MINI2

LucyD · Jul 24th, 2006, 05:33 PM

Hi Everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to cure the following problem...

I turn my ac on and it works fine, is nice and cool and has no smell, however when I turn of the ac and the air is just coming through the vents it has a horrible smell, kinda of like wet dog and I guess its sort of 'damp'.

I've had a search through the forums and couldn't see anyone else with a similar problem, but I have seen that a lot of people have suggested that changing the pollen filter will help improve the ac, will that help me? I got the car second hand and with its previous owner the car used to sit under a tree and wasn't used very much - could this have added to the problem?

Thanks in advance for any replies!!

Lucy

atif_farooq · Jul 24th, 2006, 05:35 PM

Mine does the same thing - I thought it was unique to my car!!

Razzputin · Jul 24th, 2006, 05:41 PM

Besides the air filter the vent ducting may have some stuff in them. Here in Maine we get squirrels building nests in various parts of the engine and even after they move out the leaves and stuff stay there. While it may not be enough to plug up the system it can add quite a smell. The other thing could be the underside of the carpet...mold, mildew.???

atif_farooq · Jul 24th, 2006, 05:42 PM

I haven't got any mould or mildew - it's something to do with my aircon. I'm going to get it checked out when my mini goes for her check up.

LucyD · Jul 24th, 2006, 05:44 PM

I don't think it is the carpet as it only ever happens after the ac has been on. I have seen on some websites a gas that you let of in your car and it can clean out the vents and stuff, it actually said that if it was like a fungus or summat like that it can actually be quite harmful to breathe in!!

Olly. · Jul 24th, 2006, 05:50 PM

Yeah mine does the same, and has done since the day I picked it up

ombler · Jul 24th, 2006, 06:02 PM

yeah dont worry mine does that it's just humidity from the system if its been used and then off for a bit. try running the A/C hot for a bit it seens to stop it smellin in mine

MINI-Morgan · Jul 24th, 2006, 07:10 PM

Doesnt every car with Aircon do it?? all my cars have and I just usually run the heater on hot for a minute when I want to turn the aircon off.

Harpo · Jul 24th, 2006, 09:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by LucyD

... it has a horrible smell, kinda of like wet dog and I guess its sort of 'damp'...Lucy

Funny you should say that...

Not 5 minutes ago, I just got exactly the same whiff.

The thing is, I'm at home and have just had to close all the windows. I've also got all sticky all of a sudden, and I reckon the humidity has just rocketed, and that we are about to have a bit of a storm. Well, a storm of biblical proportion at least.

Watch this space...

MINI-Morgan · Jul 24th, 2006, 09:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Harpo

Funny you should say that...

Not 5 minutes ago, I just got exactly the same whiff.

The thing is, I'm at home and have just had to close all the windows. I've also got all sticky all of a sudden, and I reckon the humidity has just rocketed, and that we are about to have a bit of a storm. Well, a storm of biblical proportion at least.

Watch this space...

Hopefully some thunder and lightning here

M11NYL · Jul 24th, 2006, 09:48 PM

Mine does the same, i looked into it a while ago andi think the user manual says you should run the air for a few minutes after turning the aircon off to dry out the system, what you may be smelling is the left over water in the system and if left can make a funny whiff

so as every one is saying run the hot blowers for a while and it should help.

Wesmonster · Jul 25th, 2006, 03:02 PM

Haven't had this problem in the MINI, but my last vehicle (Honda Odyssey) had this problem just before I traded it. I changed the filter but it didn't fix the smell. It smelled like mildew from stagnant water, probably caused by some moisture in the fresh air intake. I set the A/C to pull fresh air (not recirculate) and set the fan on high and sprayed Febreeze into the fresh air intake under the hood until it filled the cabin. I didn't drive it long after that so I can't comment if it was a permemant fix but it worked. I'm certain Lysol or some other anti-fungal spray would have worked as well.

PW/B_JCW210 · Jul 25th, 2006, 03:33 PM

this is a known problem with aircon systems that have not been run.

I have the problem in the other car in the house (E46 BMW), the previous owner didn't run the aircon. What then happens is that various fungi find themselves a nice warm moist home in the aircon system.

Then when you do run it you get a horrible smell out of the vents.

My dealer tried to disinfect the aircon, and it has partially worked.

A guy who works at my dealer told me about a product that can be bought from Halfords that he reckons works pretty well, I tried to find it in my local one at the weekend but they didn't have it.

M11NYL · Jul 25th, 2006, 07:59 PM

[quote=PW/B_JCW210

A guy who works at my dealer told me about a product that can be bought from Halfords that he reckons works pretty well, I tried to find it in my local one at the weekend but they didn't have it.[/QUOTE]

Any ideas what the name of the product was?

