A/C smell

bmcivic · 02-07-2008, 11:48 PM

I have the air recirculation buttom on so there is no air coming in from the outside. However when i first turn on my AC, i have a funky smell coming out of it for the 1st 5-10 minutes....maybe i think its only 10 mins b/c i get used to the smell. I bought the car used a few weeks ago. i havent used the AC much so i did not notice this before. its an 06 SI with 30K miles.

is there a air filter for the AC?

anyone else experience a wierd smell with their AC when first turning on?

Thanks

av911 · 02-08-2008, 12:42 PM

It might be mold.

When you want to turn off the A/C, press the A/C button but let the fan keep blowing. FWIR, this will blow out most of the moisture inside the ducts.

**jasonandre** · 02-08-2008, 12:54 PM

Mine did this awhile until I removed and replaced the air filter from behind the glove box. That seemed to clear things up.

HondaFamilyMan · 02-08-2008, 12:59 PM

Who is the lucky bastard that has to use a/c in Feb.? Just defrosting the windows right?

**jasonandre** · 02-08-2008, 01:02 PM

It was 70 degrees and 70%+ humidity here in Virginia just days ago...I had to actually turn mine on.

HondaFamilyMan · 02-08-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonandre

It was 70 degrees and 70%+ humidity here in Virginia just days ago...I had to actually turn mine on.

Could be -10 in Minneapolis this weekend. This would be better than the -40+ windchills we had been getting recently.

here's to the @#$*&%ing midwest...

btw

sorry OP

Leonard1818 · 02-08-2008, 01:16 PM

Pretty much what everyone else said:

1. could be mold due to condensation in the vents.
2. could need a new cabin air filter.

My RSX-S did this pretty bad too. One thing I was thinking was that I bought it used and found a tiny burn hole on the floor mat where the previous owner had smoked in there. Maybe the person who had your car before you smoked in it and made it smell.

I would start by replacing the cabin air filter. If it doesn't go away and it bugs you a lot, you could slip a few dryer sheets against the air filter and that may help to mask the smell.

Another thing some people have tried is actually spraying lysol (the germ killing kind) into their vent system to try to kill any potential mold growing.

Just a few thoughts!

hyperluv · 02-08-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaFamilyMan

Who is the lucky bastard that has to use a/c in Feb.? Just defrosting the windows right?

<--- Lucky bastard. 78 F on my outside temp guage 2 days ago

BSonly · 02-12-2008, 01:26 PM

i smoke in my si and i change out my cabin filter every month. it helps out.

mfisher1967 · 02-12-2008, 09:02 PM

I had this issue on my wife's 2006 Pilot. A gentleman working at my local Honda dealership's parts counter sold me a can of spray that they use to clean out the mold on the evaporator and ducts. I basically sprayed the can into the fresh air intake that is located just under the windshield with the a/c running. I then let the a/c run for ~3 more minutes, shut off the engine and replaced the cabin air filter. The smell hasn't returned and it has been about six months. I can try to find the can and post the name and phone number of the company that made it if anyone wants to know.

speedracex · 02-12-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfisher1967

I had this issue on my wife's 2006 Pilot. A gentleman working at my local Honda dealership's parts counter sold me a can of spray that they use to clean out the mold on the evaporator and ducts. I basically sprayed the can into the fresh air intake that is located just under the windshield with the a/c running. I then let the a/c run for ~3 more minutes, shut off the engine and replaced the cabin air filter. The smell hasn't returned and it has been about six months. I can try to find the can and post the name and phone number of the company that made it if anyone wants to know.

please do, thanks

mfisher1967 · 02-13-2008, 08:35 PM

I used a product called "MOC A/C Odor Treatment". The contact number for MOC is listed as 818-896-2258 on the can. Hope this helps.

02-07-2008, 11:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
bmcivic Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 96 iTrader: 0 / 0%	A/C smell I have the air recirculation buttom on so there is no air coming in from the outside. However when i first turn on my AC, i have a funky smell coming out of it for the 1st 5-10 minutes....maybe i think its only 10 mins b/c i get used to the smell. I bought the car used a few weeks ago. i havent used the AC much so i did not notice this before. its an 06 SI with 30K miles. is there a air filter for the AC? anyone else experience a wierd smell with their AC when first turning on? Thanks

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02-08-2008, 12:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
av911 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco Age: 26 Posts: 1,436 iTrader: 0 / 0%	It might be mold. When you want to turn off the A/C, press the A/C button but let the fan keep blowing. FWIR, this will blow out most of the moisture inside the ducts.

02-08-2008, 12:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
HondaFamilyMan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The TwinCities Posts: 1,873 Jon iTrader: 10 / 100%	Who is the lucky bastard that has to use a/c in Feb.? Just defrosting the windows right?

02-08-2008, 01:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Leonard1818 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: OH Posts: 3,368 Leonard iTrader: 0 / 0%	Pretty much what everyone else said: 1. could be mold due to condensation in the vents. 2. could need a new cabin air filter. My RSX-S did this pretty bad too. One thing I was thinking was that I bought it used and found a tiny burn hole on the floor mat where the previous owner had smoked in there. Maybe the person who had your car before you smoked in it and made it smell. I would start by replacing the cabin air filter. If it doesn't go away and it bugs you a lot, you could slip a few dryer sheets against the air filter and that may help to mask the smell. Another thing some people have tried is actually spraying lysol (the germ killing kind) into their vent system to try to kill any potential mold growing. Just a few thoughts!

02-12-2008, 01:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
BSonly Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alpharetta, GA Age: 26 Posts: 101 iTrader: 0 / 0%	i smoke in my si and i change out my cabin filter every month. it helps out.

02-12-2008, 09:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
mfisher1967 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South Houston, Texas Posts: 109 Mark Fisher iTrader: 0 / 0%	I had this issue on my wife's 2006 Pilot. A gentleman working at my local Honda dealership's parts counter sold me a can of spray that they use to clean out the mold on the evaporator and ducts. I basically sprayed the can into the fresh air intake that is located just under the windshield with the a/c running. I then let the a/c run for ~3 more minutes, shut off the engine and replaced the cabin air filter. The smell hasn't returned and it has been about six months. I can try to find the can and post the name and phone number of the company that made it if anyone wants to know.

02-13-2008, 08:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
mfisher1967 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South Houston, Texas Posts: 109 Mark Fisher iTrader: 0 / 0%	I used a product called "MOC A/C Odor Treatment". The contact number for MOC is listed as 818-896-2258 on the can. Hope this helps.