AC smell
08-31-06, 06:12 AM
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AC smell
Hey all.
just after 2.5 months and 1300 miles my AC started to stink on the start-up. Its getting worse day by day and I know its only weeks before it gets unbearable.
I live in Houston and know that smell from the mildew created by condensation is very common with heavy AC usage. But with car just having 1300 miles it seems too soon to have this kind of issues. My previous car took 1.5 years to develop the smell, and my second car (2003 Wrx) still going strong with no smell after 3.5 years!.
Has anybody else living in the South developed the same problem and if yes how soon after purchase?
I am thinking of paying a visit to the dealership and want to have some facts from fellow IS owners to have an educated discussion with them.
Thanks in advance!
just after 2.5 months and 1300 miles my AC started to stink on the start-up. Its getting worse day by day and I know its only weeks before it gets unbearable.
I live in Houston and know that smell from the mildew created by condensation is very common with heavy AC usage. But with car just having 1300 miles it seems too soon to have this kind of issues. My previous car took 1.5 years to develop the smell, and my second car (2003 Wrx) still going strong with no smell after 3.5 years!.
Has anybody else living in the South developed the same problem and if yes how soon after purchase?
I am thinking of paying a visit to the dealership and want to have some facts from fellow IS owners to have an educated discussion with them.
Thanks in advance!
08-31-06, 06:20 AM
#2
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Perhaps your condensate drain is clogged. What makes you think that it is a design problem common to the IS rather than a specific problem with your car?
P.S.
My A/C has had a slight vinegar smell ever since I picked the car up. It seems to be dissipating over time, not getting worse.
P.S.
My A/C has had a slight vinegar smell ever since I picked the car up. It seems to be dissipating over time, not getting worse.
08-31-06, 06:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Autopia
Air Conditioner Odors
Another common source of interior car odors is the air conditioning (A/C) system. That foul smell from your car's A/C is not only offensive, but it can also be bad for you. The air entering into your car passes over the A/C evaporator (the cooling element). When you operate your car's A/C, water condenses around the evaporator coils. The moisture on the evaporator makes it a magnet for air pollutants, including dust, dirt, grime, pollen, spores and germs. These pollutants form bacteria, dust mites and fungi, which all add up to create the bad smell that often occurs in A/C systems.
Most luxury cars now offer filter canisters to remove pollutants from the air entering the car. However, the smell may still remain. In any case, it's still a good idea to treat your car's A/C each year with a quality A/C and heating system cleaner. The product I prefer is Wurth A/C & Heating System Cleaner. Simply spray Wurth A/C & Heating System Cleaner into the exterior air intake vents and the inside heat and A/C vents. It eliminates odors caused by bacteria, fungi, mildew and stagnant water.
Another common source of interior car odors is the air conditioning (A/C) system. That foul smell from your car's A/C is not only offensive, but it can also be bad for you. The air entering into your car passes over the A/C evaporator (the cooling element). When you operate your car's A/C, water condenses around the evaporator coils. The moisture on the evaporator makes it a magnet for air pollutants, including dust, dirt, grime, pollen, spores and germs. These pollutants form bacteria, dust mites and fungi, which all add up to create the bad smell that often occurs in A/C systems.
Most luxury cars now offer filter canisters to remove pollutants from the air entering the car. However, the smell may still remain. In any case, it's still a good idea to treat your car's A/C each year with a quality A/C and heating system cleaner. The product I prefer is Wurth A/C & Heating System Cleaner. Simply spray Wurth A/C & Heating System Cleaner into the exterior air intake vents and the inside heat and A/C vents. It eliminates odors caused by bacteria, fungi, mildew and stagnant water.
Its a very good site....Great instructions on polishing/waxing/cleaning and other car related stuff. Somewhat surprised that more ppl dont seem to know it!
hth
08-31-06, 06:38 AM
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Perhaps your condensate drain is clogged. What makes you think that it is a design problem common to the IS rather than a specific problem with your car?
