Air-con Stale Air

[hafadude]

My car was less than 1 year old when purchased recently. When I start the car, the air-con gives off a very stale smell but disappears after about 10 seconds. Asked the local dealer if they could clean the filter and they said there is nothing you can do about it since many cars have this problem. Doesn't sound right to me! I have had 2 BA Futuras and there was not a hint of this strange prob in either car.

Any ideas out there?

[Trough Lolly]

mine does it to, usually on initial start=up after having air con on previously and then letting it sit in the sun for a while like when shopping. then u start up and PAWW!!!

grr stinky ford!

air-con is bloody freezin though!!

[jetute]

I havent noticed it in my current car.... but my wrx use to have the same issue.... leave it on for 10 secs like you said, and its gone.... starnge

[NT TURBO]

Behind the glove box is the filter, if it has a pollen filter it may need replacing, or the standard may need a clean.

[Johnny G]

So get this one. Turned my aircon twice in the last week - and it refused to cool anything. Press every button every which way - and NUP - Zip. Had the non working climate on this avo on the cruise with the Qld team (gave it a second chance) - and had to brake hard for a little corner that did rush up - and HEY PRESTO - it's working again. Any comment anyone? Low on Gas? As for the stale air issue - have never had that problem - yet!! Is there a filter on the intake anywhere?

Edited 05/06/05 10:52 AM by Johnny G

[Trough Lolly]

  NT TURBO said:

Behind the glove box is the filter, if it has a pollen filter it may need replacing, or the standard may need a clean.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

mines done this since brand new.

dirty filter?.. nah

[hafadude]

Hey Trough Lolly,

I saw your question about the JVC 12 stacker. It is not controlled by the orig head unit but plays through the radio on channel 88.1 FM. That way I have 1 CD through the normal unit and 12 through the JVC. Works very well. It was ordered by the dealer before I picked up the car and they installed it under the front passenger seat. I will see how that goes but I'm a bit worried someone is going to kick the heck out of it one day by accident. Otherwise I will get it installed in the boot even if I lose a bit of boot space.

Sounds like we are stuck with the stinky air! The dealer here also sells other brands and reckons imported cars like Porsche are the same. But it's funny that the 2 BA's I've had as company cars in the past 2 years have not had this problem

Hi NT Turbo,

Am located in Darwin. There's an NT thread somewhere in this forum. Say hello when you get a chance.

[God666]

When you first turn on the aircon, it pumps out a bit of that factory air that is leftover during manufacture. It is that stale Victorian schitt. Not a good smell is it. No idea how people live there!

[/flamesuit]

[cooltint]

Hi All

I have a similar problem, when I have the air-con switched on and it's a bit too cold I turn the knob up towards the heat setting and I get a smell like rotten curried eggs or something, it's really foul.

The strange thing is it doesn't do it unless the air-con is switched on ie it doesn't do it with fresh or recirculated air.

Anyway the dealer tried to tell me it was the lanoline coming out of my sheepskins. Personally I think they're full of it, I've had sheepskins on all my cars for the past 20yrs and never had this problem.

I have the pollen filter and asked if this could be the cause and they said flat NO.

Cheers

Big AL