I guess this isn't a major mechanical problem that everyone would be interested in responding to, but I was wondering if the below description has happened to anyone else. I checked the posts (until my eyes got tired) and couldn't find anything.

When I turn on the air conditioner, the first few seconds (up to 15 seconds) of air that comes out smells BAD!!!! Like a super dirty, wet rag. Ever bundled up wet clothes and accidentally forgot about them and came upon them again a few days later and opened up the bundle? Well, that's what my air conitioner smells like when I turn it on. It goes away after a few seconds, but c'mon!!! That's embarrassing!! Is it something I'm doing (washing my car too hard...j/k teehee)?

Original warranty is still good, so I'll get it fixed, but out of curiosity, have any of you experienced this?

Thanks.

 

Im am too concernd about this. Whats the problem. Its like the air is stagnated or something! any fix for this???

 

change your microfilter....you probably got leafs in there & stuff....you'll see it when your changing it....so just vacuum it out

 

I had a friend who had a bad smell coming out of his a/c...apparently it was a fungus problem in his car. I'm not sure if that's the problem w/ ur Max, but the dealer should be able to fix it...

Btw...the a/c in the Max stinks...as in sucks...lol

Good luck

 

You can turn on the ventilation system, so that it sucks up air from the defroster part on the front window. Then, spray a bunch of lysol in, which will get sucked up by the system. Hopefully it'd kill whatever is the problem.

 

The smell is caused by mold that builds up in the air ducts because of humidity. It happens when you run your air/AC in the recirculate mode instead of the open-air mode.

The best way to get rid of it and then keep it away is to always run your air/AC in open-air mode.

My girlfriend's aunt once left her Quest's AC on recirulation mode all the time (because that is the fastest way to cool the cabin and it keeps more outside air from coming in), and so much stuff built up that the air that came out smelled like urine. It was nasty. So I told her to keep it on open-air, and she said it helped.

Peace.

 

I have the same problem. My car came without filters so now the leaves are built up on the a/c core. I tried to vacuum out as much as possible but failed to get it all. I used lysol and still have the problem. I now have filters in the car but if the a/c is used and not turned off and put on "econ" 5 minutes before I stop the car I will have the stink. I had no problems until 2.5 years of having the car. This is my number one PITA with my car right now. I feel the only way to fix it is to remove the core, clean it and replace it. I am not going to do that job.

I feel if filters would have been in my car the whole time the problem would not be present.

BTW, welcome to the .ORG!

 

Were you welcoming me to the .org? Why, thanks! Its been most helpful and I've learned lots about my Max so far. Somethings I wish I didn't find out, like the hood shutter. I only noticed it after I read about it because I learned how to make it shutter - by going 80mph or more, and now when I see the shutter, I slow down so it stops - not that I speed or anything.

"Came without filters"? That's unusual isn't it?

 

'00/'01 Maximas did not come come with the in-cabin microfilter behind the glove compartment. They were options then. On '02/'03s, the filter was standard.

 

Ahh, I see.

BTW, thanks for the advice earlier. I had been running the a/c on recirculation mode. I probably still have to get the filter changed (because it STIIIIIINKS) and then switch back and forth between the two a/c modes.

 

They have stuff that will deodorize your AC ducts. My dealership uses it for used cars that come in smelling like @ss. You can probably find it at a Pep Boys or Autozone. Just spray it into the AC ducts which are right below your windshield and let the AC run for a bit.

 

Hmmm...

I have the exact opposite problem.

When I use A/C, it's perfectly fine. However, if I shut down A/C, it begins to smell really bad. I never use recirculate. It takes about 10 or so mins to rid that awful smell. At any rate, the 'smelling' problem started when the car was only 1 month old. It's around 8 months old now and so long as I don't use A/C and then turn it off, there is NO bad smell.

Can anyone relate with me?