PW/B_JCW210 · Jul 25th, 2006, 08:21 PM

sorry no I can't remember, will email my contact and ask.

snuffy · Jul 25th, 2006, 08:45 PM

I have had the problem and it's because of mildew etc when the air con condensates. I used the stuff from Halfrauds which is in a can and sprays upwards, all over the back of your lovely seats

It smells industrially horrendous but the smell goes aftter 3 days and now I don't have any smells. I didn't think it worked at first but now all is nice!

Oh yeah, it cost £11.99 (eeeek!) and it's called Comma Air Conditioning Cleaner.

M11NYL · Jul 25th, 2006, 08:51 PM

brilliant thanks for that

snuffy · Jul 25th, 2006, 08:59 PM

when you do it, have the passenger front seat furthest forward and also "pulled forward" as in to let someone in the back, otherwise it'll spray all over the back of the seat because leg room is limited <see what i mean?>! Today I went round and cleared up after it - had to wipe down the door and seat! Good fun :/

M11NYL · Jul 25th, 2006, 09:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by snuffy

when you do it, have the passenger front seat furthest forward and also "pulled forward" as in to let someone in the back, otherwise it'll spray all over the back of the seat because leg room is limited <see what i mean?>! Today I went round and cleared up after it - had to wipe down the door and seat! Good fun :/

thanks for the tips, you will have saved me loads of clean up

SiBradbury · Jul 25th, 2006, 09:31 PM

The Comma stuff is ace. It has a kind of apple smell. The bad smell is basically a fungus that grows in your aircon system, this cleaner kills it off.

If you've got any independant motor shops nearby the chance are they can order one for the same day for you, especially if they have accounts with either Andrew Page or CES (mention this to them if they're not sure where to get it for you)

Jul 24th, 2006, 05:33 PM	#1
LucyD MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Marlow, Bucks Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 22 Offline	Smelly Air Hi Everyone, I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to cure the following problem... I turn my ac on and it works fine, is nice and cool and has no smell, however when I turn of the ac and the air is just coming through the vents it has a horrible smell, kinda of like wet dog and I guess its sort of 'damp'. I've had a search through the forums and couldn't see anyone else with a similar problem, but I have seen that a lot of people have suggested that changing the pollen filter will help improve the ac, will that help me? I got the car second hand and with its previous owner the car used to sit under a tree and wasn't used very much - could this have added to the problem? Thanks in advance for any replies!! Lucy

Jul 24th, 2006, 05:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
atif_farooq Loving It! Join Date: Jan 2004 Local Time: 09:34 AM Posts: 86 Offline	Mine does the same thing - I thought it was unique to my car!! . . : Atif : . .

Jul 24th, 2006, 05:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
atif_farooq Loving It! Join Date: Jan 2004 Local Time: 09:34 AM Posts: 86 Offline	I haven't got any mould or mildew - it's something to do with my aircon. I'm going to get it checked out when my mini goes for her check up. . . : Atif : . .

Jul 24th, 2006, 09:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Harpo Havin' fun... My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: ...on the run. Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 4,458 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by LucyD ... it has a horrible smell, kinda of like wet dog and I guess its sort of 'damp'...Lucy Funny you should say that... Not 5 minutes ago, I just got exactly the same whiff. The thing is, I'm at home and have just had to close all the windows. I've also got all sticky all of a sudden, and I reckon the humidity has just rocketed, and that we are about to have a bit of a storm. Well, a storm of biblical proportion at least. Watch this space... The Return of The Ridgeway - Sunday May 25th 2008 The Arctic Circle Run - Summer 2008

Jul 25th, 2006, 03:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
Wesmonster MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Local Time: 04:34 AM Posts: 39 Offline	mildew Haven't had this problem in the MINI, but my last vehicle (Honda Odyssey) had this problem just before I traded it. I changed the filter but it didn't fix the smell. It smelled like mildew from stagnant water, probably caused by some moisture in the fresh air intake. I set the A/C to pull fresh air (not recirculate) and set the fan on high and sprayed Febreeze into the fresh air intake under the hood until it filled the cabin. I didn't drive it long after that so I can't comment if it was a permemant fix but it worked. I'm certain Lysol or some other anti-fungal spray would have worked as well.

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Jul 24th, 2006, 05:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Razzputin MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Local Time: 09:34 AM Posts: 97 Online	Besides the air filter the vent ducting may have some stuff in them. Here in Maine we get squirrels building nests in various parts of the engine and even after they move out the leaves and stuff stay there. While it may not be enough to plug up the system it can add quite a smell. The other thing could be the underside of the carpet...mold, mildew.???

