Calling all car experts out there! A strong chemical smell started blowing in through the vents shortly after getting the micro filter replaced at the dealership. Now they’re telling me there’s a leak in the evaporator and it’s leaking freon - which is crazy $$$. (Just a strange coincidence?). And does Freon have a smell?

Note: The A/C blows very cold, albeit with that awful smell. I also smell it when the heater is on, or just the vents running.

Anyone familiar with this kind of situation? Any advice? I have a 2012 Hardtop.

Also: There is NOT any kind of gas leak.

Thanks!

 

The oil in refrigerant has a smell but are you sure you're not smelling the new charcoal treated cabin filter?

 

Do not think freon is used any more, but obviously there is some kind refrigerant. Not sure if what is used has a smell. If a leak is suspected the car can be hooked up to an A/C service system (well, I've seen these used with other brands of cars) that will evacuate the system of any refrigerant, any moisture (which can be present if there is a leak) and some oil. If there is a leak the system can be recharged and a dye added that lights up when hit with a black light. The system is evacuated again and the leak fixed and evacuated again to ensure the system is empty and free of leaks, then the proper amount of refrigerant is added along with any oil to ensure the proper amount of compressor oil is present in the system.

On your driveway not much you can do unless you can spot an oil stain on say the evaporator. Not sure how accessible this is and how much of it you can see.

If you want expose the cabin air filter and make sure it is installed correctly. Shine a light down into the air passage under the filter and see if you can see anything down there, any signs of oil or even an accumulation of water.

Which reminds me: Any chance the shop sprayed some cleaner or something that is supposed to remove any possible mold/mildew that can sometimes accumulate on the evaporator?

If you can't spot anything you'll have to have this looked into of course and before I signed off on a new evaporator I'd want a high confidence diagnosis that it was the evaporator leaking. That is I'm not a fan of funding a shop throwing parts at some odor, or other symptom. The service department should be able to clearly ID the leak and make sure it is on the only leak before it throws parts at the smell.

 

coolant has a strong smell especially when it hits the exhaust and cooks off

when I've had a refrigerant leak I never knew it til the a/c failed ... never smelled anything

but as mentioned just about any decent garage can check the a/c pressures and tell if you are down .....

 

Thanks so much, everyone. Really appreciate the help and your sharing of knowledge. I'll take the car to a second shop before determining how to proceed.