Smelly Airconditioer

[Amalgam]

Hi All,

I have carried out a search and could only find a thread in the Golf forum.

Anyhow, there is a slightly acidic smell when I use the air conditioner in our MY12 125TDI estate. It is not there when we just use the fan and it reduces / disappears after a couple of minutes with the AC on.

On the Golf thread, they suggest to replace the cabin air filter and / or treat with Glen 20. Does anyone have a solution.

Can you also confirm the part number for the cabin air filter. I believe it to be.

Mann CUK 2939

VW 1K2819653

Thanks

[brad]

All the ACs are the same basic design - cabin filter & glen20 should cure it but also make sure your plenum and lower parts of the front guards isn't full of leaves & that when running the AC there is a steady stream of water forming under the car (drain isn't blocked).

Cabin filter is common to all the Golfs, Audis, Skodas. Either of these should fit

Polin Filter Audi A3 TT Skoda Octavia VW Caddy Golf Jetta 1K2819653 Save $ | eBay

Cabin AIR Filter 2012 Volkswagen Passat 3C 125TDI Turbo Diesel 4 2 0L C | eBay

Sometimes you have to pull out the blower fan as that gets full of leaves & covered in black crud.

When you put the cabin filter in, slip one of those cardboard deodorisers in next to it

[Umai Naa!!]

Replace the pollen filter. Cheap as, and easy to get hold of through VW.

[Amalgam]

Thanks guys,

I have ordered a new cabin air filter.

Do you have a link on how to replace?? There seems to be 2 locations for the filter. I am guessing that the one under the glove box is the correct one for AU models.

Thanks

[brad]

be something like this but google a few more for peace of mind

[Amalgam]

Thanks,

I 'll give it a go when the filter arrives

[Red Emperor]

Also not all the water/condensation will make it out of the tube. That moisture over time will form mould on the condenser, which could produce a smell. I just had mine sanitised at the dealership, which is a 2 step thing which kills and removes the mould as well as make it smell purty. If the Glen20 don't work maybe look into that. Cost $123, may need doing every few years.

[Gabsta13]

i am also experiencing a bit of a smelly ac. i have done all the suggestions above. located the drain piped also to check if it was blocked but there seems to be no blockage there. i dont get a stream of water when ac is on so there is definitely a block somewhere. Any more suggestion as to where i should look? TIA guys.

[Red Emperor]

The A/C cools as well as dehumidifies the air, so it would depend on the humidity inside the vehicle as to how much fluid will be coming out of the drain tube. It won't be a case of turn the A/C on and water starts pouring out. Also the filter won't stop bad smells only particles.

[brad]

i am also experiencing a bit of a smelly ac. i have done all the suggestions above. located the drain piped also to check if it was blocked but there seems to be no blockage there. i dont get a stream of water when ac is on so there is definitely a block somewhere. Any more suggestion as to where i should look? TIA guys.

Did you pull the fan on the LH side out & clean it? It can become a bit of a compost heap.

It's not a hard job & only needs basic tools / ability.

Also, there are 2 types of cabin filter. One is a pollen filter & the other is a carbon impregnated "pollution filter" The carbon filters are a grey colour, and the pollen filters are white or cream (yellowish). Supposedly the carbon impregnated filter has a smell removing quality but that might only be for farts.

I also recomend you run the system on fresh rather than recirc but I'm a fresh air freak (and fart a lot).

[The One]

Also not all the water/condensation will make it out of the tube. That moisture over time will form mould on the condenser, which could produce a smell. I just had mine sanitised at the dealership, which is a 2 step thing which kills and removes the mould as well as make it smell purty. If the Glen20 don't work maybe look into that. Cost $123, may need doing every few years.

Sounds like someone was a sucker for a pointless dealership upsell...

[Rolls]

On the note of air conditioner...

Is it possible to have the recirculation button permanently on?
i.e. no air to come in the car?

I know I can just close each vent individually but that just takes more time and slightly inconvenient.

[Amalgam]

On the note of air conditioner...

Is it possible to have the recirculation button permanently on?
i.e. no air to come in the car?

I know I can just close each vent individually but that just takes more time and slightly inconvenient.

On my B7, when you turn the recirc button on it remains on until I select otherwise. There is also an Auto (A) setting that is supposed to switch between fresh and recirc depending on pollution levels. Clever if it works

Still waiting for my activated carbon impregnated Mann filter from UK.

[Gabsta13]

thanks for your response.

No i have not pulled the fan as yet. I will give that a go.

yeah i have been more of a recirc guy but since i started noticing the smell & having googled/researched, i've been running ac with fresh air.


thanks for your advise again. Appreciate it.

[Amalgam]

Just an update,

It has taken a little longer for the cabin air filter to arrive from UK than ebay predicted, but I have finally swapped it out.

Not very difficult to do except for where the foam covering lips under the back edge of the glove box.

For those who are may change their own filter the original part number is Mann CUK 2939/1 with the activated carbon.

I will report back latter whether the filter change removes the acrid smell.