Smell coming from A/C & Heat - My Beetle stinks!

[Canadianbugin]

Originally Posted by callisto9

Yep, I'm kinda busy right now and haven't had time to spend 2 hours tearing into my car.

I have taken all your suggestions and either looked into them myself or had my mechanic look at them.

Might as well talk to myself as you're not listening....

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by Canadianbugin

Might as well talk to myself as you're not listening....

I am listening. I just haven't had time YET to look at this.

If you feel you've been slighted here (which isn't my intent), please feel free to quit responding. I have taken all advice and have been looking into this problem. I have not had time to tear into my car. I apologize if I haven't looked at this in the speed you wanted.

[Canadianbugin]

Originally Posted by callisto9

I am listening. I just haven't had time YET to look at this.

If you feel you've been slighted here (which isn't my intent), please feel free to quit responding. I have taken all advice and have been looking into this problem. I have not had time to tear into my car. I apologize if I haven't looked at this in the speed you wanted.

Not what i meant... What i did mean is that there is a lack of comunication as to what has been done and inspected by you not a mechanic.Trying to make you more aware of your own car and what is actually happening so you don't get ripped off... Excuse me for trying to help you out...

[Canadianbugin]

Quick to chastise someone but not to appologize... Nice

[callisto9]

Well, Curby visited the shop today. Mechanic found all sorts of decaying, decomposing leaves in the fresh air intake. He said there was a lot of crap in there. Though I asked him HOW it all got in there, he didn't know. Said the stuff could have been building up for years.

So, Curby is all cleaned out. We'll see how he does over the next few weeks and I'll report back as to whether this fixed the problem or not.

Total cost $160.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. Hopefully if anyone comes upon this thread in the future, the info posted here can help (whether a DIY-er or not).

[NBDarren]

Hello Curby owner.

Your saga was incredibly intriguing. The reason I read the whole thing was because I am on the eve of buying a 2004 hot looking orange convertible NB, which has a horrible moldy smell from the vents. This in combination with the plastic smell was overwhelming. I still have the odor in my nose from 5 hours ago. The car has only 47k miles on it, but the smell is possibly a BIG deal breaker.

Your posting was so helpful and i can't thank you enough for taking the time to help others. I noticed someone at the end sort of turned on you, but that only added to the entertaining value of the thread. The suspense was killing me to see it you ever got the smell out. HOWEVER, I was shocked to see that the thread stopped right on the very day I looked at this car, the day you took the car in to get the leaves out! And now I don't know if it worked. I know it's too soon for you to tell, but is some smell still there?

Your post played like a movie. But you MUST let me know what happened. I had never driven a beetle before, but I just loved this car and am totally heartbroken over my not being able to buy it because of the smell. You posting armed me with information that would perhaps save me time and money, BUT if I have to go through that long process of elimination, I will not be happy, so I may have to pass on the purchase and just buy a gorgeous yellow Saturn Sky tomorrow. At least that doesn't smell and won't give me a headache when I drive it, and another headache trying to get the smell out.

I feel really bad for you, and I'm very impressed with your knowledge about cars and your willingness to do the repairs yourself. And i commend you on your decision to have the mechanic do the work.

Please let me know if the smell came out. It's possible that it will never come out, because mold has a way of sticking to things. And it COULD still be the AC unit that is somehow beyond being saved regarding the smell. Don't give up just yet. Wait and see what happens now that the leaves and crap are out.

Darren

you can also call me to let me know what happens: 845-242-7276

[callisto9]

Hey Darren. Thanks for writing. It's only been a few days since I had the leaves cleaned out of my intake, so I would say it's too soon to tell. We need a really wet/humid day for me to really be sure the smell is gone.

Would the owner of the orange Beetle be willing to try some of the treatments we've listed here before selling the car? I would NOT buy a car with that smell, knowing what I know now. It's not that the cost to eliminate it was high, it was the sheer time it took trying different things. Though I am not a DIY-er, many are, but I just took mine to my mechanic to have all the suggestions here tried. However, if you are a DIY-er, some of these things can be very cheap/free to try.

With the orange Beetle you were looking at, it's possible there is indeed mold on a part somewhere wayyyyy in the engine and for that reason alone, I would not buy the car. Not unless the dealer/owner is willing to resolve the problem before the sale.

It should be noted I did not do any of my repairs myself, with the exception of the Klima Klean treatment in the vents. However, the average DIY-er could attempt many of these things if they were so inclined.

Let us know what you decide on that Beetle!

[beej]

To the fellow with the wet dog smell, I wonder, would a dryer sheet or some real lavender oil on top of the new filter help with the wet dog smell in the car?

Lavender is pretty good on clothes, especially when the power goes out while you have a load of laundry in the dryer.

[callisto9]

Well, we have a pretty wet morning right now. The smell seems to be mostly gone, but a little of it lingers. I don't know if that will go away with time or not.

Just thought I'd post an update.

[callisto9]

UPDATE: My car still stinks.

I give up.