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

[callisto9]

Curby is now eight years old and as of a few weeks ago, there's an awful smell coming from the heat / A/C and I can't seem to get rid of it. Mechanic replaced the cabin air filter and blew something into the vents, but the smell remains. It's a very musty, mold-like smell. It reeks. Also seems to have picked up my last air-freshener, too. So, it's musty-smelling air-freshener. LOL

Smell is only apparent when heat/air is on.

I've read about this stuff: Buy Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh® | BG Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh® AC products | Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh® But don't know if I can drill a hole in whatever I need to drill a hole in.

I need help! I'm about ready to chuck Curby in the river! He STINKS! Any advice? Anyone rid their car of this smell?

[HarlequinPixie]

hmm. i was privy to a discussion in Roswell that some people were having about this issue.. do you run your A/C on recirculate alot? apparently it causes condensation to build up in the vents and that can lead to funkyness.. don't recall them mentioning a solution once it was started, but for prevention mentioned running the heater for a few minutes at the end of a trip to evaporate the condensation.

I think I recall Bugman being part of the conversation, and a swimming pool being involved, so i think the others involved would've been Cueball, DannyRandomState... and maybe Marvins_dad?

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by HarlequinPixie

hmm. i was privy to a discussion in Roswell that some people were having about this issue.. do you run your A/C on recirculate alot?

I don't run the AC on recirculate a lot, no.

[JLasvegas]

you can buy a product called ozium, that will help

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by JLasvegas

you can buy a product called ozium, that will help

Have you used it? Do you spray it into the AC intake?

[snookers]

I just recently changed out the cabin filter on my bride's NB....she also made mention of the "funk"...... what I found was lotsa leaves and debris around the filter.....if this gets damp, it will begin to smell like a compost heap in short order...I vacuumed out the debris....no mo funk...

[middknight1]

i have also heard that condensation can build on on the evap causing an odor as well. this info came from a haynes manual that i have. but the cabin filter is the best bet. had the same build up vac'd it all out and changed the filter smells great!

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by snookers

I just recently changed out the cabin filter on my bride's NB....she also made mention of the "funk"...... what I found was lotsa leaves and debris around the filter.....if this gets damp, it will begin to smell like a compost heap in short order...I vacuumed out the debris....no mo funk...

I just had that done at the mechanic's last week. Made some difference, but I just have a feeling most of the smell will come back.

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by callisto9

I just had that done at the mechanic's last week. Made some difference, but I just have a feeling most of the smell will come back.

Yes it will. Debris at the filter can contribute to the problem but the real culprit is the moisture in the evaporator case. All air conditioners produce moisture - its the dehumidifying part of the conditioning process and is what produces the water drip under the car. The stink is coming from mold and mildew growing inside the evap case. Mold and mildew requires a dark, damp, warm place to reproduce. When you shut off the engine and A/C together, it produces these perfect conditions for mold and mildew. You gotta remove one of those factors to keep the mold and mildew from producing. Moisture is the only one you can control. To remove the moisture from the evaporator case, perform the following steps about a mile or two from your stopping point:

1. Turn recirculation switch to "outside air" position
2. Turn off A/C compressor
3. Turn fan on HIGH

If you don't want to start the process a mile or 2 from your stopping point you could do it just before shutting off the engine. But just make sure to run the fan (step 3) for about 5 minutes before shutting your engine off.

All cars with A/C are susceptible to the "stink." Some more than others. The Beetle, I have found, is VERY susceptible.

If you still have the "stink" then you need to start the process earlier (try 3 miles before stopping) or run the fan longer than 5 minutes.

I guarantee this process will eliminate the problem. Been doing it for years.

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by salsa-man

Yes it will. Debris at the filter can contribute to the problem but the real culprit is the moisture in the evaporator case. All air conditioners produce moisture - its the dehumidifying part of the conditioning process and is what produces the water drip under the car. The stink is coming from mold and mildew growing inside the evap case. Mold and mildew requires a dark, damp, warm place to reproduce. When you shut off the engine and A/C together, it produces these perfect conditions for mold and mildew. You gotta remove one of those factors to keep the mold and mildew from producing. Moisture is the only one you can control. To remove the moisture from the evaporator case, perform the following steps about a mile or two from your stopping point:

1. Turn recirculation switch to "outside air" position
2. Turn off A/C compressor
3. Turn fan on HIGH

If you don't want to start the process a mile or 2 from your stopping point you could do it just before shutting off the engine. But just make sure to run the fan (step 3) for about 5 minutes before shutting your engine off.

