Odor Emitting when AC is on
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 90
Likes: 11
From: Massachusetts
Odor Emitting when AC is on
16’ 3IS, bought CPO at 21K Mileage a couple months back..
I have recently noticed that when I turn on my AC, there would be a horrible odor blowing out of the vents. The smell can be described as a sour/wet mold?
I always had car fresheners attached to the vents and never noticed the smell until recently now that I have run out of the air fresheners.
any idea?
I have recently noticed that when I turn on my AC, there would be a horrible odor blowing out of the vents. The smell can be described as a sour/wet mold?
I always had car fresheners attached to the vents and never noticed the smell until recently now that I have run out of the air fresheners.
any idea?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 317
From: SoCal
Before turning off my car, when the AC had been running, I turn off my AC and let the dry air blow through the vents for a couple minutes. I might do this like when I get off the freeway a few mints before I'm home.
That musty smell is from all the moisture left sitting in your air ducts after you turn your car off.
I use this stuff to be rid of the smell, works great. Smells great.
https://www.autozone.com/a-c-chargin...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
That musty smell is from all the moisture left sitting in your air ducts after you turn your car off.
I use this stuff to be rid of the smell, works great. Smells great.
https://www.autozone.com/a-c-chargin...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 330
Likes: 65
From: TX
Welcome to the club lol.. I also use what Homer350 suggested, smell goes away for about 2 - 4 weeks then i have to re-apply it. Living in Texas, turning AC off for couple of mins doesn't even come to my mind lol.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 443
From: CA
When I had the '16 4GS CPO, it had the same bad ordor. I thought it smelled like cat pee.
I tried the Armour All Fresh FX spraying the intake vents and AC vents inside and it was better.
It was 2 cans used up.
I tried the Armour All Fresh FX spraying the intake vents and AC vents inside and it was better.
It was 2 cans used up.
Last edited by websurfer; Jun 24, 2020 at 02:48 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 18
Likes: 6
From: AZ
I have started spraying air freshener on my cabin filter for the same reason. Smelled like old musty towels that got left in the washer. Doesn't help that I live in AZ and have a black car either so my AC is on 99% of the time the car is running.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 79
From: Ontario
I just cycle periodically between recirculate and fresh air, keeps the stench away majority of the time.
I used to have it bad before I realized running on recirculate all the time was actually causing the problem.
I used to have it bad before I realized running on recirculate all the time was actually causing the problem.
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Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 90
Likes: 11
From: Massachusetts
Before turning off my car, when the AC had been running, I turn off my AC and let the dry air blow through the vents for a couple minutes. I might do this like when I get off the freeway a few mints before I'm home.
That musty smell is from all the moisture left sitting in your air ducts after you turn your car off.
I use this stuff to be rid of the smell, works great. Smells great.
https://www.autozone.com/a-c-chargin...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
That musty smell is from all the moisture left sitting in your air ducts after you turn your car off.
I use this stuff to be rid of the smell, works great. Smells great.
https://www.autozone.com/a-c-chargin...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 90
Likes: 11
From: Massachusetts
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 379
From: Illinois
Pro Tip: Do not run with Recirc on with the A/C.
It's funny how the cars nowadays and even back then would automatically turn that setting on when you switch to A/C. Let the fresh air more get selected when you also turn on your A/C.
It's funny how the cars nowadays and even back then would automatically turn that setting on when you switch to A/C. Let the fresh air more get selected when you also turn on your A/C.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 443
From: CA
The dealer advisor told me the same thing.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 143
Likes: 26
From: Hershey, Pa
Interested into what this reasoning is? I've never heard that before.
Also, my IS300 always "defaults" to recirc when I turn it on, not sure why. I always switch it to "fresh" air once it's on.
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 459
From: GA
Cold air mixed with hot air with the fan off (after you turn off the car) means warm air and moisture in the system. This leads to funky stuff growing (mold, etc) that gives off those smells. If you turn off the A/C but leave the fan on with fresh air mode on a few minutes before getting home and just let hot/warm outside air pump in, you'll have a better chance of drying the system before turning off the car and so stuff is less likely to grow. That's the simple explanation more or less.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 143
Likes: 26
From: Hershey, Pa
Cold air mixed with hot air with the fan off (after you turn off the car) means warm air and moisture in the system. This leads to funky stuff growing (mold, etc) that gives off those smells. If you turn off the A/C but leave the fan on with fresh air mode on a few minutes before getting home and just let hot/warm outside air pump in, you'll have a better chance of drying the system before turning off the car and so stuff is less likely to grow. That's the simple explanation more or less.
I was referring to the comment that the dealer said to not run the AC with recirc on. The way the comment was worded, I assumed the dealer meant to never run the A/C in recirc mode.
Probably shouldn't post before I've had coffee.....