P.S.
My A/C has had a slight vinegar smell ever since I picked the car up. It seems to be dissipating over time, not getting worse.
P.S.
My A/C has had a slight vinegar smell ever since I picked the car up. It seems to be dissipating over time, not getting worse.
08-31-06, 06:43 AM
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Full article here: http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-cockpit.html
Its a very good site....Great instructions on polishing/waxing/cleaning and other car related stuff. Somewhat surprised that more ppl dont seem to know it!
hth
Its a very good site....Great instructions on polishing/waxing/cleaning and other car related stuff. Somewhat surprised that more ppl dont seem to know it!
hth
08-31-06, 06:48 AM
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This kinda reminds me of that seinfeld episode with the parking valet dude with bad BO...anyways...i digress...
perhaps leaving it to fresh air as much as you can will prevent the smell from appearing again?
hth
08-31-06, 06:51 AM
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aye...2mths is not long at all, it is very unusual. Do you leave the vents on recirc all the time? My gf's dad use to have the vents on recirc in a camry, and it always stunk when the vents were on!!
This kinda reminds me of that seinfeld episode with the parking valet dude with bad BO...anyways...i digress...
perhaps leaving it to fresh air as much as you can will prevent the smell from appearing again?
hth
This kinda reminds me of that seinfeld episode with the parking valet dude with bad BO...anyways...i digress...
perhaps leaving it to fresh air as much as you can will prevent the smell from appearing again?
hth
I am just trying to see if anybody has this issue with sec. gen IS
So much for trying to preserve the new car smell!
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08-31-06, 06:58 AM
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I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, the key to preventing A/C odor smells is dry out the A/C system before leaving your car. In humid places like the south, your A/C coils are always coated in condensate. The way to prevent molds/mildew is turn off the A/C compressor a few minutes prior to your destination and run the outside vent full blast till the air warms up the bit. Works wonders on preventing the dreaded smell by drying up the coils. I know what you mean about alot of cars not having this problem, but it seems to be more common problem on certain cars. My bmw and accord definately have this problem as when my GF drives them she doesn't flush it out and stinks the next day. 
08-31-06, 07:39 AM
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i have the same problem, it smells like mildew or mold upon startup. i read somewhere on here about the GS having this problems so they had to change out the ac filter thing.
08-31-06, 07:54 AM
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08-31-06, 08:03 AM
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same here with my IS, as well as RX350 and RX300. Spraying the interior air filter with disinfectant helps, if you don't mind the smell of the disinfectant for a while.
08-31-06, 08:42 AM
#13
Lexus Champion
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, the key to preventing A/C odor smells is dry out the A/C system before leaving your car. In humid places like the south, your A/C coils are always coated in condensate. The way to prevent molds/mildew is turn off the A/C compressor a few minutes prior to your destination and run the outside vent full blast till the air warms up the bit. Works wonders on preventing the dreaded smell by drying up the coils. I know what you mean about alot of cars not having this problem, but it seems to be more common problem on certain cars. My bmw and accord definately have this problem as when my GF drives them she doesn't flush it out and stinks the next day.
09-01-06, 10:33 AM
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Dry out your AC
magbarn and al503 are correct on this one. You need to dry out our AC before turning off your engine otherwise you're creating a pool of water for mold and mildew to grow in. I usually turn off the AC a couple of blocks away from my destination like magbarn said. I used to have this problem all the times.
Remeber to let the fan run for a minute or so on its own before turning on your AC too. The fan will blow any settled dust from the vents and coils.
Remeber to let the fan run for a minute or so on its own before turning on your AC too. The fan will blow any settled dust from the vents and coils.
09-01-06, 10:43 AM
#15
MultiTasking Mom
that is correct. GS was finally given a TSIB for changing the air filter which fixed the problem. i don't know exactly how bad yours smells, but the GS vents started to smell like rotten feet or something, it was awful. and the complaints were being heard from all over the country. the original filter design/material was not right.