Bad smell from vents

[jerseyguy357]

I replaced the engine air filter and the cabin filter. With the a/c on max I turn it off and I turn the fan to max. I smell
something musty coming from the vents. Please help. Thanks

I

 

[Pterostylis]

Have you tried A/C cleaner spray?
I have used one from Wurth on one of my old cars and it worked well to remove the musty smell from the A/C vents.

 

[ripcord]

They sell air duct cleaner and deodorizer just for this at just about every auto parts store. It kills mildew and mold without stinking up your car too badly. You just pull the cabin air filter out and spray a can of the cleaner into ducts while changing the air settings to insure it goes through all the ducts.

 

[Zee09]

Has @AutoMechanic been in your car lately? Good luck.

 

[ripcord]

Has @AutoMechanic been.in your car lately? Good luck.

He does have a (Speed Stick) Musk like scent.

 

[Zee09]

He does have a (Speed Stick) Musk like scent.

Yeah thanks to me

 

[Glenda W.]

They sell disinfectant to spray on the evaporator.

 

[k1xv]

There may be a decomposing dead mouse in there.

 

[Glenda W.]

To add to my disinfectant post make sure the A/C drain isn’t clogged. Then spray the disinfectant through the A/C drain onto evaporator.

 

[TiGeo]

Evaporator has some mildew. I turn on the AC to max (vent not recirc) and spray Lysol in the cowl inlet...almost always sorts it.

 

[Rand]

Evaporator has some mildew. I turn on the AC to max (vent not recirc) and spray Lysol in the cowl inlet...almost always sorts it.

The last 4 cars I've owned if you set the AC to MAX it sets recirc
and turns off max if you turn off recirc..
but I get what you were saying. Sometimes you have to be smarter than the HVAC controls.

 

[dippschtick]

Evaporator has some mildew. I turn on the AC to max (vent not recirc) and spray Lysol in the cowl inlet...almost always sorts it.

Just did this yesterday.

 

[CharBaby]

I’ve had good success spraying disinfectant sanitizer(Lysol or others) in through the outside vent with the fan on drawing the air to the inside. Works quite well!