Does anyone A/C stinks when you turn it on? My makes this horrible smell when i turn it on but it goes away after a minute. I got a 2001 LS

 

Don't have that problem here. Do you leave your windows down a lot. It's a stretch, but something could have crawled up in there and died, I've heard it happen before!

 

Just the A/C or does it stink when the fan is on as well?

Shingo

 

iostz,

When do you turn off your a/c?

I had the stinky stale smell -- when I got back in my car after parking -- before I realized I needed to turn the a/c off about 1 minute before parking my car. Turning off the a/c gives time for the airway to vent/dry; otherwise, there is condensation build-up, which will generate stinky mold.

I think there is something about this in the owner's manual.

 

I heard Pat Guass form Motor Week talking about this. He said the smell is usually caused by mold in the a/c. His recommendation was to get a can of Lysol, turn on the a/c and spay the lysol into the outside air vents. These vents are between your hood and windsheld on the outside of the car. This way the lysol will enter the a/c and kill the mold and provide a plesant smell. Hopes that helps.

 

damn good tips!

 

"Just the A/C or does it stink when the fan is on as well?"

Yea it happens when the fan's on too. I guess i'll try that lysol thing see if it works.. I remember my old '91 Honda Accord used to do the same thing.

 

I believe the owner's manual recommended you always have at least the fan running to prevent mildew/mold buildup and whatnot. Try the lysol technique and always have the fan (not A/C) running, even if at the lowest setting.

Shingo

 

If the a/c system was ever messed with then it can also be the drier. Once it is exposed to the atmosphere it will smell like fish.