Hey All,

I have an 04 coupe and was wondering if anyone else has noticed a rancid smell when the AC is on? This started a few months ago and it is only when the AC is on. The smell eventually disappears, but it is nasty.

Thx!

 

Hey Wayneh24

I had the same problem so i called an AC company. This is wat i got from him:

He asks: You only use the AC when its hot:
I replied: Yes.

He asks: You don't drive much
I replied: yes. (and previous owner didn't drive at all)

He says: Turn on your AC all the time for the next few weeks/days, evenually the smell disappears.

That worked for me, after about a month the smell disappeared.
My advice would be turn your AC on for a few weeks, after that try to use it once in a while. (i also turn it on and put temperature on red/high)

Good luck with it!

 

Once that done change your cabin Filter, easy to do

 

Mine was the same way, I replaced the cabin air filter and all was good. It was amazing to see how much dirt and leaves were stuck in there. My advice if you go to replace it is put a bag down on the floor or around the opening, it will make clean up alot easier.

 

there is a button marked "rest" (it is the A/C recirculation button). press it after turning off the car, if you had the A/C on. it will blow air through the system for about 5-10 minutes. it will warm up the system drying it out. that way water isn't trapped due to condensation. this is not a fix for the smell. you still have to clean out the cabin air filter and air ducts.

 

You can also buy some odor remover from most auto supply stores. I removed by cabin air filter and then shot in some odor remover and ran the ac for a whiile. Then installed new cabin air filter. Odor is gone.

 

HEy All.

Thx for all the info. I was wondering about the filters, but wasnt sure. It is getting cold up here in Canada now, so the car will be going to it's yearly winter home shortly. Will try all of the suggestions then and hopefully all willbe well for the spring.


Thanks again.

 

Do some research and find the condenser drain line. It is a plastic pinch tube that drains the condensate, when it gets gunked up water does not drain out fully, leading to funky mildue smell. Common problem in cars that have infrequent use.

Woody

 

Research the filter you purchase. I am returning a Mann cabin filter that I purchased from Amazon. Yes, it fits, yes it says made in Germany, BUT, it's only half the filter that the original was.

Check the photos of the filters. If they have "legs" on them they are only 1/2 the depth the original is / was with it's TWO filtration media.