Sometimes i just like to have the fan going, no a/c and whenever i do this the worst smell comes out of my vents. This happens for the first 5 min or so, its really annoying. It happens also when i run the a/c and then turn the a/c off. The smell is kinda a rotten lemon lime smell(its what comes to mind when i smell it) Anyone else have this problem. if i get a micron filter upgrade would this go away.

96 5spd gxe

 

Is this when you first start your car and turn on the A/C or whenever you first turn on the A/C? My exhaust smells that was for a little bit when I first start it, maybe you are somehow getting that smell. Maybe a leak up front or something? Just an idea.

 

i hope its not your clutch

 

Sounds like you got some fungus growing in those vents. Spray some Lysol or something in there and crank up the heat for a few minutes. Actually Cheston did a little write-up on what to do on www.maximadriver.com

 

You can buy a vent cleaning kit for around $3-5.

Go to any Wal-Mart, Pepboys/Autozone...any place that sells generic stuff for cars. What you do is get a small aerosol spray can of cleaning solution...and there are instructions that lead you through a series of full powered vent runs...it's a process that has you spray some of it into the vent that are inside of the car, and also, the vent right where the windshield and hood connect (exterior).

I did this...I was really skeptical about it but ever since, I haven't had a bad odor.

 

spray some lysol or something throught the vents that are on the cowling(under the wiper blades) and run the fan.

 

There's another thread somewhere on how to clean the vents. One way is spraying cleaning solution through the air intake vent (outside the car, driver's side base of windshield) with the fan on full blast.
Another way is to unscrew the fan fuse pack (right by the foot of passenger seat under glove compartment), run fan on high (only setting that will work), and pump some stuff in there to directly get the blower motor. Just did this a few days ago, leaves a nice fresh smell everytime I run the fan. Do a search for "blower motor" and I think the thread is called "A/C smell" or "cleaning A/C" or something along those lines.

 

Try spraying 10% (one part regular laundry bleach to 10 parts water) into the vent inlet at base of windshield while you have heater on highest temperature and fan on high.
Sounds like you have mildew or mold in your vents and the bleach solution will kill it. Worse case is it will not work and you will have spent some time and $1 for some bleach,
Good luck.

 

There is a drain for the A/C that *MUST* be clear so the water doesn't build up in the system and get all grungie. Take a coat hanger and poke it into the drain to be sure the water's coming out ok. If you park under a tree that drops seeds or leaves or something, they can get down into the catch tank and clog the drain up with rotting gook.

Once you've cured the problem, treat the symptom by spraying fabreeze into the air intake as was suggested before. That stuff eats odors -- *ANY* odor -- barf, baby ****, smoke, rotting limes, whatever. No problemo. Gone! Just getting the drain to work right will cure most of it, but a little fabreeze will help things along.

 

I think what you're experiencing is rather normal. Most older cars with A/C will have that "metallic lime/mold" kind of smell in the vents after running the AC for a while and then running the fan without A/C. In my case, the smell is mild and doesn't last but a minute or so. If yours is VERY strong and lasts for 5 minutes, you should check the other suggestions mentioned.

Also, is your A/C very cold? If it is only mildly so, you should get a freon recharge and have the mechanic clean everything at the same time.

 

I have heard of a company that makes a timer that is wired into the A/C blower motor circuit in such a way that it will run the blower a few minutes after you shut down the car.

This has the effect of evaporating the moisture that is present in the A/C coil and preventing the mold from growing.

I can't remember who made this product. Maybe someone here has some experience with it.

 

not the best of smells to wake up 2

 

Here is the link to the company that sells the electronic timer.

http://www.airsept.com/eed.html

They also make some chemical solutions and coatings that will coat the evaporator coil and kill the mildew.