Got the car 3 months ago. I noticed this awful smell from the vent. My body oozes out this smell after I put on the AC , even when the AC is off I still perceive it. Fragrances has little to avert it. I have checked the car engine and all look new as ever. The mechs confirm no leakage and the AC is as chilling as ever. please help what could be the issue?


Front page mode please, before one contact cancer.

Ournaija:
Got the car 3 months ago. I noticed this awful smell from the vent. My body oozes out this smell after I put on the AC , even when the AC is off I still perceive it. Fragrances has little to avert it. I have checked the car engine and all look new as ever. The mechs confirm no leakage and the AC is as chilling as ever. please help what could be the issue?


Front page mode please, before one contact cancer.

Awful odour like what?

autologic:
Awful odour like what?

like sticky fried oil with toxics .

We had a similar experience with my wife's car, and it turned out to be a dead rat. Get an AC guy to check it out.

pannyman:
We had a similar experience with my wife's car, and it turned out to be a dead rat. Get an AC guy to check it out.

Got an AC Guy to open and check the dashboard, everything look sparkling clean but we still washed it and change filter. I suspected the coolant and we blocked the holes from the radiator to the heater, yet no show.

Could it be the evaporator? Please help before it cause a health issue.

Have your evaporator checked properly it's leaking reason for the offensive smell. Notice this. When you put on or off AC do you get to hear a hissing sound

mayor2013:
Have your evaporator checked properly it's leaking reason for the offensive smell. Notice this. When you put on or off AC do you get to hear a hissing sound

I have not observed any sound but will check later today. Yesternight I touched a sgreay substance that smell exactly like the offensive smell.

Please help....

Any useful info will be appreciated

Please help the smell is killing. It stays on the body for more 3 days each time I use the car.

Ournaija:
Please help the smell is killing. It stays on the body for more 3 days each time I use the car.

take the car to a technician to check cabin filter and also they should loose the evaporator blow to confirm if any particles falls inside.

mosbus:
take the car to a technician to check cabin filter and also they should loose the evaporator blow to confirm if any particles falls inside.

Thanks bro, I will give this a try.

have you tried the vinegar solution? it gets rid of odours. you may have to open the dashboard and spray generous amounts of it in the Ac ducting.
is the smell worse with the recirc button on or better with it off?
the air to the evaporator comes through a duct, check if any animal has died inside that duct.
I don't know what else that could be causing the bad odour.

What's the smell like? Rotten egg

One of the culprit I know is transmission fluid leaking on the exhaust pipes then evaporates into your cabin. See if there is any oil leak under the car, your windshield should be dirty too

sultaan:
One of the culprit I know is transmission fluid leaking on the exhaust pipes then evaporates into your cabin. See if there is any oil leak under the car, your windshield should be dirty too

The windshield is always greasy but not dirty. How does it leak into the cabin.

The smell happens only when the engine is on.

Ournaija:


The windshield is always greasy but not dirty. How does it leak into the cabin.

The smell happens only when the engine is on.

We are still saying the same thing, you either have a engine oil leak or transmission fluid leak possibly at axle seal.

I have a leak, but thought it was engine oil that splashed on my engine during oil change only to find out it was transmission fluid leaking from axle and the air turbulence under the car Ron motion spreads it to the exhaust which burns it when engine is running.

Start from the top of the engine if you see oil from around valve cover change the valve cover seal and wash the engine to see any new leaks when it happens

sultaan:


We are still saying the same thing, you either have a engine oil leak or transmission fluid leak possibly at axle seal.

I have a leak, but thought it was engine oil that splashed on my engine during oil change only to find out it was transmission fluid leaking from axle and the air turbulence under the car Ron motion spreads it to the exhaust which burns it when engine is running.

Start from the top of the engine if you see oil from around valve cover change the valve cover seal and wash the engine to see any new leaks when it happens

Thanks for the info, very much appreciated. I will get both Mech and an AC guy to check under the engine and the evaporator tommorrw. I will share update. Am booking a date right now. Any other hints will be much appreciated.

When dirt and bacteria build up in your car’s air conditioning system, it can cause a musty smell to waft from your car’s vents. Mold and bacteria can form and grow in your air vents, leading to the strong smell when the air con. This is the most common cause of air-con smell and more often than not can be solved by an anti-bacterial clean of your car’s air conditioning filters at routine intervals.

Other smells coming from your car’s air conditioning could be as a result of a leak causing unwanted fluids to find their way into the system. In these situations it is recommended to have your car inspected immediately to prevent further damage.

Animals in your car

A less common cause is an animal making a home for itself in your vehicle. Though it may seem unlikely, this happens more often than you might think. Animals crawl up into the underside of the vehicle and can store all kinds of things under there, potentially contributing to a foul smell when you turn on the AC.

Gasoline or antifreeze leak

Most drivers will easily recognize the smell of gasoline, and if you notice the smell each time you use your air conditioning, you may want to have a qualified service technician check for a gas leak. A sweet smell, on the other hand, could indicate an antifreeze leak in the cooling system.

efesodje:
When dirt and bacteria build up in your car’s air conditioning system, it can cause a musty smell to waft from your car’s vents. Mold and bacteria can form and grow in your air vents, leading to the strong smell when the air con. This is the most common cause of air-con smell and more often than not can be solved by an anti-bacterial clean of your car’s air conditioning filters at routine intervals.

Other smells coming from your car’s air conditioning could be as a result of a leak causing unwanted fluids to find their way into the system. In these situations it is recommended to have your car inspected immediately to prevent further damage.

Animals in your car

A less common cause is an animal making a home for itself in your vehicle. Though it may seem unlikely, this happens more often than you might think. Animals crawl up into the underside of the vehicle and can store all kinds of things under there, potentially contributing to a foul smell when you turn on the AC.

Gasoline or antifreeze leak

Most drivers will easily recognize the smell of gasoline, and if you notice the smell each time you use your air conditioning, you may want to have a qualified service technician check for a gas leak. A sweet smell, on the other hand, could indicate an antifreeze leak in the cooling system.

Thanks bro I have booked a date tomorrow.

The smell was domiciled in the plastic that covers the evaporator. The evaporator looks very clean but I wonder how the greasy substance got into the plastic to form the smell .

Ournaija:
The smell was domiciled in the plastic that covers the evaporator. The evaporator looks very clean but I wonder how the greasy substance got into the plastic to form the smell .

Sign of refrigerant mixed with oil leak.

mayor2013:

Sign of refrigerant mixed with oil leak.

What could be the permanent solution to this?

Ournaija:


What could be the permanent solution to this?

Have your evaporator checked properly also check for leakages around that region

mayor2013:
Have your evaporator checked properly it's leaking reason for the offensive smell. Notice this. When you put on or off AC do you get to hear a hissing sound

please help how do I know my car AC dryer is bad ?

There's maybe mold growing in the evaporator box. Check also the cabin filter.

istephen:
There's maybe mold growing in the evaporator box. Check also the cabin filter.

The evaporator box was brought and washed. The smell was on the box. Am considering getting a Mech this weekend to check forleaks and possibly remove the radiator water and it coolant. It considering using ordinary water without coolant.

yarimo:
please help how do I know my car AC dryer is bad ?

the dryer will be cold and also the high side pipe before the expansion valve will be cold.

Ournaija:


The evaporator box was brought and washed. The smell was on the box. Am considering getting a Mech this weekend to check forleaks and possibly remove the radiator water and it coolant. It considering using ordinary water without coolant.

Bros, Just book appointment with Mosbus. He's tested and trusted when it comes to any issues with AC system