# Driving In A PT Cruiser - Or A Gymbag?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-in-a-pt-cruiser-or-a-gymbag/24023>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [December 28, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-in-a-pt-cruiser-or-a-gymbag/24023 "2008-12-28T23:53:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lynneap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ec9cab/32.png) [@lynneap](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lynneap)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-in-a-pt-cruiser-or-a-gymbag/24023/1 "2008-12-28T23:53:27Z")

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(You folks seem really good at diagnosing problems. I added one yesterday, and thought I’d ask about another problem.) This is about a 2006 PT Cruiser Convertible. When it’s warm out, I sometimes use my air conditioning. Once the air is turned off, the car smells like bad gymclothes. Sweaty, stinky gymclothes. There are no gymclothes - sweaty, stinky or otherwise - in the car. Does this have to do with the antifreeze or something similar?

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**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 29, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-in-a-pt-cruiser-or-a-gymbag/24023/2 "2008-12-29T00:03:59Z")

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This is most likely the result of mold spores growing in the passages of your A/C system. A good auto parts store (NAPA comes to mind) will stock an aerosol fungicide designed for use in a car’s HVAC system.

Just don’t use the term “fungicide” at the parts store unless you want to have the employees give you a very blank look! Tell them that you want something to “kill mold in my A/C system”, and they should be able to give you the correct product.

Some people advocate the use of Lysol spray for this purpose. You might want to try it, but I recommend that you use a fungicide specifically made for this type of application.

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**Author:** ![MrPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MrPhil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MrPhil)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-in-a-pt-cruiser-or-a-gymbag/24023/3 "2008-12-29T00:15:21Z")

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Whenever you use the A/C, at the end of your drive turn off the A/C but leave the fan on for a minute or two. This will help clear the ductwork of excessive moisture, which is conducive to the growth of mildew.