Air conditioning smells bad when car enables autostop feature
I am noticing a musty, foul smell from my air conditioning when the auto stop feature is enabled on my car. I have noticed that the air doesn't stay as cold, but while the air is blowing and also right after the car starts back up (after stopping), the air smells musty. Then, the smell goes away until the autostop enables again. My car has about 6,000 miles. Could this be the cabin air filter?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Your vehicle is new enough that I couldn’t find much information on the air conditioning system. I’m guessing your vehicle probably has a dual scroll AC compressor in which one scroll is driven off the engine and the other is electric. In order to prevent lack of cooling at idle, this design is used in hybrids and vehicle with start/stop ability. So, the lack of cooling may be due to a problem with this system. The foul smell by be result of bacteria accumulating on the AC components. Replacing the cabin filter may help with this problem somewhat. I suggest you have a trained professional diagnose your vehicle firsthand to determine the exact cause of the smell.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Check your cabin air filter: Your car has a filter that removes dirt, dust, particulates, and odors from the air it`s pulling into the cabin (this is separate from your engine`s air filter). If you smell something foul, swap it out with a new one.
The first is a dirty/old air cabin filter. The good news about this issue is that it can be a quick fix if you take your vehicle in to the service center and have the cabin filter replaced. However, the other issues it a potentially moldy evaporator case.
If you notice a vinegar smell when you turn on your car`s air conditioning, it`s most likely due to mold or mildew that has built up somewhere in the ventilation system. Since mold and mildew tend to be caused by heat and moisture, this is a particular problem in hot, humid climates.
If your car emits a rotten egg smell, there might be a problem with the catalytic converter, fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter, or even the old transmission fluid. Whatever the cause, if you get the rotten egg smell in your car, take your vehicle to the mechanic as soon as possible and resolve this problem.
Mildew is the most common culprit when an AC smells bad. If you smell moldy air coming from your AC vents, mold or fungus are growing in or around your AC unit and can sometimes make their way into the ductwork itself.
Foul rotting smell or dead animal odor – The smell of rotting flesh could mean that an animal has made a nest and then died in the heating and air conditioning duct system or on top of the engine. The severity of the problem depends of where the dead animal is lodged.
The best way to remove the smell of rotten eggs from your car is to replace the faulty part causing the smell. This could be a catalytic converter, fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter, or even old transmission fluid. Once the appropriate part gets replaced, the smell should disappear.
The best solution for lingering smell from a dead rodent is professional duct cleaning. Pros can thoroughly scrub and disinfect most duct surfaces. This is often the best way to get rid of any lingering odors and offers peace of mind about bacteria or viruses the dead animal may have left behind.
Chlorination can kill sulfur bacteria. If all bacteria are not destroyed by chlorination, the problem may return within a few weeks. Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for several hours. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria.
The rotten eggs smell usually indicates that something sulfurous isn`t working properly. That can be harmful. So you shouldn`t drive a car that smells like rotten eggs.
An air conditioner that smells like rotten eggs or sulphur almost always means one thing: there`s a gas leak in your house, which is getting into your ductwork. Natural gas is a hazardous substance. It can catch fire, explode, and/or reduce oxygen levels in the bloodstream with severe, often fatal, consequences.
Empty and clean the drain pan
If you have a mouldy smell coming from your air conditioner, the first thing to do is check your drain pan. If it`s full, empty the water out, and it`s also advisable to give it a quick clean with soap and water to remove any possible build-up of mould inside.
To make sure that the smell is completely removed, place a bowl of baking soda and vinegar near the contaminated area. This will help absorb the smell.
Empty and clean the drain pan
If you have a mouldy smell coming from your air conditioner, the first thing to do is check your drain pan. If it`s full, empty the water out, and it`s also advisable to give it a quick clean with soap and water to remove any possible build-up of mould inside.
To make sure that the smell is completely removed, place a bowl of baking soda and vinegar near the contaminated area. This will help absorb the smell.
Fuel Smell
If the plug isn`t firing, the fuel-making its way into that cylinder isn`t being burned. It still ends up in the exhaust, where it evaporates and exits the tailpipe. Often, there`s an odor of unburnt gasoline that will be noticeable whenever a spark plug goes bad.
To make sure that the smell is completely removed, place a bowl of baking soda and vinegar near the contaminated area. This will help absorb the smell.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Air conditioning smells bad when car enables autostop feature
ANSWER : Your vehicle is new enough that I couldn’t find much information on the air conditioning system. I’m guessing your vehicle probably has a dual scroll AC compressor in which one scroll is driven off the engine and the other is electric. In order to prevent lack of cooling at idle, this design is used in hybrids and vehicle with start/stop ability. So, the lack of cooling may be due to a problem with this system. The foul smell by be result of bacteria accumulating on the AC components. Replacing the cabin filter may help with this problem somewhat. I suggest you have a trained professional diagnose your vehicle firsthand to determine the exact cause of the smell.
Read Full Q/A … : Air conditioning smells bad when car enables autostop feature
Air conditioning is blowing hot air – car stalls when A/C is on
ANSWER : In order to diagnose all the different problems you have, I having the A/C pressures checked to see if the system is low on refrigerant from a leaking compressor or another component. The rough idle may be due to a dirty throttle body and idle control system. If you would like to have this checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the A/C and rough idle in order to proceed with the proper repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : Air conditioning smells bad when car enables autostop feature
When heat is on outside air, exhaust smell. Not when circulating air. Worse when standing behind other cars.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle is designed to pull in the air in from around the vehicle to use in heating the air. When on that setting, the engine is pulling in exhaust fumes. This means that the vehicle has an exhaust leak. The leak will need to be found and repaired before the smell will go away. Keep in mind inhaling these fumes is not good as they are toxic. You will want to keep the heating and air conditioning system on recirculate. When you are at a stop and idling, the smell can accumulate because there is less airflow to push the fumes away from the cabin. Finding these exhaust leaks can be done several ways, but repairing them can be difficult. For more help contact our service department.
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Soap smell coming out of car after cabin change. Changed filter the the smell is still coming. What to do about this strong smell?
ANSWER : Hi There,
As you know, your car has a cabin filter that serves to filter the air that is introduced to the cabin inside the vehicle. The best way to remove your cars interior ac odor is to use a cleaner that uses enzymes. Enzymes in cleaners kill odors at the source and completely kill the smelly substance material and therefore stopping the a bad smell. To get rid of the smell, try the following: First turn on the ac to full, make sure the “recirculate” button is not on, spray a large amount of cleaner with odor killing enzymes into the EXTERIOR air intakes that are located just below the windshield wipers, let the car run for about 10 minutes with the ac on, after 10 minutes turn off ac and spray the cleaner into the ac vents on the INSIDE of your car. After doing all this, let the car sit for 20 minutes turned off and windows rolled up. Then repeat if the smell is still in the car. By doing this you are killing the bacteria or mold in the car ac vent ducts and also the evaporator mold that may be present.
As you know, your car has a cabin filter that serves to filter the air that is introduced to the cabin inside the vehicle. The best way to remove your cars interior ac odor is to use a cleaner that uses enzymes. Enzymes in cleaners kill odors at the source and completely kill the smelly substance material and therefore stopping the a bad smell. To get rid of the smell, try the following: First turn on the ac to full, make sure the “recirculate” button is not on, spray a large amount of cleaner with odor killing enzymes into the EXTERIOR air intakes that are located just below the windshield wipers, let the car run for about 10 minutes with the ac on, after 10 minutes turn off ac and spray the cleaner into the ac vents on the INSIDE of your car. After doing all this, let the car sit for 20 minutes turned off and windows rolled up. Then repeat if the smell is still in the car. By doing this you are killing the bacteria or mold in the car ac vent ducts and also the evaporator mold that may be present.
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Will a missing air box resonator stop my car from going over 10mph?
ANSWER : Hi There,
The air box resonator missing should not impact the running condition of your vehicle at all. If the air box had cracks in it, this may have caused excess air to be injected into the intake system which may affect the reading of something called the mass air flow sensor which meters the air intake into the engine. When this is producing faulty readings or detects abnormal air intake, this may cause the jerking reactions you describe. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays vital information to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
The air box resonator missing should not impact the running condition of your vehicle at all. If the air box had cracks in it, this may have caused excess air to be injected into the intake system which may affect the reading of something called the mass air flow sensor which meters the air intake into the engine. When this is producing faulty readings or detects abnormal air intake, this may cause the jerking reactions you describe. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays vital information to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Air conditioning smells bad when car enables autostop feature
Gasoline inside the car?
ANSWER : The first concern is whether you could have an exhaust leak or a fuel leak. If leaks of that type exist, they should be repaired as both are safety hazards. Occasionally, just due to the weather, exhaust fumes can get drawn into cabin air. At no time, however, is it normal for significant amounts of raw gasoline to be in the air, or leaking as a liquid, especially on a modern car which has sophisticated systems to capture any potential fugitive emissions of vaporous gasoline. If this was a one-off incident, and just limited to exhaust odor, not to worry but if you regularly detect the distinct odor of raw gasoline, that should be investigated at once because leaking gasoline is a fire/explosion hazard. As far as damage to personal belongings from exhaust or gasoline vapors, in ordinary concentrations and if the exposure is fleeting, there is no damage potential. The reason is gasoline is highly volatile and so evaporates into the atmosphere. However, if you spill liquid gasoline on materials, the non volatile compounds will be around for a long time and indeed will destroy many common materials as gasoline is a highly aggressive solvent. Most of the hazard from gasoline vapors is not to personal property but rather to your health because gasoline contains known, well documented carcinogens such as benzene. So, the bottom line is fleeting exposure to the vapors will not damage property but will damage your health. With regard to leaks (exhaust or gasoline, liquid or vapor), if you desire a safety inspection performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a comprehensive vehicle safety inspection and the responding certified mechanic will address all of your concerns and look at the condition of your entire vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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Hot air mixed with cold blows from air conditioning
ANSWER : Hey there. You will most likely have to have a mechanic bypass the heater coolant lines to have this resolved. Your A/C may not be controlling the air flow inside the evaporator correctly out of the vents and may be the blend door actuator stuck in the heat position. Have the AC system diagnosed first before bypassing the heater.
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My 2003 Hyundai air conditioning works fine but often starts blowing hot air, especially when idling.
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have a condenser fan that may not be cooling the AC condenser properly. As you may know, the job of the AC condenser fan is to cool down the AC condenser as it generates a lot of heat during the course of its primary function, which is to convert the AC gas refrigerant into a liquid form, a process that generates a significant amount of heat. As the AC condenser fan blows cool air across the condenser, this allows the condenser to remain cool, keeping the pressure down in the AC system which helps to generate cooler air. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
It sounds like you may have a condenser fan that may not be cooling the AC condenser properly. As you may know, the job of the AC condenser fan is to cool down the AC condenser as it generates a lot of heat during the course of its primary function, which is to convert the AC gas refrigerant into a liquid form, a process that generates a significant amount of heat. As the AC condenser fan blows cool air across the condenser, this allows the condenser to remain cool, keeping the pressure down in the AC system which helps to generate cooler air. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Air conditioning smells bad when car enables autostop feature