All cars with A/C are susceptible to the "stink." Some more than others. The Beetle, I have found, is VERY susceptible.

If you still have the "stink" then you need to start the process earlier (try 3 miles before stopping) or run the fan longer than 5 minutes.

I guarantee this process will eliminate the problem. Been doing it for years.

See, after all my reading, this is what I think, too. In late October, I'm going to have this stuff blow into my evaporator housing:
Buy Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh® | BG Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh® AC products | Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh®

So, in the meantime, when you say the "outside air position", do you mean that button to the right of the AC? So, that button ON, AC button OFF?

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by callisto9

See, after all my reading, this is what I think, too. In late October, I'm going to have this stuff blow into my evaporator housing:
Buy Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh® | BG Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh® AC products | Frigi-Clean® and Frigi-Fresh®

So, in the meantime, when you say the "outside air position", do you mean that button to the right of the AC? So, that button ON, AC button OFF?

No. BOTH buttons off.

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by salsa-man

No. BOTH buttons off.

Gotcha. Thank for the advice.

I have a 10 min. drive to work tomorrow...that should work, right?

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by callisto9

Gotcha. Thank for the advice.

I have a 10 min. drive to work tomorrow...that should work, right?

If your drive to work is too short then just run the fan in the parking lot like I indicated before turning off the engine. Just follow the advice I gave you above and see what happens.

How long you actually run the fan or how far down the road you start the process (it's an either/or choice) will depend on outside weather conditions. If you still get the stink then run the fan longer or start the process earlier before reaching your destination.

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by salsa-man

If your drive to work is too short then just run the fan in the parking lot like I indicated before turning off the engine. Just follow the advice I gave you above and see what happens.

How long you actually run the fan or how far down the road you start the process (it's an either/or choice) will depend on outside weather conditions. If you still get the stink then run the fan longer or start the process earlier before reaching your destination.

Should I have it on the cold or hot temp setting?

Again, thank you!

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by callisto9

Should I have it on the cold or hot temp setting?

Again, thank you!

Good point. All the way "full cold". You want ALL the incoming air blowing thru the evaporator. Moving the temp toward hot will divert part of the air thru the heater core - doing nothing to help correct this stink problem.

[riverratmike]

My wife also had a very strong crayon smell in her 2004 Beetle. Come to find out when it is very hot outside here in AZ 105F plus, the floor mats are letting off a weird crayon type smell. Where is this cabin filter located? I'd like to check that.

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by riverratmike

.... Where is this cabin filter located? I'd like to check that.

Look here.

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by salsa-man

Good point. All the way "full cold". You want ALL the incoming air blowing thru the evaporator. Moving the temp toward hot will divert part of the air thru the heater core - doing nothing to help correct this stink problem.

Thanks again. Took a very cold ride to work this morning with your recommendations. How many times do you think I should do this? Just till the smell is gone?

Originally Posted by riverratmike

My wife also had a very strong crayon smell in her 2004 Beetle. Come to find out when it is very hot outside here in AZ 105F plus, the floor mats are letting off a weird crayon type smell. Where is this cabin filter located? I'd like to check that.

You'll never get rid of that crayon smell. There are many threads here on the .org about it. It comes from either an adhesive or plastic under the floor. You're just going to need to get used to that smell.

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by callisto9

Thanks again. Took a very cold ride to work this morning with your recommendations. How many times do you think I should do this? Just till the smell is gone?

If you're not seeing results you may be too far gone and will probably have to have some of that mold/mildew killer stuff sprayed into the evaporator case. Once you are clean, make sure you follow the procedure I outlined above to keep it clean.

Edit 10/9/09: Wait - why did you take a "very cold ride" to work? If you don't need A/C why did you turn it on? You're just making the problem worse. Oh, and another tip - make sure your evap case drain hole isn't obstructed. That will cause water to "pool" in the evap case and creates a worse problem - in which case the procedure I recommended above ain't gonna work.

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by riverratmike

My wife also had a very strong crayon smell in her 2004 Beetle. Come to find out when it is very hot outside here in AZ 105F plus, the floor mats are letting off a weird crayon type smell. Where is this cabin filter located? I'd like to check that.

I think I've read somewhere in another thread that the smell is coming from the Beeswax used to waterproof the inside of the doors and body panels. I've seen the the stuff melt (in the Texas heat) and drip out of the drain holes in the bottom of the door onto the side rocker panels.