mistaj0hnny
New member
A/C has been acting up lately, smells really musty. I figured it might be a leak? Is it an expensive fix at a shop? How much should I expect to pay to fix it?
musty smell coming from a/c
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Martinjmpr
New member
Sounds like it could be mold.
Here's a couple of things you can try:
First off, the way mold builds up in the AC system is if you run the AC at max on a hot, humid day (you're near the ocean, so I assume that's pretty often) and you just run the AC until you turn the engine off, you're going to have a lot of cool, dry air sitting in your AC system. So you shut off the engine and the warm, most air from outside hits the cool dry air - the moisture in the air condenses and you get water in your system.
It's cool, moist and dark inside your AC ducts, which is exactly the conditions mold loves to grow in.
One way to avoid this is to turn off your AC 4-6 minutes before you turn off the engine (so, if you're heading home or to the office, switch the AC off a mile or so before you get to your destination.) Let the air continue to run through the system. As the warmer, moister air works its way through your AC ducts, it will warm them up, which means you won't get the condensation. If you run the fan until you get warm air coming out of your vents, then you're good to go.
Now, to fix (I had this happen in a Subaru), you find out where the intake is for the HVAC. Turn on the car, AC off, with the fan on maximum. Get a spray can of lysol or similar disinfectant, and spray it into the intake. You may have to do this several times (I think I used two cans on my Subaru.)
After you've sprayed a bunch of disinfectant, run the fan at max for another 10-15 minutes or so until the smell is gone. That should kill the mold. If it doesn't, repeat. And after you've killed it, use the technique I described above to keep it from coming back. If you take a lot of short trips, it can be a PITA but IMO the best thing to do anyway in that situation is just don't run the AC. Put the windows down and run the vents to keep fresh air circulating through the system.
Here's a couple of things you can try:
First off, the way mold builds up in the AC system is if you run the AC at max on a hot, humid day (you're near the ocean, so I assume that's pretty often) and you just run the AC until you turn the engine off, you're going to have a lot of cool, dry air sitting in your AC system. So you shut off the engine and the warm, most air from outside hits the cool dry air - the moisture in the air condenses and you get water in your system.
It's cool, moist and dark inside your AC ducts, which is exactly the conditions mold loves to grow in.
One way to avoid this is to turn off your AC 4-6 minutes before you turn off the engine (so, if you're heading home or to the office, switch the AC off a mile or so before you get to your destination.) Let the air continue to run through the system. As the warmer, moister air works its way through your AC ducts, it will warm them up, which means you won't get the condensation. If you run the fan until you get warm air coming out of your vents, then you're good to go.
Now, to fix (I had this happen in a Subaru), you find out where the intake is for the HVAC. Turn on the car, AC off, with the fan on maximum. Get a spray can of lysol or similar disinfectant, and spray it into the intake. You may have to do this several times (I think I used two cans on my Subaru.)
After you've sprayed a bunch of disinfectant, run the fan at max for another 10-15 minutes or so until the smell is gone. That should kill the mold. If it doesn't, repeat. And after you've killed it, use the technique I described above to keep it from coming back. If you take a lot of short trips, it can be a PITA but IMO the best thing to do anyway in that situation is just don't run the AC. Put the windows down and run the vents to keep fresh air circulating through the system.
Justin727
New member
They make stuff specially formulated for this purpose @ autoparts stores and it works well!
But the above described process works just as well and is exactly the same as what the stuff @ the parts stores tell you to do with their products.
+1 to you for the great advice and it works as I have done the same!
mistaj0hnny
New member
Thanks for the advice, going to give this a try this weekend :trophy:
Justin727
New member
Acorn22
Member
Not sure if there is some special intake port for the HVAC but I had the same problem as you and I fixed it pretty quickly. All I did was get a spray bottle of liquid Lysol (with bleach), then I let the car idle with the heat on full blast and I sprayed the whole bottle though the cowl vents outside of the car in front of the windshield (fresh air mode on). You can hear where air is sucked in if you listen. I also sprayed a little bit directly into the vents inside. Then I let it idle with the heat still on for like 20 minutes and that seemed to clean it out perfectly, haven't had the smell since!
The car will smell like bleach for a little bit but it's worth it.
Hope that helps
