|
AC smells bad
Hello everyone
I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? Many thanks in advance. |
Re: AC smells bad
What does it smell like? If mildew, you might have it in the system
somewhere. It's not uncommon; happens from being wet and warm! I've heard you can fix it by turning on the AC full, then spraying some bleach into the intake. I've never done it myself. The Freon should not be getting into the passenger compartment. If it is, you have a serious leak and need to get it repaired. -- Bob Burns Mill Hall PA (email is spamtrap) "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com... > Hello everyone > > I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a > minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never > recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? > > If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? > > Many thanks in advance. > |
Re: AC smells bad
What does it smell like? If mildew, you might have it in the system
somewhere. It's not uncommon; happens from being wet and warm! I've heard you can fix it by turning on the AC full, then spraying some bleach into the intake. I've never done it myself. The Freon should not be getting into the passenger compartment. If it is, you have a serious leak and need to get it repaired. -- Bob Burns Mill Hall PA (email is spamtrap) "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com... > Hello everyone > > I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a > minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never > recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? > > If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? > > Many thanks in advance. > |
Re: AC smells bad
"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com... > Hello everyone > > I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a > minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never > recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? > > If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? > > Many thanks in advance. > Any chance you need to replace the Cabin Air Filter, also known as Pollen Filter? I bought mine at: http://handaaccessories.com/accmaint00.html Bernie |
Re: AC smells bad
"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com... > Hello everyone > > I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a > minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never > recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? > > If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? > > Many thanks in advance. > Any chance you need to replace the Cabin Air Filter, also known as Pollen Filter? I bought mine at: http://handaaccessories.com/accmaint00.html Bernie |
Re: AC smells bad
Mildew is caused by the AC drain being plugged and the condensation backing
up in the evaporator/heater housing. You first need to clear the drain so the water will drain. Then check with an auto parts store as they have chemicals for neutralizing the mildew. "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com... > Hello everyone > > I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a > minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never > recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? > > If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? > > Many thanks in advance. > |
Re: AC smells bad
Mildew is caused by the AC drain being plugged and the condensation backing
up in the evaporator/heater housing. You first need to clear the drain so the water will drain. Then check with an auto parts store as they have chemicals for neutralizing the mildew. "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com... > Hello everyone > > I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a > minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never > recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? > > If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? > > Many thanks in advance. > |
Re: AC smells bad
Or you can turn on the heater full blast for 10-15 mins, high heat and maybe
the dampness and mildew might go away.... Cheerio. "Bluegoose" <bac2bac@comcast2005.net> wrote in message news:QJmdnZ2dnZ1nvnmJnZ2dnRaMb9-dnZ2dRVn-zJ2dnZ0@comcast.com... > > "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message > news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com... >> Hello everyone >> >> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a >> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never >> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? >> >> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? >> >> Many thanks in advance. >> > > Any chance you need to replace the Cabin Air Filter, also known as Pollen > Filter? > > I bought mine at: > http://handaaccessories.com/accmaint00.html > > Bernie > |
Re: AC smells bad
Or you can turn on the heater full blast for 10-15 mins, high heat and maybe
the dampness and mildew might go away.... Cheerio. "Bluegoose" <bac2bac@comcast2005.net> wrote in message news:QJmdnZ2dnZ1nvnmJnZ2dnRaMb9-dnZ2dRVn-zJ2dnZ0@comcast.com... > > "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message > news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com... >> Hello everyone >> >> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a >> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never >> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? >> >> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? >> >> Many thanks in advance. >> > > Any chance you need to replace the Cabin Air Filter, also known as Pollen > Filter? > > I bought mine at: > http://handaaccessories.com/accmaint00.html > > Bernie > |
Re: AC smells bad
> > I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a > minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never > recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? > > If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? > After you follow the other posters' suggestions, get in the habit of putting your CC in fresh mode when parked to avoid sealing in the residual moisture in the AC. The stickler would disengage the AC for the last minutes of the drive in fresh mode to promote some drying. |
Re: AC smells bad
> > I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a > minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never > recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? > > If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? > After you follow the other posters' suggestions, get in the habit of putting your CC in fresh mode when parked to avoid sealing in the residual moisture in the AC. The stickler would disengage the AC for the last minutes of the drive in fresh mode to promote some drying. |
Re: AC smells bad
Thanks, the freon is not getting in. it's mildew.
|
Re: AC smells bad
Thanks, the freon is not getting in. it's mildew.
