I’m owning a Honda Accord for last 6 months and I have noticed a bad odor coming from the AC. I tried many air fresheners and similar options. But, nothing helped. When I talk about the same issue with my friend who is a mechanic ( Apex automotive ) in Edmonton, he told that the first thing I need to do is change the cabin filter. Right now, I’m thinking of doing it. On my search I found about reusable filters and it costs around only $40- $150. Did anyone tried using it? Or else do I need to check a brand new one?
don’t think about it, do it.
spray a liberal amount of Lysol into the vents.
turn a/c on high
with the cabin filter out spray an entire can of Lysol into the cabin filter opening
install new filter
When you replace that filter I’d just use a one time use filter…until you find the problem. Why pay for a $100 filter and contaminate it.
You may have a dead mouse in the vent, so look for any damage where a rodent may have gnawed a hole in the filter and look as far into the vent as you can. You may find a nest that needs to be removed. It doesn’t pay to just cover up the smell…and leave the nest.
Yosemite
@Yosemite
Exactly . Be prepared but definitely don’t wait. Get a filter and prepare to clean the filter box.
I had the same problem last summer. Mice or the like built a nest on the top of the cabin filter in my 2013 Equinox. There was a “death” smell coming out of the vent. Here’s a link to the discussion I started.
http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2299275/mice-nest-in-ductwork/p1
Ed B.
While doing the cleaning-up and deodorizing ideas posted above, be sure to verify the drain that allows water which condenses on the AC coils to drain out the bottom of the car is clear.
“You may have a dead mouse in the vent, so look for any damage where a rodent may have gnawed a hole in the filter and look as far into the vent as you can. You may find a nest that needs to be removed. It doesn’t pay to just cover up the smell…and leave the nest.”
Unfortunately, a bad smell is not the only problem associated with rodents and their droppings:
http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/
This is a potentially serious health hazard.
This is a fairly common issue where bacteria builds up on the evap core. I have had good luck with cleaners like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/171599773489?lpid=82 You will need to replace the cabin filter at the time of cleaning.
Many car makers have come out with anti odor products. Also make sure the evaporator case drain is clear, you know the puddle of water under the car on a hot summer day?
@German car guy Usually if a thread has several weeks of silence the person who started it has left the building .
clean the evaporator,and use disposable cabin filters