James

 

The odor is caused by bacteria that grow in the condensation that you are leaving behind when you turn of your a/c. Filters will not help. Spraying Lysol into your ducting will simply make your car smell like pine mixed with bacteria. Try this, before shutting off your maxima, move the heat slider to HOT and turn off the a/c via the button to the right of the slider. Let your system run like this until you feel hot (>100°F) air coming out of the dashboard ducts. If you are in the habit of piping a/c to the floor then be sure to route the hot air through the lower ducts too. Shut the engine off while the hot air is still flowing. After the engine is off move the slider back to cool. Do this reliably and you will have no odor since the hot air dries the ducts before parking. Dry ducts = no bacteria.

 

jay beede is right. It happens when you have our A/C on recirc, and then you smell the odor when you change it to open air or turn off the A/C. It is b/c of bacteria in the air ducts.

Dry ducts keep the bacteria from forming, but won't remove what's already there.

The Lysol method should help to kill it off, then afterwards, do what jay beede said above...

 

use the heater as jaybeede stated. since you have this stench, before you should the car down run the heater for like 5 minutes until you get rid of the smell. then you won't have to run it so long. and try not to use the re-circulate as much.

 

These guys all have the solution to get rid of it.
The heater thing should do the trick.
Long term solution... Roll the windows down when you fart.




Don't let it stagnate while your max is sitting in the parking lot.

I almost ruined my last car with air biscuits. I'll never buy cloth seats again.

 

This worked for me and few others...

 

That's common to all cars. I think the recirc issue has more to do with not letting the condensation evap out of the system when the car is off, not sure.

There's a drain line that is located by the evaporator. If that's clogged, condensation or rain water will not drain from the evaporator area and leave a puddle in the air system, which can build up mold and bacteria. Debris can get into that area from the fresh air intake which is located beween the hood and bottom part of windshield. Look in that area, by the wipers, and you'll see the vents that let the air in. The reason it's located there is because this will be a high pressure area when you are driving, hence it will force air into the car.

First thing to do is make sure the drain hole is working, pour a cup of water into the fresh air intake (between hood and windshield, you'll see the vents), you should see some water drip out under the car on the passenger side. If the water doesn't come out fast, the drain hole might be plugged, you'll need to tear into the evap area and clear it.

Or it can just be bacteria or mold built up on the evaporator.

Turn the AC on high and recirc off, then spray lysol into the fresh air intake (between hood and windshield). Lysol kills most mold and bactia. The lysol will come out the vents so leave your windows open when you do this and let the car air out after you are done.

You can also try pouring a very mild bleach solution into that area with the HVAC system off, it's got to be very dilute, say 30 parts water to 1 part bleach. Pour that in the fresh air intake and it will end up in the evaporator area, and kill the mold or bacteria it contacts. Do this only if you know the drain hole is working.

 

I use my recirc. A/C always and don't have a smell problem. I have never changed my filter, (yet) and I bought it in '01. What I do is right before I get out of the car I switch A/C off and blow air thru the vents untill it is no longer cold. My car still smells like new leather with no funk smells.

 

Turning of AC a couple of minutes before shutting off the engine and leaving the cabin fan on helps drying any moisture left on the condensor, and reduces mildew buildup.

 

They were still options on '02-'03s. My '02 didn't have a in-cabin microfilter.

 

Technically, Wurth makes a product that will clear that right up. You can get it at www.properautocare.com.

Other than that, you can do as the others suggested.

 

i had that problem once. apparently is was mold and rotting leaves that were lodged in the fresh air intake duct near the windshield. i just mixed some vinegar and water and pour it in the intake, and ran clean water through. never had that problem since.

 

where is the in-cabin microfilter located?

 

for people to tried to help with a solution...use this product.

http://www.keep-it-kool.com/treat/treatment.html

http://www.keep-it-kool.com/treat/how_1.html
it washes out the evaporator..you have to take part of the AC system to get to it...(usually remove the fan) it looks like a small radiator in the AC unit. you foam this stuff on and it washes the bacteria/dirt/funky junk in the AC area. i've dealt with cars that had the worse smell from the AC and this stuff took care of it.

i've also used the wurth spray..it does help. you should use the wurth stuff and spray down the evap with the stuff above and that should keep it smelling nice for a while.

VERY IMPORTANT: make sure the drain (AC condensation drain) is not clogged..or else doing all this is a waste of time.