The AC (climate controlled) has recently become 'fuggy' - gives off a smell like a warm damp room - especially bad in the first few minutes of use. Once up and running works fine, but the smell remains a little.
The car is 5 year old Mini. I used a can of AC sanitiser (or similar, can't remember the exact name) from Aldi last year and that seemed to sort it then.
I can change the cabin filter, but I don't think that's related directly to the AC. Any recommendations?
You should replace the cabin filter at the advised service intervals for a number of reasons, but I agree it's unlikely to cause the standard A/C smell.
Usual advice is to turn off the A/C whilst still a mile or two from the end of the journey, leaving the fan running. This dries everything out; it's bacteria growing in the damp that causes the smell.
Chris
Dettol spray disinfectant is cheaper and more effective than the sprays sold for disinfecting A/C. Close the car with aircon running spray the Dettol into the plenum and leave for few minutes. Open the windows and ventilate the car before driving.
You can, on some cars at least, wash out the A/C plenum with a hose, provided that the drains aren't blocked with crud.
Switch off the AC before the end of the journey. Fresh air going through the heat exchanger as it come back up to ambient stops the smell. Or squirt some Febreeze into the cabin air intake with the system set to recirculate.
I had a car with A/C that didn't have a cabin filter. the fan had chopped a lot of leaf litter to chaff which then blocked the front of the matrix (and the fan motor cooling air feed tube and the commutator). I got that off the matrix by removing the fan motor resistor block and worked at it though the 2" square hole. Having got the big stuff off, the drain tube clear, I washed a lot of the smaller bits out down the condensate drain tube.
The OP may be able to clean his matrix or apply a fungicide more directly and effectively by the same means.
The matrix may be coated with an anti corrosion coating. If it's a copper matrix the coating will be lead/tin. Should use a caustic/alkali cleaner, acidic cleaners will strip the coating. If it's alloy then it will just have its oxide film. Caustic/alkali cleaners will damage it very badly so you have to use acidic cleaners. Bleach is caustic. Limescale removers are acid.
Rude.
Gave that a go - seems to have helped a lot - thanks.
Well, here's hoping nothing nasty happens!
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required