Awful Smell from air vents

**truflip** · 08-25-2007, 12:22 AM

When I turn my fans on, initially it smells awful. But if you let it "air out" it'll go away.
Also same thing happens if I turn on the AC initially.
This seems to happen only if it hasn't been on for a few hours. Garaged or not, doesnt make a difference. The air vents dont look dirty.
Please help? :)

Duce2k · 08-25-2007, 12:56 AM

Change your cabin filter that might help

Raging · 08-25-2007, 01:32 AM

It only last for a minute or so then it goes away after cycling through... Yeah mine does this too.... I'm thinking it's the Refrigerant that Honda is using....

***Mikey6p*** · 08-25-2007, 02:24 AM

Don't shut your car off right after using the A/C. Run the fan (no AC) for a minute before parking your car.

hondasi006 · 08-25-2007, 02:25 AM

^ i actually heard that, the smell is like that moldy stale smell rite

***Mikey6p*** · 08-25-2007, 02:27 AM

yes..

**truflip** · 08-25-2007, 04:17 AM

Thanks Mikey! I will try that. I remember it happens also even if im not using the AC, fan only. shut it off, afterwork, use fan (no ac still) and stale smell. I'll keep be monitoring with when I try what you said

***Excalibur*** · 08-25-2007, 07:07 AM

Put one of those little tree air freshioners on top of the cabin filter and it'll smell great.

xxhaimbondxx · 08-25-2007, 08:35 AM

Do you smoke in the car?

msqr · 08-25-2007, 11:47 AM

I've never smoked or had food in my car, but I've noticed ever since I started using the air conditioner (summer) whenever I start the car that smell comes off. I usually turn off the AC 5 minutes before parking but the smell is still there for 1/2 a minute the next startup...

DeDonDeRosa · 08-25-2007, 01:18 PM

go to a dealer that sells this

its made by BG its called Frigi Fresh we use it at my dealership. By far the best stuff i have ever used. you spray it right in the duct where the outside air gets sucked in from. It kills bacteria and makes it smell nice

msqr · 08-25-2007, 01:24 PM

Cool, anyone know a dealer in Canada with that stuff? All I get on their website are Midas which doesn't seem to sell anything. Crappy tire dont have em either

***divinebarrel*** · 08-25-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msqr

Cool, anyone know a dealer in Canada with that stuff? All I get on their website are Midas which doesn't seem to sell anything. Crappy tire dont have em either

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BG-Fr...spagenameZWD1V
this stuff is the awesome works great

sjlarue · 08-25-2007, 04:43 PM

A Few years ago another Honda model had a problem with the drain hose leaking into the cabin. The only reason that I remember was that there was a recall, and my friends had to take all their cars to the dealer. I don't know how many were defective or what the actual problem was but one of the symptoms was a moldy smell in the cabin. PLugged drains can happen in any A/C unit be it car or home, guess what one of the symptoms for a plugged drain is...that's right a moldy musty smell.

The other bug that I can put in your ear and I CAN'T tell you why, is that there could be some kind of water leak from the outside into your cabin air intake. If you have had any HEAVY rains recently, that may be the problem. I doubt that this is the problem though. The one piece of advice that I can offer you regarding this is to run your MAX A/C durring heavy rains. That way it's drawing air from inside the cabin, and not sucking in moisture from the outside.

If it doesn't smell like mold or must then you probably have what I have...a three year old that likes to spill her drink and french fries on the floor.

Anyway, time to enjoy my weekend.

Cr8tive_leo · 08-25-2007, 04:50 PM

I have this smell now too.. and I run my AC on cabin recycle all the time.

It's freakin annoying, >< this close to doing a story on it now.

sjlarue · 08-25-2007, 09:05 PM

It's just a way of keeping moisture out durring heavy rains. I would think that it is prob. the HAC drain or bacteria thing. But they both stem from the same thing I think. moisture in the AC ducts.

msqr · 08-25-2007, 10:30 PM

Hmm, I park in an underground spot, and it hasn't been raining that much. The smell has been around ever since I started using the A/C this summer.

***Excalibur*** · 08-25-2007, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msqr

Hmm, I park in an underground spot, and it hasn't been raining that much. The smell has been around ever since I started using the A/C this summer.

Take it to the dealer if it's under warranty and see if they can come up with a solution and then let all of us know what they say.

sjlarue · 08-26-2007, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msqr

Hmm, I park in an underground spot, and it hasn't been raining that much. The smell has been around ever since I started using the A/C this summer.

Probably the drain thing then. or the cabin filter.

**truflip** · 08-26-2007, 12:50 AM

I think I'm going to bring it in to the dealer again (already brought it in once for this issue) if the suggestions in this thread doesn't help.

