5 Causes of Smelly Car Air Conditioning and the Solution

5 Causes of Smelly Car Air Conditioning and the Solution. AC is one aspect of the vehicle that is quite important, because in addition to being able to reduce the cabin temperature of the car's air conditioning system, it can also ensure the air condition in the cabin remains fresh. But it happens if the car's air conditioner produces a strong odor.

Causes of Smelly Car Air Conditioning.

Of course it is very disturbing to our sense of smell so driving will be uncomfortable.

So, what are the things that can cause car air conditioners to smell? see the article below.

Causes of Car Smelly Air Conditioning

1. The car air conditioner smells sour because the fungus is in the evaporator

The AC evaporator is always wet because when the AC is turned on the dew will always form on the surface of the evaporator. If there is dust that hits the surface of the evaporator, the dust will automatically stick to the surface of the evaporator.

But in reality, it's not just dust. Cigarette smoke can enter the evaporator and mix with all the particles on the surface of the evaporator. These particles, because they are wet, can form a fungus that produces a rather sour smell.

This problem is often experienced in cars that are not equipped with AC filters and behavioral factors of drivers who like to smoke when the air conditioner is turned on.

What's the solution ?

You need to clean the evaporator, because if you just spray the air freshener then the smell will be disguised in just a short time. When the air freshener ran out, a pungent smell appeared again.

To clean the evaporator it is rather difficult if we clean it ourselves because the location of the evaporator is in the dashboard. In addition, it will be risky if we release the evaporator even though there is no problem with AC circulation.

So the other way is to spray evaporator cleaning liquid through a blower. Of course this is cheaper and easier to do. You simply spray this liquid through the hole in your car's AC filter while turning on the car's air conditioner.

2. The car air conditioner stinks because of the use of high alcohol perfume

Perfumes with high alcohol levels are more durable, but the long-term effects of alcohol which gradually accumulate in the evaporator will cause an acidic odor. This is also almost the same as the first case, where there are particles from outside into the evaporator that grow fungi.

So the solution is the same, namely by using evaporator cleaning fluid, the way is also the same as the first.

3. The car air conditioner smells because there are animal carcasses in the evaporator

For the third type of odor it may also be experienced especially in cars parked on the roadside or near plantation land. Usually there are animals such as mice, cockroaches, and lizards that often land on your car.

If the animal dies, it will automatically become a carcass. In a few days, you will smell the carcass that is very stinging in your car.

When you smell the carcass, immediately search every corner of your car to find the source of the smell. Because if left unchecked, then the smell will be more intense.

Not infrequently also these animal carcasses nest in a very hidden area for example in the dashboard. Of course to reach it we need to dismantle the dashboard. For that, if you find it difficult to find the source of the smell, you can take the car to the car salon. Usually the dashboard will be disassembled to find out the source of the smell.

4. The car's air conditioner smells bad because it is exposed to other vehicle fumes

The car's AC switch has a variety, there is a blower switch that regulates the speed of the gusts coming out of the grill, there is an AC switch that regulates AC ON or OFF, there is an AC temperature switch that regulates AC temperature, there is also an air circulation switch which gives the choice whether will use outdoor circulation or indoor circulation.

If we choose outdoor circulation, the outside air will be inserted into the cabin and air in the cabin will be issued. While the indoor circulation, the air will spin in the car alone without involving outside air.

Usually we choose outdoor circulation because it is more refreshing, but if we are jammed, especially in a mountainous area, the smoke of the vehicle outside can get into the car so that the air conditioner seems to smell sick.

In severe conditions, vehicle fumes that enter the cabin can also be a poison that makes passengers dizzy to faint. Therefore, if you are in the middle of a traffic jam, especially besides you, there are lots of big trucks, just choose the indoor circulation.

5. The car air conditioner smells of freon because it is leaking

The smell of freon is very typical, the smell is not too stingy but very different from the other smells. This indicates that the car air conditioner freon is leaking, and the location of the leak is in the evaporator. Because if a leak is in addition to the evaporator, then there is no sudden smell of air conditioning.

But if there is a smell of freon, the leak is located in the evaporator area.

The solution, you need to repair which one is leaking. If the evaporator is leaking, it needs to be replaced.