Help: Smelly aircon

[Arctra]

Hi guys.

Yesterday I notice that my climate control/aircon smells like a wet dog. Horrible odour. Does anyone know how I might go about sorting this out? I don't know if different vehicles aircon units need different treatment, or if it's a simple generic fix.

My guess is that there has been a moisture buildup that's cultivated mildew or something in the ducts.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

[team_v]

My guess is that there has been a moisture buildup that's cultivated mildew or something in the ducts.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

This is what i am guessing.
There was a thread on vortex about it happening, check if they had any solutions?

Try turning the aircon off about 2 minutes before you get home to let all the cold air escape and stop condensation.

Could also be the pollen filter.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3240899

[Arctra]

Thanks for that. I'll check it out.

[team_v]

After a bit more searching in that thread, there was a suggestion to spray cleaner in teh vents and set the car to recirculate to get all the cleaner through the system and get rid of any mould already in the vents.


Google vw smelly aircon and you actually see this is quite a common issue.

[Sharkie]

Especially with diesels .....

makes sense really .... you put dirty smelly stuff in the engine .... some of it is bound to get into the AC system eventually ....

[dylan8]

I had this in my Bora. It still blew cold. My mechanic sprayed something down the vents to remove excess moister, i ran the air con all the time after, turning it off before a few minutes before i turned the car off, and after a week or two and some days with the windows down it seems to have disappeared.

[Brendan_A]

Spray a heap of Glen 20 into the intake under the dash.

[Transporter]

Spray a heap of Glen 20 into the intake under the dash.

Naah, Glen20 only mask the smell, didn't you see the add on TV. Get oust instead.

[Brendan_A]

HA HA. I've never heard of oust before, I'll have to look into it. Glen20 worked on our Corolla.

[Tigger]

Hey mate,
We had a 2000 crApSTRA with this issue from new. After a lot of messing around with "cleaner" sprays etc at the dealer, it turned out that a seal of some sort had worn away and needed replacing deep in the aircon unit. It was done under warranty. But my experience has been that if you take it to a dealer the first few times, they will not look for this so far in, and just try the "smelly" sprays first.
Anyways...that car was a disaster, so another prob was just par for the course. I am sure that the VW systems are beter built that OPEL anyway.

[Transporter]

Also it could be beneficial to let the outside air in through the vents by turning air recirculation off, before turning engine off.

[Arctra]

Just had my 30,000km service and they changed the air and pollen filter(s) as part of the service. I am pleased to report that the smelly aircon problem I had seems to be gone now - so must have been the filter. So if your Tig smells, there's the solution

[Dilusi]

Just had my 30,000km service and they changed the air and pollen filter(s) as part of the service. I am pleased to report that the smelly aircon problem I had seems to be gone now - so must have been the filter. So if your Tig smells, there's the solution

Thanks for this post. I had exactly the same problem and same solution. The smell went with the pollen filter change at the 30000 service. (Despite the VW service rep explaining before the service that all cars air conditioning smells bad .. right)

[team_v]

Best part is they are cheap as chips and you can do it yourself.

[aussietig]

Best part is they are cheap as chips and you can do it yourself.

Are they like the golfs, in the area under the glove box from memory?