# Bad odor coming from the AC **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [December 24, 2014, 9:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465 "2014-12-24T09:31:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clarence123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@clarence123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/clarence123)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 9:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/1 "2014-12-24T09:31:52Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 9:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/2 "2014-12-24T09:44:31Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/3 "2014-12-24T20:05:30Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/4 "2014-12-24T20:49:00Z")
@Yosemite‌ Exactly . Be prepared but definitely don’t wait. Get a filter and prepare to clean the filter box. ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/5 "2014-12-24T21:04:59Z")
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](http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2299275/mice-nest-in-ductwork/p1) Ed B. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/6 "2014-12-25T02:55:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 3:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/7 "2014-12-25T03:54:18Z")
**“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/](http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/) This is a potentially serious health hazard. ---
**Author:** ![SteveC76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SteveC76](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveC76)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 7:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/8 "2014-12-26T07:21:30Z")
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](http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/171599773489?lpid=82) You will need to replace the cabin filter at the time of cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![German\_car\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@German\_car\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/German_car_guy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/9 "2015-01-30T06:53:03Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/10 "2015-01-30T06:57:27Z")
@German car guy Usually if a thread has several weeks of silence the person who started it has left the building . ---
**Author:** ![kmccune](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/kmccune/32/1237_2.png) [@kmccune](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kmccune)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-odor-coming-from-the-ac/88465/11 "2015-02-06T17:41:22Z")
clean the evaporator,and use disposable cabin filters