Funny smell from AC?

[JustmeAP]

This is fabulous. I just joined yesterday and already have the answer to my front license plate mount issue! Thanks!!
So here I go again. I had an 02 bug....no smell from AC. Then I traded for 05 bug conv...unpleasant smell from AC. Then I traded for 06 bug conv. b/c of new body..etc....had it since Aug and last week that same funny smell is coming from AC. I saw on another website about a pollen filter (live in S.FL.)Has anyone tried this filter or had this problem smell with AC?
Thanks again!
P.S. I thought I was a beetle junkie....so of you guys are putting me to shame

[dunno513]

If it is new, go ahead and turn the heat on full blast and high fan. This will clear out that new "heat" smell quicker. I'm not sure where you live where you need the AC right now so it's probably the same smell I had as soon as you requested any heat.

I think its a corrosion dip that is fresh and needs to "burn" of. My smell slowly disappeared and now at 10k is completely gone.

(I can't remember if it also appeared with the AC since I bought mine in march and the smell had pretty much disappeared by the time I began to use AC)

[deeceedub]

My '06 has a definite plastic smell that comes only with the heater. It has no smell at all with the AC, but the second you turn the temp control towards the red, the smell appears. Like dunno said, I think you just have to blast it out. Mine is much better now- I only get a second or two of it when I first turn on the heat, and even at that I'm probably the only one who can smell it anymore. Good luck, and Welcome to the Org!!!

[DistantTwinkle]

I have a 98 beetle and I had a problem with smell for some time, it was really nasty. The last thing I remember doing was changing the air filter and later replaced my assembly fan due to other issues. Whenever I'm at the car wash and vacumming the luvbug I usually suck the vents in the car just to clear it of anything.

[macaddiict]

Every car I've ever owned has had funny smells from the air conditioner if you don't turn it on and off like you should. Maybe it is just this southern climate, but every time you get out of the car you gotta blow the vents on high and "dry out" the system before shutting down the car.

If you don't want to do that, just make sure to turn off the A/C before you shut the car off every time. I've heard it is easier for your car to start with the A/C off, anyway, but the reason I do this is because it keeps the musty, gross, smell from coming back.

My Passat doesn't do this yet, but I haven't had it long. My roomate's 03 NBC had horrible smelling AC when she bought it used, but after about a month of her complaing she finally tried out my "TURN IT OFF before you turn off the car" technique and the smell went away.

Good luck! If your smell is the moldy smell I'm thinking of, it sure is nasty!

[sundownbeetle]

It could be the pollen filter causing the smell... My '03 started having a NASTY smell after about a year of happy driving. I finally got fed up and had the dealer "take a look at it" and they proceeded to replace my pollen filter. The guy said to change it about every 20,000 miles, but I'm still trying to figure out how to do it myself so I don't get charged 66 bucks again!