Jul 24th, 2006, 05:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
LucyD MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Marlow, Bucks Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 22 Offline	I don't think it is the carpet as it only ever happens after the ac has been on. I have seen on some websites a gas that you let of in your car and it can clean out the vents and stuff, it actually said that if it was like a fungus or summat like that it can actually be quite harmful to breathe in!!

Jul 24th, 2006, 05:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Olly. Overboosting..... Join Date: Sep 2003 Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 3,492 Offline	Yeah mine does the same, and has done since the day I picked it up

Jul 24th, 2006, 06:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
ombler MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Ferriby Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 71 Offline	yeah dont worry mine does that it's just humidity from the system if its been used and then off for a bit. try running the A/C hot for a bit it seens to stop it smellin in mine

Jul 24th, 2006, 07:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
MINI-Morgan MINI Obsessed... My Classifieds Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southampton, Hants Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 4,574 Offline	Doesnt every car with Aircon do it?? all my cars have and I just usually run the heater on hot for a minute when I want to turn the aircon off.

Jul 24th, 2006, 09:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
MINI-Morgan MINI Obsessed... My Classifieds Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southampton, Hants Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 4,574 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Harpo Funny you should say that... Not 5 minutes ago, I just got exactly the same whiff. The thing is, I'm at home and have just had to close all the windows. I've also got all sticky all of a sudden, and I reckon the humidity has just rocketed, and that we are about to have a bit of a storm. Well, a storm of biblical proportion at least. Watch this space... Hopefully some thunder and lightning here

Jul 24th, 2006, 09:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
M11NYL obsessive Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hedingham Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 86 Offline	Mine does the same, i looked into it a while ago andi think the user manual says you should run the air for a few minutes after turning the aircon off to dry out the system, what you may be smelling is the left over water in the system and if left can make a funny whiff so as every one is saying run the hot blowers for a while and it should help.

Jul 25th, 2006, 03:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
PW/B_JCW210 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hertfordshire Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 66 Offline	this is a known problem with aircon systems that have not been run. I have the problem in the other car in the house (E46 BMW), the previous owner didn't run the aircon. What then happens is that various fungi find themselves a nice warm moist home in the aircon system. Then when you do run it you get a horrible smell out of the vents. My dealer tried to disinfect the aircon, and it has partially worked. A guy who works at my dealer told me about a product that can be bought from Halfords that he reckons works pretty well, I tried to find it in my local one at the weekend but they didn't have it.

Jul 25th, 2006, 07:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
M11NYL obsessive Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hedingham Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 86 Offline	[quote=PW/B_JCW210 A guy who works at my dealer told me about a product that can be bought from Halfords that he reckons works pretty well, I tried to find it in my local one at the weekend but they didn't have it.[/QUOTE] Any ideas what the name of the product was?

Jul 25th, 2006, 08:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
PW/B_JCW210 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hertfordshire Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 66 Offline	sorry no I can't remember, will email my contact and ask.

Jul 25th, 2006, 08:45 PM	#16 (permalink)
snuffy meow mini2 meow Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kent Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 579 Offline	I have had the problem and it's because of mildew etc when the air con condensates. I used the stuff from Halfrauds which is in a can and sprays upwards, all over the back of your lovely seats It smells industrially horrendous but the smell goes aftter 3 days and now I don't have any smells. I didn't think it worked at first but now all is nice! Oh yeah, it cost £11.99 (eeeek!) and it's called Comma Air Conditioning Cleaner.

Jul 25th, 2006, 08:51 PM	#17 (permalink)
M11NYL obsessive Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hedingham Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 86 Offline	brilliant thanks for that

Jul 25th, 2006, 08:59 PM	#18 (permalink)
snuffy meow mini2 meow Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kent Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 579 Offline	when you do it, have the passenger front seat furthest forward and also "pulled forward" as in to let someone in the back, otherwise it'll spray all over the back of the seat because leg room is limited <see what i mean?>! Today I went round and cleared up after it - had to wipe down the door and seat! Good fun :/

Jul 25th, 2006, 09:24 PM	#19 (permalink)
M11NYL obsessive Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hedingham Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 86 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by snuffy when you do it, have the passenger front seat furthest forward and also "pulled forward" as in to let someone in the back, otherwise it'll spray all over the back of the seat because leg room is limited <see what i mean?>! Today I went round and cleared up after it - had to wipe down the door and seat! Good fun :/ thanks for the tips, you will have saved me loads of clean up

Jul 25th, 2006, 09:31 PM	#20 (permalink)
SiBradbury "I'm kind of a big deal" My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wirral Local Time: 10:34 AM Posts: 1,160 Offline	The Comma stuff is ace. It has a kind of apple smell. The bad smell is basically a fungus that grows in your aircon system, this cleaner kills it off. If you've got any independant motor shops nearby the chance are they can order one for the same day for you, especially if they have accounts with either Andrew Page or CES (mention this to them if they're not sure where to get it for you)

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