Mold Smell From AC?

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Whats up all.

A client of mine who drives an 88' Civic is saying she is smelling a mold like smell when she runs her AC...apparently its pretty bad.

I was considering setting off an Odor Bomb and having it circulate through the AC but i'm not sure if that would do the trick or not. Odor Bombs don't say they kill mold, but they do kill mildew.

Any thoughts on this?

[IOMCAMARO]

I would get 1Z Klima Cleaner. It is meant to kill mold in AC ducts. It works very well at it's job too. The smell won't come back. I think Avi said CarPro So2Pure can be used for this job too.

[Bates Detailing]

Mold like smell - I would shoot steam through the vents then bomb..... I know that fighting mold with extreme humidity (where it thrives) sounds dumb.... but her smell buds may be inaccurate . If for some reason steaming the vents and bombing the vehicle's interior doesnt work, then I would go ahead and find an intricate way of spraying oxy bleach in there (less chance of discoloration) without getting it on the vent surfaces visible to the eye. Keep in my this is all IMO

[The Heater]

Send the client to an AC specialist. That smell may be coming from a component that has air passing over it. Don't forget that AC removes moisture from the air, and some of that can accumulate in the parts that interior air passes over.

[southbeach]

I use only a ozone generator....I leave the car on for 30 min and gaurantee gone or you don't pay...never have a problem...but I also have have a $1600 ozone gererator

[vinyldoctor]

Whats up all.

A client of mine who drives an 88' Civic is saying she is smelling a mold like smell when she runs her AC...apparently its pretty bad.

I was considering setting off an Odor Bomb and having it circulate through the AC but i'm not sure if that would do the trick or not. Odor Bombs don't say they kill mold, but they do kill mildew.

Any thoughts on this?

Check the AC system filters and the cabin airfilter.
worst case is something is growing in the duct system or a filter.

[ScottB]

Einszett Klima-Klean to the rescue. Also consider changing the cabin filter if equipped.

[Setec Astronomy]

Einszett Klima-Klean to the rescue. Also consider changing the cabin filter if equipped.

+1

1Z Einszett Klima-Cleaner Air Conditioner Treatment (http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einszett-klima-cleaner-air-freshener.html)

Also, since the Klima-Cleaner is a consumer product, you might want to contact a good auto parts store (I said good, not Pep Boys) or an A/C supply house, I'm sure they have evaporator cleaners in bulk.

[kimtyson]

My Celica, and all 7th gen Celicas, have the same issue. And it began on day one. Just some weird smell in the system. I have some CarPro stuff, and other sample goodies, coming to test out and will report any positive findings.

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

My Celica, and all 7th gen Celicas, have the same issue. And it began on day one. Just some weird smell in the system. I have some CarPro stuff, and other sample goodies, coming to test out and will report any positive findings.

Hey there, Id love to hear a report on what works. That would really be great and id appreciate any input.

To everyone else, thanks a ton for the input. I dont have a $1600 machine lol, but the 1z sounds like a good (and affordable) product. I'll also check out the main air filter while im there and if i can figure out the cabin filter ill look at it too.

Thanks a lot guys really appreciate it :dblthumb2:

[dtuna42]

Try this- with a/c running on MAX / recirculate, spray half can into the air intake under the passenger side dash; with a/c running on regular / fresh, spray other half, using the small hose nozzle attachment, into the intake vents on outside of car, at bottom of windshield, usually near wiper arms. Even though picture on can shows spray through the vents, it's better to spray through the intakes, and it will come out of the vents eventually...If you change cabin filter (if equipped), and tried something like this, and still have the smell, then it's probably something in an a/c component giving the odor, and you may need repairs, not air cleaners...

[dad07]

Hey there, Id love to hear a report on what works. That would really be great and id appreciate any input.

To everyone else, thanks a ton for the input. I dont have a $1600 machine lol, but the 1z sounds like a good (and affordable) product. I'll also check out the main air filter while im there and if i can figure out the cabin filter ill look at it too.

Thanks a lot guys really appreciate it :dblthumb2:


The drain tube is probably restricted... clean it out and I would go to wally world and pick up some OZIUM and sray into the vents let sit for about 1 hour then crank up the air and let it circulate, order gone!

This is something Ive used for many many years......and the many dealerships that have too.

[Rei86]

1988 Civic doesn't have a cabin filter so scrap that idea.

Never had an issue with my AC System having a smell so go with the others have said.

1Z Einszett Klima-Cleaner Air Conditioner Treatment (http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einszett-klima-cleaner-air-freshener.html)

Sounds like the fastest and easiest idea thrown so far. If not she could just take it to a garage and have them take the tube apart and cleaned.

[Setec Astronomy]

They say if you turn off the A/C a minute before you shut off the car that it dries out the coil and minimizes this problem.

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

They say if you turn off the A/C a minute before you shut off the car that it dries out the coil and minimizes this problem.

Hm interesting bit of info there, ill keep that in mind and pass it on.

Thanks for all the other suggestions as well. Ive got a good friend who is a mechanic so if the tube needs to be cleaned he could do it for a fair price im sure...but ill give the 1z or one of the other cleaners a shot first.