AC Odor

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrBlues
  • Start date Start date
M

MrBlues

I just bought a 2000 Sonata and I am wondering if anyone can tell me why
there is a terrible odor when I have the AC on recirc. It doesn't do it when
the fresh air is on just when I use the recirc. Any ideas how to get rid of
this smell?

Thanks
Steve
 
Hmmm I think with recirc, you are smelling the interior of the car!

emmm you are inside the car ..................Red Zone is a good anti persp;P

Regards,

Bryan
 
Take a look in the parts catalogs, or have the dealer tell you if there is a
cabin air filter. Lots of newer cars do have them now. They filter air just
like your home central air unit. If it has no cabin air filter, try this
trick

Take some lysol spray, and spray it in and around the return vents for 10 -
15 seconds near the floor while the A/C is on max air. This will draw the
disinfectant into the ducts, and kill mold or other funkiness that may be
growing in the foam insulation at the duct joints.. For the next 5-10
minutes, let the A/c run, but DO NOT SIT IN THE CAR while you let it
circulate in the A/C system. Air things out, and you should be good to go!
Usually lasts several months if it works.

Good Luck!
 
Sounds like mold has grown inside the air path for the recalculated air.
Common problem in a vehicle
that has sat for a bit. The only real way to get it all out is to open
the ductwork and clean it, you can try
spraying stuff in there but it usually doesn't help much if the problem
is bad already. Once you get it cleaned
up you can prevent it from occurring by allowing the system to dry out
before you shut the vehicle off, either
by switching off the AC a few minutes before you arrive OR by switching
over to heat and allowing that to dry the system
out.
 
Even better -- turn the system to full hot and outside air and full fan
speed and spray into the cowling at the bottom of the windshield. That's
where the outside air intake is. Then let the system run.
 
Back
Top