Weird thread title I know...

But ... I live in So Cal, it's hot. When I turn on my car, the A/C is a little smelly at first. Kind of like mildew or something ... is this unpreventable?

What's the best way to prevent stinky A/C vents?

 

check your cabin filter.

 

i got the same thing iin my G, and ive changed the cabin filter three times already, the smell goes away for like 3 to 4 days and then it came back, anyone have a solution for this, that sh** is embarrasing when you have a honey in the G.

 

Turn the AC off a few minutes before turning the car off. Also there are products you can buy to spray into the outside air intake to help eliminate odor.

 

What are the products called, how much do they cost and where do you spray them (where's the outside air intake?).

I know I know, you guys prolly hate the fact that I own a G and don't know much about cars. I'm a computer guy, help a brother out? =)

 

its probably your cabin filter...it's around $40 for a new one and you can install it yourself

 

cabin filter. you can get the regular or the charcoal one which is supposed to neutralize air. either one is good.

 

Thanks guys.

Is it weird that I just bought my G back in Feb? It's brand new ... it's been 6-7 months only ... why does it stink already? Uughhhh..

 

Condensation occurs as you are driving around with your A/C on recirculate. As you're driving around, the cool air gets condensed in the vents, causing moisture to build up. If you don't switch to "open vent" for a while before you turn off your car, then the moisture is being stationary inside your vents, causing the bad smell to build up.

Solution = Take your A/C off of "recirculate" and put it on "open vent" for a good minute or so before you turn your car off. You should start to notice a better "normal" smell coming from your vents in due time. If not then try spraying some Lysol, or a germ/bacteria killer into your vents, but drive your car with recirculate on for a little while so the Lysol gets recirculated through the system. Then the same as the A/C, vent the air before turning the vehicle off.

I could be wrong on all of this.. but before doing something as drastic as changing the filter and other stuff. Try the simple things.

 

charcoal in cabin filter...

and..turn your a/c off a few mins before you shut the car off..

oh yeh and whats that stuff called..its like lysol but for odors..

..hmm oh yeh..oust! lol

 

This was a great thread, I was wondering the same thing about my new coupe too. I always use my A/C on recirculate, so imandresing22's explanation sounds right on the money.

Thanks guys!

 

Did the smell leave your guys' cars already? lol. Was my advice suffice for you guys at all?

 

GO TO YOUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE . THEY HAVE AN A/C DE-ODORIZOR U SPRAY IN THE AIR INTAKE .. ITS MADE FOR CARS ,,ITS IN A PUMP SPRAY BOTTLE.. USING RE CIRCULATE USUALLY TAKES OUT THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR BOX BUT U ALSO NEED TO USE VENTS ONE IN A WHILE.TO PUT FRESH AIR IN.. IF U LIVE IN HIGH HUMIDITY AREA ITS WORSE.. REMEMBER FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS AND DONT USE TO MUCH OR U WILL MAKE IT WORSE.. I DO THIS ONCE A MONTH , NO SMELL

 

Cabin filter is not the issue, and buying sprays, etc. just cover up the smell.

The smell is mildew in the venting. Next time your turn on the air, you are breathing in all the odor from the mildew built up on the walls of the venting.

Next time before you turn off your car, raise your temp to above 80, this is will push hot air thru the venting and dry out any moisture. Do this for only maybe 5-10 seconds and you should be fine.

You can run hot air thru with or without AC on.

Also, FYI, later on in the winter, if you just run the hot air to heat the interior, it is better to run with AC on. The AC takes the moisture out of the air and your windows will not fog up.

On a cold day, if you run with on hot air on, the windows will get all fogged up.
Same principle as water condensing on a glass. Moisture (fog) will collect on the warmer surface.

The end.

 

^^ yup