Stinky AC

[Enemy]

Hello,

My AC stinks. So when it's hot outside, it sucks to drive my ZHP. I need to get rid of the smell.

I have changed the Cabin Filter. My research tells me that the AC drain may be clogged, and that the water which would normally escape from there is pooling up inside, collecting bacteria and stinking up my ride. Some say to spray lysol or bleach/water mix in the vents to kill all the bacteria. I have also read somewhere that the AC Evaporator needs to be replaced or cleaned.

I have a few ideas on how to attack this (unclog drain, lysol the vents, leave replacing any parts for last resort) but I'm posting to see if anyone else has or has had this issue before? Search didn't really bring anything up.

[Johnmadd]

Try this, any autozone or advanced should have it. I used it at the beginning of last spring and it worked all season, but it needs it again now. Just spray some under the in cabin filter with the system on.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc407/johnmadd1979/20130401_184344.jpg

[Enemy]

I can't see the image from work. It's blocked.

[Johnmadd]

How about this link

http://autorepair.about.com/od/productreviews/fr/reviews-duct.htm

[Enemy]

I have something like that on hand, and I will try it soon. It is actually a foam detergent.

Those types of products will clean up anything in the vents, but what have folks done about the water drainage issue? At some point soon I'm going to try and find that drain and unclog it. I bet it's nasty. If I'm extra motivated, I'll remove and clean the evaporator.

Would replacing the AC Drier have any effect on removing the smell? I see it's like a $30 part.

[LivesNearCostco]

Wouldn't removing the evaporator require evacuating the A/C system then recharging it afterward?

[danewilson77]

Try this, any autozone or advanced should have it. I used it at the beginning of last spring and it worked all season, but it needs it again now. Just spray some under the in cabin filter with the system on.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc407/johnmadd1979/20130401_184344.jpg

John, would you say this is a bandaid to the correct fix?

HTC DNA, Williamsburg, VA

[Mike V]

I don't know how to get rid of the smell but when you eventually do, it would help to turn off your A/C a couple miles before you reach your destination. Sometimes when I forget to do that, the a/c is stinky for a few minutes the next time I turn it on.

[Johnmadd]

John, would you say this is a bandaid to the correct fix?

HTC DNA, Williamsburg, VA

Jury is still out on that. I just barely get a smell when I first start it, I'm hoping the use this year will finish it off. Btw, I do smoke in my car and have been told by passengers they would never had known. Its a good product for what it does but... it could be the a/c drier and yes it would need full evacuation of the system with a recharge.

[M0nk3y]

Your evaporator itself probably has some mold and other crud on it from condensation.

I've never used this, but from everyone this seems to be to magic product.

http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einszett-klima-cleaner-air-freshener.html

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_2260_49631275

[Enemy]

That's funny... I'm holding a can of it as we speak :)

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[Oli77]

Your evaporator itself probably has some mold and other crud on it from condensation.

I've never used this, but from everyone this seems to be to magic product.

http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einszett-klima-cleaner-air-freshener.html



http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_2260_49631275

+1
That is the stuff I used 2-3 years ago and the dirty sock smell has not returned.
The product comes with a long tube that is weighted and you insert down into the condenser area.
Worked like a charm.

[Enemy]

+1
That is the stuff I used 2-3 years ago and the dirty sock smell has not returned.
The product comes with a long tube that is weighted and you insert down into the condenser area.
Worked like a charm.

I have it, just haven't used it yet. I'm wrapping some other jobs first and then I will try it.

Which vent did you slip the tube into? Center passenger? Center driver?

[Oli77]

Center driver. Probably doesn't matter cause tube lands in same general area.

[Enemy]

I guess so. I'm just trying to be super careful because this stuff is like a foam, and I've read where some people have messed up the process and ended up with the foam EVERYWHERE.

[Enemy]

Can anyone help me locate where the condenser drain is at? I need to make sure it's clear before I use the Klima-cleaner product.

[echo46]

Are we talking about the infamous crayon smell or something different? Whenever my son gets in my car he holds his breath as long as he can because he hates that smell. I am going to try one of these also to see if it gets rid of the "crayon " smell.

[Enemy]

Not the crayon smell. I actually like the crayon smell.

My AC stinks like a nasty gym bag for the first few minutes of running it. I need to find the condenser drain, unclog it, and then try to clean the vents out with this klima-clean foam to see if the smell will go away.

[Oli77]

I have tried to unplug that drain from underneath but I could never find it. Spent time under there feeling around.

It is supposed to be at the level of the rear view mirrors when looking at the car from the side, but positioned pretty much dead center.

If I recall though, you can't really ram anything too far up there because there is a ball of some sort that sits there and only floats up when the condenser pan fills up.

I, like you did not feel comfortable putting the stuff in the condenser unless I knew there would be flow. I waited for evidence of flow before I did it.

Linky here (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1190698-Funny-Smell-From-AC-Heat) look at post 21 mentions that ball or check valve.

[Enemy]

It's above the tranny :(

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=823459

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[kayger12]

Damn. That sux.

[Oli77]

It's above the tranny :(

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=823459

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Believe me, that is exactly where I searched and searched. Never found the tube.

[Enemy]

Where is this mystery drain? BMW's cruel troll to us....

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[Enemy]

I sprayed an entire can of Lysol into the vents last night. Removed cabin filter, had the fans running full blast, blasted it with Lysol. Driving the car around today, all I smell is a little bit of Lysol, but I don't get the nasty stink anymore. However, I switched to windshield defroster for a minute, and the stink came back. I forgot to run air thru there while blasting with Lysol. So when I get home, I'll set the fans to windshield and blast it with Lysol again.

So far, it seems like Lysol works. I'll report back in a few more days and let you all know if Lysol got rid of ALL the foul smell and if the Lysol smell itself goes away after x-amount of days.

:)

[DasMechaniKer]

I have had this issue before, not on a BMW though. That drain is def clogged somewhat. Sucks you can't find it. Do you get any pools of water dripping from the car with your AC on? Maybe you could trace that back up to the drain. Also is there a way to access the condenser from the top and blow it out??

Maybe that lysol will bust that clog free though. You never know.

[Enemy]

Lysol took care of the smell pretty much.

I don't see any water under my car :(

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[Oli77]

Try and shake the car once the AC has been on for good while. That check valve I was mentioning above is probably stuck a tad.

I was in the same boat you are and noticed that shaking it would help empty the condenser.

To this day, though, I don't always see water under the car. Has to run for a long time for me to see it.

[Dave1027]

I would think that even if the hose routes above the tranny it should extend down to the bottom of the vehicle. If not then condensation would drain over the tranny. That cannot be right.