The topic of a car AC smelling bad is fairly common some parts of the year, namely in May, June, July, and August. These problems might even affect us in April or October – that’s mid-west weather for you.
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The cause? It could be engine problems, a bad filter, mold, or mildew. These are some of the most common at least.
The most important information to know about foul-smelling air conditioning systems is that to overcome the obstacle, you need to focus on identifying causes. From there, you can choose the appropriate solution.
The Car AC System Smells So Bad
Here’s how people come to search the Internet for a topic as obscure as why the car AC smells bad.
Imagine it’s another scorcher outside. It’s some 90 degrees. The man on the car radio is claiming it’s hot enough outside that he is scrambling eggs on that Chicago southside asphalt. It’s boiling outside.
You go to switch on the AC in the car, and something smells downright fishy… what’s going on? Why does my car AC smell so bad?
There are actually a lot of ways that an air conditioning system can smell “bad,” and to make matters worse, there are various causes for it.
Why Does my Car Smell Bad?
There are many ways the air condition system can cause a bad smell in a car.
One of the most obvious causes would be mold and bacteria. It could grow in the wet, dark spaces within the air conditioning system. When you power that bad boy up on the first hot day of summer, the smell flows directly to your face – yuck!
You will know because it will smell like somebody’s basement or like a bar in a Florida beach town. The musty smell of wet wood or a shower that hasn’t been cleaned in ages. Some people even think the smell reminds of them strong cheeses!
There are sorts of things that can call your car’s air conditioning system home: bacteria, fungi, mold, etc. If you haven’t used the AC for a while, you might find this smell stronger due to additional growth.
A scary cause could be a gas leak. If that funny smell is gas, you’ll know it. The odor is unmistakable. If you smell gasoline coming through the AC system, take your car to a mechanic immediately. You shouldn’t be driving your car around town with a gas leak. It’s dangerous!
Don’t forget the filters. These days, an air condition system’s filter might be the last thing on our mind – until we catch a waft of that nasty AC smell in the car. Luckily, a new filter is easy to install.
If the smell is almost nice… like something sweet like candy or juice… you can almost envision that antifreeze bottle. This liquid is toxic but has a sweet smell. This is a major concern requiring immediate action; go to the mechanic.
How Do You Get Rid of the Bad Smell in Car AC?
If you’re asking yourself, “Why does the car AC smell bad?”, perhaps the real question is “How do I get the bad AC smell in my car to stop?”
You have to use a scientific approach to solve this problem. Few people realize that air conditioning systems are a science. Think like a professional.
The first step is to identify the cause of the leak using the data you can observe.
For example, if the car ac smells sweet and you can see antifreeze under the car when you drive, then you have an engine coolant problem. That needs to be addressed by a mechanic.
Let’s say the car smells like wet dog and urine when you run the air conditioning. Yes, that would be awful – but what could be the cause? Maybe you let your dog sit upfront, soaking wet, for a few hours. Well, then it would make sense the smell of that decision has seeped its way into the car AC.
“I don’t have a dog.” If that’s you, you should check if animals are playing in your car at night. Squirrels, racoons, and cats could be using your car for late night games of hide and seek. The aftermath comes out through the air condition system.
If you suspect bacteria, you can purchase an antibacterial spray at the auto parts store. Use the spray monthly. You can expect to find these cleaners available at a decent price point. Just follow the directions on the product, and you won’t have any problems.
You may find yourself changing the air filter on your own. You should if you can.
The average mechanic will tell you to change your air filter every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Today, car owners have two choices for filters. The filters can be washable and reusable. They’re a little more expensive, but you only buy one. You wash it and reuse it – saving money and reducing waste.
Then again, you could go with the slightly cheaper paper version.
At the end of the day, if you’re dealing with some gnarly smells coming out of your car AC system, you have to first identify the cause. Then, try solutions.
If your solution doesn’t work, there is another element at play. Use your best judgement and refer to a mechanic if you need help.
Why Does My Car Smell Bad, Weird, and/or Funky?
The question of why you smell bad odors when running your car AC could require some personal introspection.
For example, do you have any habits that may make your car just kind of smell in general. These habits could be driving around with your wet dog. Or maybe you smoke in the vehicle; that smell could have easily settled into the air conditioner.
Leaving fast food leftovers in your car leaves a strong smell that can last for a week. Is that that the smell being magnified by your AC? Is it the stench of cold French fries and rancid ketchup?
