When I fire up the a/c I get a bad smell for about a minute or less. What could it be? 2003 MC.

thanks!

 

maybe its the filter on the passenger side

 

Probably the microfilter. Does it smell like a fish? (filter is #1 in diagram)

 

I get the same in my 2005. I was going to mention it to the dealer the next time I brought it in.

Mine has a rubber type smell to it... I was thinking because I do not driver it too often that it was because it was still new.

 

Thats what I meant haha, its better with visuals

 

It's probably either your filter is dirty, or your evaporator coil for your a/c is
funky/dirty. I would recommend pulling out the filterand replacing it. then turn the fan on to full blast and spray some type of deodorizing,disinfecting
spray into the intake where the filter goes. You might want to try one of those carbon replacement filters when you put a new one in. Hope this helps.
Christian.

 

I am still under warranty....would the dealer do it?

 

Yep. Tell hem the car stinks. They'll replace the cabin filter. If they're to far away just buy one and do it yourself. Pretty easy. See this thread.

...Les

 

I'd change the interior cabin filter first before looking into anything else. I had mine changed Wed. and it made all the difference in the world.

 

I have an '05 MC with the same problem but it only occurs when i re-circulate
the air in the cabin. Im assuming Microfilter but I have it at the dealer right now and there checking it out alongh with some other problems...

The smell almost smells like rotten eggs... but I cant put a finger on what exactly it smells like.

 

If after replacing the air filter there's still a smell, try Odor Out made by Quest. It's a deodorizer that you spray into the A/C ducts, and it's designed to get rid of bacteria, mold, algae, etc. that could be in the living in there.

It cost all of about $3. I picked a can up at AutoZone, but I'd imagine any decent auto store would have it.

It definitely made a difference!


-Paul!

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

Same problem happened to my car a few years ago right after someone used a crappy orange flavoured cleaner spray on my carpet. The car smelt like rotten fruit every time the a/c would start up.

thank god the smell is gone now. It took 8 months and lots of fresh air pass at full blow to kill it.

 

I don't think you're supposed to taste that stuff camelpilot! :-)

 

My 02 seemed to have that more that my 04 does.. it was some mildo (sp?) collecting in the vent system...

Turn you a/c on fresh air -high ( not recirculate ).. take some lysol and spay in to cowl vents... or open hood and spray down the area under the cowl vents..

 

Is that it behind the light?

 

this is an event that happens when there is mildew developing in the ventilation system. It happens on most cars where the a/c is on most of the time.

Before parking, blast the heat through the same vents to push out the cold air. after a while, you'll notice the egg smell go away.

 

Do you still have the smell or did the dealer get rid of it???