AC smell?

zulus370Z · 08-29-2009, 10:12 PM

Guys, my 370 still smells like new, but I did notice that everytime I turn on the AC a funky smell comes out of the AC vents for the first few seconds... kinda like a bad filter, but I read somewhere that the 09's dont have an AC cabin filter... anyone experience this'/? any advice?

need4speed · 08-29-2009, 10:20 PM

Buy air freshener!
When 2010 roll models come out. Retrofit the cabin filter.

westpak · 08-29-2009, 10:40 PM

you should let the fan run without the ac on for a few seconds before shutting off the car.

with the heat and humidity down here in south florida the cool air in the ac system will result in condensation and get musty

Trips · 08-29-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westpak@HPLogic

you should let the fan run without the ac on for a few seconds before shutting off the car.

with the heat and humidity down here in south florida the cool air in the ac system will result in condensation and get musty

Will running the heater clear up the smell also?

westpak · 08-29-2009, 10:56 PM

probably but I usually just turn the ac off as I get to where I am and let the fan run with outside air while I am parking and getting ready to get out of the car, this way normal outside air gets in the ac ducting and the cold air is gone

Red370 · 08-29-2009, 11:20 PM

mildew builds up in the ac ducts from condensation, its normal.

BanningZ · 08-30-2009, 04:42 AM

All Ac's smell like this after a year or so.

I rarely notice it, unless the car hasn't been run in a while.

Auto_Infantry · 08-30-2009, 05:21 PM

This does happen because of Mildew and mold build up in the ducts and AC system.

I've experienced it a few times and I found this really helped:

1. Turn off the A/C and turn the heat to the highest setting and the fan to the highest setting.

2. Shut off all the vents so the air is trapped in the ducts, basically closing all your air vents, also you can set the air to come out on the setting where its NOT on your feet.

3. Let the system run for awhile, about 5-10 minutes.

Hopefully you should have cleared out a majority of the mildew and stink from it. Its not going to completely kill the mold or mildew but it should help with the smell. The A/C is the problem and like mentioned before, you should turn off your A/C before you shut off the car, or the moisture gets trapped.

Togo · 08-30-2009, 05:25 PM

Thats some good info there. Never knew it before but I'm happy to know it now

kannibul · 08-30-2009, 06:32 PM

Roll down the windows, and run the heater full blast for a bit after the car gets up to temp - that should kill off anything in there. That said, I run mine on recycle all the time, because the air stinks in Tulsa. (Oil refineries - cheaper to pay the EPA fines than make the air clean =/)

08-29-2009, 10:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
zulus370Z Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Miami Posts: 97 Drives: Black 370Z 6M Rep Power: 15	AC smell? Guys, my 370 still smells like new, but I did notice that everytime I turn on the AC a funky smell comes out of the AC vents for the first few seconds... kinda like a bad filter, but I read somewhere that the 09's dont have an AC cabin filter... anyone experience this'/? any advice?

08-29-2009, 10:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
westpak Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 405 Drives: 2003 350Z DB Rep Power: 16	you should let the fan run without the ac on for a few seconds before shutting off the car. with the heat and humidity down here in south florida the cool air in the ac system will result in condensation and get musty __________________ 03 350Z 587 RWHP - May 2009 Dsport Feature

08-29-2009, 10:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
westpak Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 405 Drives: 2003 350Z DB Rep Power: 16	probably but I usually just turn the ac off as I get to where I am and let the fan run with outside air while I am parking and getting ready to get out of the car, this way normal outside air gets in the ac ducting and the cold air is gone __________________ 03 350Z 587 RWHP - May 2009 Dsport Feature

08-30-2009, 04:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
BanningZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: nowhere Posts: 5,478 Drives: 06' Nismo Frontier Rep Power: 28	All Ac's smell like this after a year or so. I rarely notice it, unless the car hasn't been run in a while. __________________ Become a Premium Member: Click HERE MB 06' Nismo VQ40DE

08-30-2009, 05:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Togo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: E. Northport, NY Posts: 7,597 Drives: Stuff Rep Power: 656	Thats some good info there. Never knew it before but I'm happy to know it now Last edited by Togo; 08-30-2009 at 06:33 PM.

08-29-2009, 10:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
need4speed Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: tx Posts: 199 Drives: 08 altima 3.5se Rep Power: 15	Buy air freshener! When 2010 roll models come out. Retrofit the cabin filter.

08-29-2009, 11:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 295	mildew builds up in the ac ducts from condensation, its normal.

08-30-2009, 05:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Auto_Infantry Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: OC/LA Posts: 7 Drives: 350z Rep Power: 15	This does happen because of Mildew and mold build up in the ducts and AC system. I've experienced it a few times and I found this really helped: 1. Turn off the A/C and turn the heat to the highest setting and the fan to the highest setting. 2. Shut off all the vents so the air is trapped in the ducts, basically closing all your air vents, also you can set the air to come out on the setting where its NOT on your feet. 3. Let the system run for awhile, about 5-10 minutes. Hopefully you should have cleared out a majority of the mildew and stink from it. Its not going to completely kill the mold or mildew but it should help with the smell. The A/C is the problem and like mentioned before, you should turn off your A/C before you shut off the car, or the moisture gets trapped.

08-30-2009, 06:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
kannibul A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jenks, OK Posts: 2,281 Drives: 370z Touring/Sport Rep Power: 266	Roll down the windows, and run the heater full blast for a bit after the car gets up to temp - that should kill off anything in there. That said, I run mine on recycle all the time, because the air stinks in Tulsa. (Oil refineries - cheaper to pay the EPA fines than make the air clean =/)

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