Help! My Car A/C Smells Awful!

Have you recently switched on your car air conditioner only to be assaulted by an awful smell? Chances are, you haven’t been making much use of your car over the past several weeks due to the COVID-19 lockdown and when you get in and start it up for the first time after a while, you find a strange odor coming through your AC vents. It may be time for car AC repair. It’s not uncommon for this to happen and there are a couple of reasons why it might become a problem. Let’s take a look at what might be going on.

Mold

It sounds strange, doesn’t it? The idea that mold could grow inside the mechanical components of your car somewhere. It happens though. Mold can grow inside your air vents or on the evaporator and this causes that musty odor when you turn the A/C on.

Gas leak

Sometimes, when you turn the AC on, you might experience a smell of gasoline. This could indicate that there is a gas leak and the fumes are getting sucked into the fresh air that the air conditioner is taking in. If this happens, then you should be thankful, because you may not otherwise have become aware of the leak. 

Air filters

If air filters are not cleaned or replaced regularly, they can collect dirt, dust and other pollutants. This is a very easy fix, however. As long as your car is being regularly serviced, you shouldn’t experience this at all.

Your air conditioning should be checked annually along with the rest of your vehicle. Technicians will check the motor, blower, drain line, coils, operating pressures and temperatures, the return and supply lines, refrigerant levels and connections. If you are experiencing any bad smells when you switch on the air conditioner, you should bring this to your technician’s attention. 

Professional Automotive Repair provides full vehicle service and repair in Marietta, GA. We are a certified service and repair center for a wide variety of car manufacturers, both imported and domestic, and offer everything from brake replacement to car ac repair. Contact us for more information.