the nasty stuff out of the air ducts as it drains away.
BTW replacing the air filter won't eliminate the smell unless you use the carbon filter. But it does not fix the problem, just filters it.
You can get it cleaned out by a mechanic but that will cost you and won't last very long. Or turn on the AC next time it rains, make sure the vent is taking fresh air from the outside. If it gets too cold then dial up the temperature.
The cleaner moist air from the outside will condense on the core. Since there is no shortage of moisture on the outside, the core will keep pulling moisture out of the air. Water droplets form on the core and carry some of the nasty stuff out of the air ducts as it drains away.
BTW replacing the air filter won't eliminate the smell unless you use the carbon filter. But it does not fix the problem, just filters it.
There are products available at most any auto suplly store that you can spray yourself to help kill some of the bacteria/fungus that is causing the odour. It sounds like you may have to do several more applications.
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From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
Originally Posted by clinty
Its the evaporator core that is in the air duct. The core is cold and as the air from inside you cabin passes through, moisture and other airborne nasties condenses on the core.
You can get it cleaned out by a mechanic but that will cost you and won't last very long. Or turn on the AC next time it rains, make sure the vent is taking fresh air from the outside. If it gets too cold then dial up the temperature.
The cleaner moist air from the outside will condense on the core. Since there is no shortage of moisture on the outside, the core will keep pulling moisture out of the air. Water droplets form on the core and carry some of the nasty stuff out of the air ducts as it drains away.
BTW replacing the air filter won't eliminate the smell unless you use the carbon filter. But it does not fix the problem, just filters it.
You can get it cleaned out by a mechanic but that will cost you and won't last very long. Or turn on the AC next time it rains, make sure the vent is taking fresh air from the outside. If it gets too cold then dial up the temperature.
The cleaner moist air from the outside will condense on the core. Since there is no shortage of moisture on the outside, the core will keep pulling moisture out of the air. Water droplets form on the core and carry some of the nasty stuff out of the air ducts as it drains away.
BTW replacing the air filter won't eliminate the smell unless you use the carbon filter. But it does not fix the problem, just filters it.
You can tell if you've shut it off soon enough by looking underneath and checking the the drip drip from the A/C drip hose.
C.
This topic stinks. I have ten thousand miles on my 05. For the last six months I have been getting this terrible mildew smell from the ventilation system for the first few minutes after startup. The service techs at Infinity of Pleasanton California told me that I should shut off my air conditioning for a few minutes before I park the car. What a lame fix. You will notice that the default for the ventilation system is "AC ON". So I have to run it off to make it work right? There must be a clog of the drain from the evaporator (?) or the drain needs to be enlarged. The stink is pretty bad. I would be willing to insist on a decontamination of the system by the dealer. I have run other searches on our site for more information as to the efficacy of this but have found only this thread. Can anyone offer any more advice. Is there someway to run the system to kill the mildew by its own heat? You know, like resetting my ecu every month.
I also had that problem with my 04 Coupe and the dealer told me just to leave it on Auto AC and that would balance the system out. Seemed to work for my at least just let the AC system do its thing it would switch back and forth when it needed to. Try it and see what happens but keep us posted!! 
