Funky smell coming from HVAC

Race_King · 05-21-2009, 08:12 PM

my box's ac smells like urine,is there any way to make it smell better?

ScottyTuned · 05-21-2009, 08:28 PM

Not peeing in your vents is the key.

Haha okay I really have no clue other than a lot of Febreeze and leave it run with windows open while you arent in there to "flush" the system. (Haha at my own pun)

Race_King · 05-21-2009, 08:30 PM

lol, i just got it the car from my uncle. how would febreeze work on the vents?

DTRAIN619 · 05-21-2009, 08:33 PM

Here's an older, but very useful thread: Cabin filter

Skip to page two.

Race_King · 05-21-2009, 08:34 PM

mine is an 04, does it still have a cabin air filter?

ScottyTuned · 05-21-2009, 08:36 PM

You have to make one in yours. Just spray febreeze in your vents maybe. I have no clue. It just takes time to get it cleaned out probably. Just keep at it and dont get "pissed" at it. (Hahahaha I did it again)

heathenbrewing · 05-21-2009, 08:43 PM

Could be mold growing. If it is, you wont get rid of the smell until you kill it. Best way to prevent it is after running your AC turn it off and use the outside air setting turn it off about 5-10 minutes before you stop the car.

First things first; replace the cabin filter.

To kill it, try putting a fine mist of rubbing alcohol mixed with water (3:1) into the outside air vents with the fan on (switch on outside air) to pull the alcohol through the system. Let the fan run for a few minutes. Repeat if necessary. After a few cycles, give a quick squirt or two of your favorite cologne or whatever smell turns you on.

You can buy some kind of foam, but it requires you to locate the drainage hole in your AC system and fill it from that point. Never used it myself, so I cant say how effective it is.

Cheers!

Cravin · 05-21-2009, 09:01 PM

Change that cabin filter its behind the glove box. make a new filter with some charcoal media, that will help. And look for mice that piss is the worst. :/

GRNDHOG · 05-21-2009, 09:05 PM

you can also try putting a small bowl of ammonia (lemon ammonia, perhaps) in the car overnight with the windows up.

It may be enough to "kill" whatever is in your duct work. If nothing else it is to remove odors from a car.

Maybe try a lysol type disinfectant in the ducts to kill any bacterial/mold growth.

859Toaster · 05-21-2009, 09:36 PM

This is why you don't fart in your car over the winter, with the heat on, and the windows up... Sure its funny as hell to make your friends gag, but in the summer, it fights back!

But yeah, cabin filter, and a good cleaning of the car.... (might as well since you'll be stripping the dash down anyways.

Race_King · 05-21-2009, 09:38 PM

ok i took care of the Cabin air filter and blew it out with a compressor for now, being the parts stores are all closed. smell is gone though. thanks guys!!

SAKURA · 05-21-2009, 09:59 PM

while you have that filter out, you can spray it with fabreeze then lay one of those fabric softner sheets on the cabin filter and reinstall filter. you can also buy them vent insert clip deoderizer things.

yet it is mold.

heartlessoathkeeper · 05-25-2009, 08:01 PM

it shows in the owners manual that there is a bigger part that opens below the lot for the filter maybe you can clean it out.

also mine some how gets small amounts of water in it from leaking under the window's seal. but i sealed the window and put an air freshener in the filter area every once and a while...