A/C and Smell problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jon W.
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J

Jon W.

Hi All, On my 2004 Sonata, the A/C makes a rattling noise when it's on
low settings. It sounds like a leaf in front of where the air comes
out. I'm thinking maybe something is stuck in one of the vents? Has
anyone had this problem? Also, I notice a very strong rotten
egg/sulfer smell coming from the car. It only had about 1000 miles on
it so I don't want to have to take it in unless someone knows what is
causing the smell and if it needs immediate attention. I'm in the
process of checking the gas mileage to see if it's a timing problem or
some kind of sensor. If the mileage is too low, I'll take it in
because I have heard that the smell I'm smelling is caused by a car
that needs a tune up. I may be wrong about this, because I can't see
how a brand new car could possibly need a tune up. Thanks for any help
possible.

J.W.
 
I had the smell problem when I bought my 2000 Hyundai Sonata new. The smell
eventually went away. I recently had to have a new AC compressor put in
(luckily it was still under warranty), and the smell was back. Now, it's gone
again. I wonder if it has something to do with the new components.

Steve
[email protected]
 
Give the odor a month or so. The entire car (I believe), including the
engine is coated to with a chemical to prevent rust. You may be smelling
it burning off the engine.

Is this noise coming from inside the car or outside?
It's quite possible to have a leaf or something stuck in the ductwork if
your car didn't come with the hvac filter.
 
Often the smell of a A/C comme from the moisture. When the A/C work it
condensate the humidity. When the car is stop the moisture stay on the
condenser. Some moisture can developt in the condensor. At the start when
the A/C is use again the air carry the smell odor in the car. One way to
avoid this problem is to let the vent run for a some second without A/C
before stop the car. The condenser had the time to dry. There is treatment
that you could get from garage. I think this is a kill moisture product that
the shoot in the condensor. I heard that you coud do it yourself with a can
of Febreeze that you vaporise in the outside air input of the car. I don't
know if it work.

mike
 
A good bet would be to take it back to the dealer to address the problems.

I had my a/c fan repaired by a dealer when I didn't even complain about the
leaf in the fan! :) ....Obviously it annoyed the crap out of them....it
was quite noisy, but I didn't mind it.

I've had a leaf in the fan since....very thin & hard leaves which eventually
break down & clear themselves. My partner gets really irritated by the
rattle. Occasionally changing the fan to circulate / fresh / high / low on
varying climatic / driving conditions did seem to help clear the leaf.

Consider where you park the vehicle if there are trees about. Maybe
consider a bit of nylon mesh over exterior intake vents if it's not possible
to avoid the leaves.

With the smell it could be that you might a whole bunch of rotting stuff in
the vent system, & if there's a blockage in a little drain pipe from the
vent(a/c) system then the moisture helps it rot & stink.
Where it is very humid I do find that sometimes vapour can be coming from
the vents while the a/c is on, & it does have a smell....tho I wouldn't say
rotten eggs.
Other than that the only thing I can think where the rotten egg smell comes
from is from the exhaust!

Good luck
Rob
 
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