Another example: if you always go hard when you work out and then leave your sweaty gym bag in the car, don’t be surprised when the air conditioning smells like that, too.
You can break the habit! Dry your dog. Quit smoking and eating fast food. Buy some deodorant. You can clean the system and get back on track!
You see, sometimes the reason for the car smelling bad, weird, or funky is yourself. You are the cause of your own problem. It doesn’t mean you deserve it or to be judged; you can fix the problem more easily once you identify what is causing it.
How Do I Stop My Car AC from Smelling?
When you are searching the Internet for help regarding the question of why your car AC smells bad, you need to think of ideas of how to stop it from smelling in the future.
Complaining isn’t doing anything about it. That you know. What is good is that you’re now in the stage of identifying causes and solutions. The next step is to act. Following that, one must think in preventive terms. What you can do to prevent the problem in the future?
You could, for example, check that the drain tube is operating as designed. If this doesn’t make sense to you, refer to a mechanic for the work.
If that’s not the issue, it could be mold.
If it’s mold, you can do some harm reduction by running the fan (but not the AC) for a few minutes before your shut off your vehicle.
Keep those filters clean, folks! If you have disposable one, change it. A reusable air conditioning filter is recommended for your car because you’ll save money in the long term and eliminate some waste.
As mentioned, there are antiseptics on the market. You just buy the bottle of cleaner and spray it in the vents. Follow the directions on the product you select.
If these problems aren’t helping, you might to have to replace the whole entire air conditioning unit. It’s worth it if the car is newer or a classic. It’s worth it if where you live is hot or you have a medical condition that requires climatized air or ventilation.
Then again, maybe you would rather just send your car to the junkyard because the air conditioner smells bad. It might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in terms of car repair.
First it was the muffler, then the transmission, and now the AC? You could get cash for your car by calling a junkyard.
At the end of the day, cars are not designed to last forever. Old cars tend to have a lot more problems with the air conditioning units. It may be a sign that it’s time to look into buying a new car or a bus pass.
How Do I Get Rid of the Smell in my Air Conditioner?
If you are worrying about why your car AC smells, and you’re just looking for a quick fix, you should try a product designed to clean out AC systems in cars.
There are plenty on the market today. They more or less operate the same way. You should dust the vents to remove dirt and debris. These aren’t helping the smell.
Next, you should use the spray as directed on the product directions. For example, some bottles advise car owners to spray the vent and call it a day. There are even options that are more like foggers.
Remember that this could be masking a real problem. If the smell is just stale or has some logical explanation that could be remedied with a fragrance, then fine.
However, if your air conditioning system is giving off scents related to gas or antifreeze, this is not the way to go. You need to talk to a mechanic.
If your car AC smells because you were smoking in the vehicle or because your dog made it kind of smell funky in the car after a trip to the beach, this could be the right plan of action for you.
Every case is different.
Pro tip: Remember to check out those cabin air filters, especially when using antibacterial sprays or deodorants.
Moving into a New Phase Where the Car AC Smells like Roses
When you finally resolve the problem of why your car AC smells bad, you will feel like you have a new lease on life. Everything is finally going your way, smelling like roses.
To get to such a good moment, you have to take a moment to analyze the problem before you.
If your air conditioning system smells bad, ask yourself what it does smell like.
Here’s a hint. These words will not help identify the cause: weird, strange, bad, funky, off, gross. You need to think of causes: mold, mildew, gas, smoke, pets, etc.
If you can’t solve the problem using an at-home method, then perhaps you should talk to a mechanic.
Sometimes the entire air condition system needs to be changed, which can be expensive, anywhere from $1500-$4000.
The hassle is that old cars tend to have more problems with air conditioners. Sure, in many months – who cares? Chicago winters are cold anyway! So long as the heat works, maybe you can make it through the hot summer days by rolling your windows down.
If you drive to work in a suit, or have a family member who cannot take the heat, then this isn’t going to suffice. That leaves you with a high bill to pay. If the car is old, maybe you should sell the car to a junk yard and buy a new car.
Many people choose to junk their cars in the summer because the car they drive doesn’t have air conditioning.
If you’re car’s AC is smelling fishy, there could be a lot of reasons behind it. Think smart. Eliminate possibilities. Talk to a mechanic if you’re not sure what to do.
Then again, sending the car to the junkyard is always an option!