|
Re: AC smells bad
"Woody" <TheDuck@pond.net> wrote in message
news:MFqIe.1330$sW1.1104@newssvr23.news.prodigy.ne t... > Mildew is caused by the AC drain being plugged and the condensation > backing up in the evaporator/heater housing. You first need to clear the > drain so the water will drain. Then check with an auto parts store as they > have chemicals for neutralizing the mildew. > Do you have any recommendations? This complaint turns up all the time on all sorts of vehicles, so I'd expect somebody is marketing a solution that helps... I just don't know about it. In the alt.autos.volvo group one of the regulars described a mixture he sprayed into the recirculate intake with the A/C on recirc, full cold, full fan. I don't recall anything except a major ingredient was vodka, and the rest was non-toxic stuff like that. Kind of ingenious, condensing the alcohol on the evaporator to kill the mildew and then letting it drain the usual way to do more of the same. I imagine rubbing alcohol would do the same job. Mike |
Re: AC smells bad
"Woody" <TheDuck@pond.net> wrote in message
news:MFqIe.1330$sW1.1104@newssvr23.news.prodigy.ne t... > Mildew is caused by the AC drain being plugged and the condensation > backing up in the evaporator/heater housing. You first need to clear the > drain so the water will drain. Then check with an auto parts store as they > have chemicals for neutralizing the mildew. > Do you have any recommendations? This complaint turns up all the time on all sorts of vehicles, so I'd expect somebody is marketing a solution that helps... I just don't know about it. In the alt.autos.volvo group one of the regulars described a mixture he sprayed into the recirculate intake with the A/C on recirc, full cold, full fan. I don't recall anything except a major ingredient was vodka, and the rest was non-toxic stuff like that. Kind of ingenious, condensing the alcohol on the evaporator to kill the mildew and then letting it drain the usual way to do more of the same. I imagine rubbing alcohol would do the same job. Mike |
Re: AC smells bad
In article <1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups. com>
"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> writes: >Hello everyone >I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a >minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never >recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? >If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? >Many thanks in advance. It's Mildew. Here's the fix: (from the Dodge Trucks newsgroup) Fresh smelling A/C: results guaranteed Ingredients: 1 pint of common ordinary rubbing alcohol 3-ft piece of 3/8" copper tubing with a short "J" at 1 end 1 small funnel connect the "J" end of the copper tubing to the air conditioner condensate drain hose under the vehicle (where the water drips out when the A/C is running normally. Stick the long end of the tubing up through the engine compartment so you can reach it from above. The copper tubing must be long enough to extend above the center of the dash. Now pour the rubbing alcohol into the upper end of the tubing using the funnel. Continue adding more alcohol until it starts to spill over onto the floorboard of the car or truck. Don't worry, the alcohol will evaporate and won't harm the carpet. This will backflush the system and kill the mold & mildew spores. Now disconnect the copper tubing. If desired you can collect the alcohol in a cake or pie tin as it drains back out and reuse it again. A/C now all nice and fresh again, guaranteed. Now, to keep it nice and fresh, switch your A/C over to max heat about 1/2 block before stopping (every trip). This will dry out the system and prevent the mold and mildew from ever forming. |
Re: AC smells bad
In article <1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups. com>
"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> writes: >Hello everyone >I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a >minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never >recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it? >If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me? >Many thanks in advance. It's Mildew. Here's the fix: (from the Dodge Trucks newsgroup) Fresh smelling A/C: results guaranteed Ingredients: 1 pint of common ordinary rubbing alcohol 3-ft piece of 3/8" copper tubing with a short "J" at 1 end 1 small funnel connect the "J" end of the copper tubing to the air conditioner condensate drain hose under the vehicle (where the water drips out when the A/C is running normally. Stick the long end of the tubing up through the engine compartment so you can reach it from above. The copper tubing must be long enough to extend above the center of the dash. Now pour the rubbing alcohol into the upper end of the tubing using the funnel. Continue adding more alcohol until it starts to spill over onto the floorboard of the car or truck. Don't worry, the alcohol will evaporate and won't harm the carpet. This will backflush the system and kill the mold & mildew spores. Now disconnect the copper tubing. If desired you can collect the alcohol in a cake or pie tin as it drains back out and reuse it again. A/C now all nice and fresh again, guaranteed. Now, to keep it nice and fresh, switch your A/C over to max heat about 1/2 block before stopping (every trip). This will dry out the system and prevent the mold and mildew from ever forming. |
Re: AC smells bad
You could have kept mildew to a minimum by using the outside air selection
instead of the recycled air selection. If you are in a humid climate then outside air does not work as well. In that case it's best to run it on recycled air till the car cools down then switch to outside air. You can buy an can of aerosol which will kill the mildew. DaveL "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123173555.896073.302000@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com... > Thanks, the freon is not getting in. it's mildew. > |
Re: AC smells bad
You could have kept mildew to a minimum by using the outside air selection
instead of the recycled air selection. If you are in a humid climate then outside air does not work as well. In that case it's best to run it on recycled air till the car cools down then switch to outside air. You can buy an can of aerosol which will kill the mildew. DaveL "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123173555.896073.302000@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com... > Thanks, the freon is not getting in. it's mildew. > |
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:26 PM. |
© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands