Odor smell from vents
 

was wondering if anyone knew what this was i got a odor smell coming from my vents when the car is cold and i first start it up with the ac on or off it goes away after driving for 10 mins it smells like moldy towels or hockey equitment anyone know what it cold be?

i'm feeling nice today...


https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/updated-diy-ac-cabin-filter-change-567712/

+7 do it, you wont regret it.
Prob. some small rodent has died inside your filter area and or your filter is wet and moldy.

The filters come 2 to a box and are around 20$ (for 2)
You can get ones loaded with carbon and baking soda that absorb odor - its nice.
This helped with allergies as well.

On the linked post, i have pictures and tips from when i did it without using the dreamel, its on the last page or so.

the dremel is not required--some tool crazed ziner did that writeup!!

simple kitchen scissor work fine. or tin snips or razor knife

cut the tabs on one side of the panel and move it back and forth- same as model toy kit parts--it will break off the other tabs,,its made to

The whole thing gets turned sideways on re-install, has tab and screw hole already there for it
Note it doesnt cover the filter carrier completely- no sweat- its in right.
just make sure to point airflow arrow <----- on filters to the driver

Bosch adds `microallergen`- that seemed to work well in mine,
charcoal or baking soda models do away with odors if you pass by cow pastures~

use kneepads! takes a few minutes to get the glovebox out and panel cut
my knees are old,,,like the rest of me

ya i periodically see people saying they use the Bosch filters. how much do those typically run? (too lazy to lookup)

I just changed my cabin air filters about a little more than a month ago and I have this too. It has like a musty smell when I first start the A/C. Will spiders cause this because I see some spiders on the outside of my car at night and some webs by my vents when I go into my car in the morning. I thought they "couldn't" get in because of the filters.

Spray some Lysol into all of the interior vents. Then, with the fan running, spray Lysol into the exterior vents under the hood to try and neutralize the bacteria.

^^^^ +1
:nod:

Thx guys it looks like a pretty easy install i'll have to wipe over to lordco sometime during work today and pick one up

bosch were 17$ usa- 2 years ago when I did mine,,figure 20 for the pair now
that microallergen stuff they add did seem to help
Time for another trip to the parts store for me

if you notice the vent opening on panel in front of windshield- there is nothing stopping spiders from entering --dropping spider turds along the way, giving birth ...
the filter is a long way down the path, and there are escape portals for the bugs to go everywhere
Many find leaves in the blower and filter!!

lysol thru the outer vents with system running will kill off mold and mildew
Ozium also does the killing and deodorizing

If you run the ac on recirc all the time- you are making the problem- let some fresh air go thru the car now and then,,,read owner book for most efficient use of ac

Other trick is to turn ac OFF and drive with fan on high -outside air- for 5 minutes
to dry out the vent system- prevents growth inside

gross

is that a description of what your cabin air filter looked like?

and you were breathing what air made it thru that!!!