08-25-2007, 12:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
truflip Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ottawa, ON Age: 22 Posts: 9,475 iTrader: 11 / 100%	Awful Smell from air vents When I turn my fans on, initially it smells awful. But if you let it "air out" it'll go away. Also same thing happens if I turn on the AC initially. This seems to happen only if it hasn't been on for a few hours. Garaged or not, doesnt make a difference. The air vents dont look dirty. Please help? :) __________________ vote for your favourite November picture here and/or post your own December Picture here

08-25-2007, 01:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
Raging Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Robins AFB, GA Posts: 405 iTrader: 0 / 0%	It only last for a minute or so then it goes away after cycling through... Yeah mine does this too.... I'm thinking it's the Refrigerant that Honda is using.... Last edited by Raging; 08-25-2007 at 09:21 PM.

08-25-2007, 04:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
truflip Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ottawa, ON Age: 22 Posts: 9,475 iTrader: 11 / 100%	Thanks Mikey! I will try that. I remember it happens also even if im not using the AC, fan only. shut it off, afterwork, use fan (no ac still) and stale smell. I'll keep be monitoring with when I try what you said __________________ vote for your favourite November picture here and/or post your own December Picture here

08-25-2007, 04:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
sjlarue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: OH-IO Age: 38 Posts: 631 Call Me Jr Samples @ BR-549 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Bringing up the past A Few years ago another Honda model had a problem with the drain hose leaking into the cabin. The only reason that I remember was that there was a recall, and my friends had to take all their cars to the dealer. I don't know how many were defective or what the actual problem was but one of the symptoms was a moldy smell in the cabin. PLugged drains can happen in any A/C unit be it car or home, guess what one of the symptoms for a plugged drain is...that's right a moldy musty smell. The other bug that I can put in your ear and I CAN'T tell you why, is that there could be some kind of water leak from the outside into your cabin air intake. If you have had any HEAVY rains recently, that may be the problem. I doubt that this is the problem though. The one piece of advice that I can offer you regarding this is to run your MAX A/C durring heavy rains. That way it's drawing air from inside the cabin, and not sucking in moisture from the outside. If it doesn't smell like mold or must then you probably have what I have...a three year old that likes to spill her drink and french fries on the floor. Anyway, time to enjoy my weekend.

08-26-2007, 12:50 AM	#20 (permalink)
truflip Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ottawa, ON Age: 22 Posts: 9,475 iTrader: 11 / 100%	I think I'm going to bring it in to the dealer again (already brought it in once for this issue) if the suggestions in this thread doesn't help. __________________ vote for your favourite November picture here and/or post your own December Picture here

08-25-2007, 12:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Duce2k Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,916 iTrader: 4 / 100%	Change your cabin filter that might help

08-25-2007, 02:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
hondasi006 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,128 iTrader: 0 / 0%	^ i actually heard that, the smell is like that moldy stale smell rite

08-25-2007, 07:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
*Excalibur* VIP Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Converse, TX. Age: 25 Posts: 9,800 Jeremy iTrader: 25 / 100%	Put one of those little tree air freshioners on top of the cabin filter and it'll smell great.

08-25-2007, 08:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
xxhaimbondxx Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brooklyn=>Albany, NY Posts: 704 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Do you smoke in the car?

08-25-2007, 11:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
msqr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 577 Age: -1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I've never smoked or had food in my car, but I've noticed ever since I started using the air conditioner (summer) whenever I start the car that smell comes off. I usually turn off the AC 5 minutes before parking but the smell is still there for 1/2 a minute the next startup...

08-25-2007, 01:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
DeDonDeRosa Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 658 iTrader: 2 / 100%	go to a dealer that sells this its made by BG its called Frigi Fresh we use it at my dealership. By far the best stuff i have ever used. you spray it right in the duct where the outside air gets sucked in from. It kills bacteria and makes it smell nice

08-25-2007, 01:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
msqr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 577 Age: -1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Cool, anyone know a dealer in Canada with that stuff? All I get on their website are Midas which doesn't seem to sell anything. Crappy tire dont have em either

08-25-2007, 04:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
Cr8tive_leo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 40 Posts: 8,334 Adrian iTrader: 5 / 100%	I have this smell now too.. and I run my AC on cabin recycle all the time. It's freakin annoying, >< this close to doing a story on it now.

08-25-2007, 09:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
sjlarue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: OH-IO Age: 38 Posts: 631 Call Me Jr Samples @ BR-549 iTrader: 0 / 0%	It's just a way of keeping moisture out durring heavy rains. I would think that it is prob. the HAC drain or bacteria thing. But they both stem from the same thing I think. moisture in the AC ducts.

08-25-2007, 10:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
msqr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 577 Age: -1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Hmm, I park in an underground spot, and it hasn't been raining that much. The smell has been around ever since I started using the A/C this summer.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Stock Intake System vs Short Ram Intake	ProspeedCTR	Bolt-Ons And All-Motor	283	10-12-2008 11:15 PM
Fuel smell from the vents on start-up	jayjr98	Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat	14	03-28-2008 11:30 AM
Little Research : -what’s Better? Air-to-water Or Air-to-air?	SEBASCHELL	Forced Induction And Nitrous	3	05-07-2007 01:27 PM
ROTTEN SMELL? NOT ENGINE?	taejinah	Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat	29	01-04-2007 10:42 PM