Why Is There A Weird Car A/C Smell?
When you switch on the A/C unit in your vehicle, does it release an A/C odor that is repugnant or weird? If the answer is yes, you may be dealing with a problematic A/C. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to determine the presence of certain odors emitting from the A/C units. More often than not, these odors are a result of damage within the system. Let’s find out more!
Antifreeze
If you notice a sweet smell emitting from the cooling system, you should have your unit checked with delay. Antifreeze or toxic liquid ethylene glycol could be the cause of the sweet smell. It also means that your cooling system is leaking. The leak can come from the radiator, coolant housing unit, hose, pipe, or heater core.
Dirty Air Filters
If you do not clean your air filters properly, they could be the cause of the weird car air conditioner smell. These filters can collect dust mites, stagnant water, dirt, and other harmful pollutants over time. If that is the case, then this results in a bad smell every time you switch on your A/C. This problem is easy to fix as you just need to replace the old filter with a new one. In addition, you should clean the filters on a regular basis.
Gas Leak
If you smell gas every time you switch on the A/C system, your car may have a gas leak. When the A/C unit is turned on, leaking gas is sucked into the fresh air flow that the A/C is drawing from. This leak needs to be repaired pronto. With that in mind, there are multiple locations where you can detect a potential gas leak. The first place to check is the fuel pressure regulator that’s located at the engine. Next, you may also look at the O-rings of the fuel injectors located in the engine compartment. It is recommended that you also check your muffler and exhaust pipes for potential holes as well.
Bacteria and Mold
Presence of mold and mildew in your air vents can be the cause of the distinct smell in your air conditioner as well. As car ages, micro-organisms, fungi, mold, and other forms of bacteria can multiply and spread. They can even spread to places such as the back of the dash panel on the evaporator. The habit of setting the A/C to max often causes bacteria growth due to the excess moisture within the unit. There are several solutions to solve this problem. You can use anti-bacterial treatment solutions to destroy bacteria that are growing behind the dash, locate the drain tube in your A/C unit and clean it, and more. While performing these tasks, it is advisable to turn off the car air conditioner. You would want to allow the water to evaporate on the coils of your unit.
Preventing Bad Smells in the Future
There are multiple ways to prevent bad smells. Firstly, you want to switch between recirculated air and fresh air to help dry out the interior of your car’s A/C system. You should also try to run the fan without turning the air conditioning on for at least two minutes. After that, you can proceed to turn off the engine. This will help prevent mildew and mold growth. If possible, get a professional to apply a foaming system cleaner or disinfect the fresh air intakes under the hood as well.