Smelly Aircon Help

[Rufes Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rufes]

Hey guys,

Just some questions regarding the aircon system on the '08 Petrol 120 Series GXL.

It has a wet / mouldy smell coming from the aircon, especially when first turning it on. Now I have done some searching on the forums and from what I have read, worked out it is probably bacteria build up on the evaporator coil.

So what I wanted to do is locate the external (fresh) air intake of the aircon system and spray glen 20 or similar anti-bacterial down there whilst the aircon is running to try and eliminate the bacterial on the coil and associated parts.

I also will check / change the cabin air filter although my understanding is the GXL didn't come with a cabin air filter.

Does anyone know the best way to access the aircon intake?

Thanks!
Matt

[big-trev Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close big-trev]

Matt I have the same smell but mine has come since changing the fresh air filter.The new one has a musty smell to it.To check if you have a filter open you're glove box and push in each side to let it drop down.Behind at the top you will find a plastic box,this is the outer casing of the filter.Just pull it towards you and you will find the filter if you have one,They are fairly expensive mine was around Thirty Dollars.The other thing is has it been in for a service lately,They may have changed the filter thus the smell.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Just put your fan on recirculate and spray it in from behind the dash/glovebox above fan, the fan will suck it straight into the evap/heater box. You may find if your not the first owner has it been smoked in ?? I also had this smell in my 90 from when on dusty roads and runnng aircon the dust would stick to the cooling fins on the evaporator then it would have a old dusty smell some times not much could be done even running the fan on recirculate. If possible I always turn the air off a couple of minutes before shutting down the vehicle and flick to fresh air and crank the fan up just to dry out the evap a bit. I mainly do this if I know I wont be using the vehicle for a day or two. Also I find people with climate control air (which yours will have been an 08 model) seem to run the compressor all the time where you can still run on auto but just turn the a/c button to off saves fuel and you really dont need the compressor runnng unless your trying to defog your windows or obviously if its a hot day, it will still maintain the set temp for eg if outside temp is 10 and your running the climate set at 22. If the other way round then obviously you will need the compressor running mind you, you would never get it down to 10 anyway lol, you would freeze. Cheers steve

[Rufes Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rufes]

Hey thanks Steve, I will give it a go. I don't think the previous owner smoked in it as the ash tray is spotless and there are no obvious signs of smoking. Its a funny smell almost like a damp smell. I also tried putting damp rid moisture absorbent packs in the car and then sealing up the car with the heater on full for a couple of hours to make sure there was no other moisture in the car. But they didn't seem to soak up much..

Does anyone know where the intake for the rear aircon system is? I would like to give it a disinfect too.

Thanks again

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

yeah mate drivers side rear quarter panel to the right of third row rear seats behind plastic trim (mayb some one can confirm 100%) this is where it was in my 90 plus there are cut outs in the trim to allow for the fan to suck air in. when i pulled the trim off in my 90 I also had a bit of a filter over inlet it was nearly blocked from dog fur urg was filthy from previous owner. Cheers steve

[Strahan Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strahan]

Running your a/c on fresh as often as you can will help to stop the build up of bacteria. There are places that can disinfect for you. I used to do it at the dealership I worked at. Might be worth inquiring if the glen 20 isn't up to the task.