AC drain pipe clogged (so stinky)

[Fireside]

Hey all,
Just wondering if anyone has had to deal with a clogged AC drain pipe, and if so, where is it?

Over the past week I've noticed a foul smell every time I got in the car, it seemed to get worst every day.
To the point it was almost unbearable, it is an all consuming stink, just like the one out of Seinfeld!

I steam cleaned the cabin top to bottom, coated it in bicarb, air fresheners and even bought a new cabin filter and the stench lives on!

After some web research, I've deduced that it must be bacteria, fungi and spores growing in the vents... and probably a blocked AC drain pipe.

Has anyone had this problem before?

I'm attempting to sort it tomorrow but dont really know where to start, any help would be much appreciated!

[vdubmotorworx]

it wont be a blocked drain. if it was blocked you would have wet carpets by now and as the weather is not humid any more (Brizzy anyway) you dont see the a/c dripping under the car onto your drive... a lot of cars are smelling like this at the moment usually when the a/c is turned off and just blowing air.... you can buy a proper bacteria spray for this issue... its like a insect bomb you let off in the cabin with the windows closed and recirc turned on for a while..sure places like autobarn would sell it....VDUB....

[Fireside]

Thanks VDUB!
No carpets are dry, so mustn't be the blocked drain.
I'll check to see if there's water leaking. Yeah the smell is discussing, and I've got a really strong stomach but after an hour, it makes you wanna hurl!
I'll swing down to repco tomorrow and see what I can find.
Thanks for the tips!

[vdubmotorworx]

usually the smell goes when the a/c is on.. the smell is usually with just the blower on and A/c turned off..... you might not see the a/c dripping as its not humid and its not having to take moisture out of the cabin air... good luck...VDUB...

[K1W1]

Rotting leaves in the air intake under the wipers on the back edge of the bonnet?

[deeps]

Is it an old sock smell?

[brimway]

I had this smell problem with air con or just the fan. I removed the pollen filter, which is not due to be replaced according to VW, and no more smell.

[deeps]

Seems to be a common problem if you do a google search.

[Mysticality]

Check this out, on Briskoda!

Air con Smells - Skoda Octavia II (2004 - 2013) - BRISKODA.net - The Skoda Forum and Community

[Halcyon]

Haven't got a dead rodent in there have you? If so it would be with the pollen filter.

[brad]

There are 2 types of cabin filter. One just does leaves & the paper is a whit-ish colour. The other removes odours & is carbon impregnated. It's a dark colour. Often the non-carbon is fitted because it is cheaper.

Also, try & get up in the cavity and wipe itr out with kitchen towel or dry rag. Possibly even take the fan motor out if it's down that way (it is on most Jap cars but Euros seem to want to make life difficult).

Make sure all the plenum area is clear of leaves. Also take off the guard liners down where the mudflaps would be & get rid of all the leaves in there.

The manual says change the cabin filter every 2 years but in AUS I reckon every 12 months. You can wash them if you're careful but it also washes all the carbon out

[Wolfgang]

Something else you can try is Einzett Air Con Treatment.

Car Care Products / Einszett 1Z / Interior / Air Freshener / Air Condition Treatment - Klima-Cleaner

There are 2 types of cabin filter. One just does leaves & the paper is a whit-ish colour. The other removes odours & is carbon impregnated. It's a dark colour. Often the non-carbon is fitted because it is cheaper.

This would explain why I'm getting fumes into my cabin after my original cabin filter was replaced last service?

[brad]

Something else you can try is Einzett Air Con Treatment.

Car Care Products / Einszett 1Z / Interior / Air Freshener / Air Condition Treatment - Klima-Cleaner




This would explain why I'm getting fumes into my cabin after my original cabin filter was replaced last service?

PAss

Pull it out & have a look.

[Lucas_R]

I wouldnt bother wasting your time/money on these deodorants/freshening sprays etc. My A/C developed this horrible stench a few months ago and i tried several air freshening sprays i had at home (Glen 20 and Febreeze type things) and also removed the cabin filter, vacuumed the leaves and crap out of it and re-installed it. The filter itself stank. It was time for a new filter.

VW wanted $46 for one, so i looked online and found a UK ebay seller (an Audi Dealership over these) selling them for approx $25 incl international shipping. Audi Pollen Filter 1K2819653B A3 TT 2004 Bnib | eBay

Filter replaced, stench gone immediately.

[deeps]

I feel the problem is the carbon is absorbing odours - and then getting "saturated" with the smells and then ends up just transmitting the odour through the vents.

I've never had carbon in my air filters in my previous cars, and never experienced this problem before. Particularly not so soon (The smell started approximately 4-5 months after owning the car).