my aircon on start up STINKS!!! any ideas?

[Brad-dreama]

Hey guys im wondering if i need to change the filter? i have read a write up on this but i cant find it.

any help appreciated.

[DJKOR]

Yup. Been a bit of discussion on it around here.

The cause of the smell is bacteria that builds up on the A/C evaporator. When exposed to moisture in the air condensing on it, you will get that smell.

One way you can help clear it up is to set your A/C vent to fresh air as much as possible. This bacteria usually clears up when exposed to fresh air.

Alternatively, you can spray some Glen 20 into the passenger footwell up towards the glove box while the fan is set to high.

[Andyperth]

Hi, I found the same prob with my Rolla, I found that if you turn your aircon off a couple mins b4 reaching destination point, will help push out excess water hanging off the evaporator. Also like the last reply, leave your air vent on "fresh" instead of recycled. So far no more smells.

[Brad-dreama]

Awesome thanks guys! Ill give it a try.

So I'm guessing I can spray clean 20 up the footwell while in recycled.

Recycle seems to be much cooler though, unless I'm wrong.

[lylee]

motor 1 has an ac anti beterial spray can just expensive glen 20 but smells alot better we sell em at my work for 10 bucks

[daniboy]

also... there is a pollen filter u should change once in a while in there behind your glovebox, to acces it open your glovebox ,empty it , on the left hand side there is a screw on the support bracket remove this and then gently pry the glovebox out of its hole one side at a time, then directly in front of u u shall see a slideout section in the white plastic where your filter will be located(repco and bursons stock these for around 35$) not real hard to do but made my aircon smell heaps better as it was full of rotting leaves and rubbish after the dust storms of late

[ninjaking777]

yeah this topic covered quite often

If you have a ZZE Corolla i have found the best way to stop this is NOT to use the external air option. and ONLY use recycle.

For some reason once you use the outside air, then turn shut the car off and give it time to cool off, the next time you start the car it will stink like clothes that havent been tried properly.

I have tried the Glen 20 and other options before but those are usually a temporary fix which require regular re-sprays.

Try not using the external air, it helped for me.

[kolourhero]

yeah this topic covered quite often

If you have a ZZE Corolla i have found the best way to stop this is NOT to use the external air option. and ONLY use recycle.

For some reason once you use the outside air, then turn shut the car off and give it time to cool off, the next time you start the car it will stink like clothes that havent been tried properly.

I have tried the Glen 20 and other options before but those are usually a temporary fix which require regular re-sprays.

Try not using the external air, it helped for me.

If you use the external air with the aircon, fresh air is always coming in so you shouldn't get any smell.

It's when you use the aircon with recycled air that you will get the stale air smell once you turn it off.