[z0mbi3]

Last week I got a sudden sick smell coming through the AC on my CRDi. I understand that this is mould and it's not the most uncommon thing in the world, so I've tried a few things to get rid of it but I've not had any luck.

First thing I tried was a can of dettol (anti-fungal disinfectant house spray) through the external air intake. I wasn't sure if it took the edge off it, but the smell was still there.

Second I tried a aircon sanitiser, the kind you set off in the car while running the AC on recirculate. Again I think it might have taken the edge off it, but it was definitely still there.

Yesterday I had a guy run an ozone generator on the car for approximatley 20 mins. Now this worked for a day, but then on my return trip home from work the smell kicked in again.

So here I am now desperately seeking advice. I've got kids to think of so leaving the smell is out of the question, and not running the AC isn't an option as I can still detect it when I run the fans with the AC off.

My last option is to get a guy out with one of those misting machines out. If that doesn't do the trick I really don't know what to do.

If anyone can share any insight on this I'd really appreciate hearing it. I'm in a real fix.

Thanks

[Phil №❶]

Hi Z0mbi3,

You haven't given us the age of your vehicle, is it new. I don't think anything other than removing the evaporator tray inside your car and treating the fins with the proper chemicals will rid you of your problem. Generally this type of problem eventuates because of a continuous moisture environment on the evap coils. Is the a/c drain pipe blocked. There should be a flow of condensate from the drain pipe located on the RHS firewall. If the car is still under warranty, return to your dealer for an inspection otherwise an air conditioning shop would be your next best option.

[Dazzler]

  zOmbie3

Sorry to hear that 

 

I was going to say some dismantling and physical cleaning would be required unfortunately.

Good luck with it! 

[Just Rick]

Phil you really do have to start learning to Read---------------------------------------------the thread titles  it does actually say Sudden Sick Smell From AC- CRDi 1.6 2013 

z0mbi3,sorry for going off track,have you changed the pollen filter behind the glovebox,all the air has to be sucked through there,if there is mold in the system,it would, I would think be all through the pollen filter and the smell would most certainly keep returning,even after bombs sanitisers and such if the whole systems isn't cleaned and filter changed,also what Phil has already said the whole system needs cleaning properly,hope you find the answers

[Phil №❶]

  Your so right, Rick-p   

[z0mbi3]

Phil you really do have to start learning to Read---------------------------------------------the thread titles  it does actually say Sudden Sick Smell From AC- CRDi 1.6 2013 

z0mbi3,sorry for going off track,have you changed the pollen filter behind the glovebox,all the air has to be sucked through there,if there is mold in the system,it would, I would think be all through the pollen filter and the smell would most certainly keep returning,even after bombs sanitisers and such if the whole systems isn't cleaned and filter changed,also what Phil has already said the whole system needs cleaning properly,hope you find the answers

Pollen filter is my next job. It is out at the moment, only smelt faintly, and I really had to put my nose on it. It's definitely not the source of it anyway.

After I've run the car for a bit (with or without the ac or fans running) if I put my nose to the external air intake (at the bottom of the windscreen) I can smell it strongly. Does this narrow down the issue at all?

I understand it could be the condenser tray, blocked pipe, or fins, but is any of that serviceable by myself? My understand is that those options are cost prohibitive

edit:

To add, the car is still under warranty, but my initial conversation with Hyundai is that this sort of thing wouldn't be covered. I'm not opposed to spending money getting this fixed, I just want to spend money in the right way.

[Keith]

If you're likely to be charged get an alternative quote from a specialist automotive air-con agent.

At least you can then balance your options.

[Dazzler]

 

Good one Keith 

[z0mbi3]

If you're likely to be charged get an alternative quote from a specialist automotive air-con agent.

At least you can then balance your options.

Makes sense.

I have noticed that the smell isn't present when I run the AC on recirculate, so at least I have an option with the kids for now that takes the urgency out of it, especially with the hot weather here.

I'm thinking because I can't smell it on recirculate that that explains why the sanitiser spray didn't really have much effect (the instructions say to use it with the AC on recirculate). Does that narrow down the issue at all? I'm assuming because it doesn't smell on recirculate that it means the evaporator fins are ok?

[Keith]

Without being an air-con expert for me that narrows it down to the cool air inlet from the outside world. I'd hazard a guess that you have a drain hole blocked around the scuttle area that has grown algae / bacteria in it which is the smell being sucked in from outside.

[Surferdude]

Or a lizard/ frog or something has crawled into the intake and died.

[dangem]

Hi all, I was a refrigeration/air con engineer before I retired. As there is no smell on recirc, I think the evaporator fins and condensate tray are OK. I would check for blocked drain line's or leaves in the air intake, when wet and rotted they "stink". To help keep the evaporator fins clear, turn the a/c off, with the fans running a few miles before the end of you're journey. This will let the evaporator coil "dry" off. I have used this method for years on all my cars with no problem. Hope this is of use. I have a 2013 1.6 cdri auto tourer.  Mike.

[Asterix]

Hi all, I was a refrigeration/air con engineer before I retired. As there is no smell on recirc, I think the evaporator fins and condensate tray are OK. I would check for blocked drain line's or leaves in the air intake, when wet and rotted they "stink". To help keep the evaporator fins clear, turn the a/c off, with the fans running a few miles before the end of you're journey. This will let the evaporator coil "dry" off. I have used this method for years on all my cars with no problem. Hope this is of use. I have a 2013 1.6 cdri auto tourer.  Mike.

Thanks for the tip, Mike.