You’ve got a friend riding shotgun, the sun’s riding your windshield hard, and things in your car are hotter than fuel prices. But instead of firing up the AC to cool off, you open the window, trying to be all breezy.
You know very well why you’ve been avoiding the AC… that funk it’s been emitting lately is just so embarrassing! But don’t sweat it, literally, because experts at Greg Clark Automotive Specialists can help diagnose and fix this ugly situation with your smelly AC.
Common Causes of a Smelly Car AC
Here are some reasons why your vehicle AC smells funny:
Mold and Mildew
The car’s air conditioning system, otherwise known as the AC system, creates moisture in the passenger compartment that can collect on the evaporator core and other components—even on the AC condenser. All this dampness creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew to breed and cause the smell of staleness.
Dirty Cabin Air Filter
It can be considered as the lungs of the air conditioning system in a car. A dirty cabin air filter may catch dust, pollen, and other particles that could lead to stale or musty smells in your car. In this case, restoration of the AC is quite simple: just replace the filter.
Refrigerant leakage
Refrigerant is a gas that cools the air in your AC system. If your system had a leak, you would smell something sweet and chemical; then your AC may blow only warm air, not cold air as efficiently right out of your vents. Similarly, the low refrigerant may cause the expansion valve and orifice tube to malfunction because they are designed to operate within a given pressure range of the refrigerant for proper control of the amount of refrigerant gas that should be allowed to pass through the system.
Burning Smell
An acrid smell in the AC can be related to an overheated blower motor or a blown fuse, both of which are warning signs that point toward an electrical problem. This needs urgent attention from an auto technician if you do not want further damage to your car’s electrical system. Other problems with the compressor can lead to offensive odors or strange noises from your car air conditioner too.
Let Greg Clark Automotive Handle It
Don’t let bad odors wafting from your car AC throw a wrench in your driving experience. If you notice any unusual smell that your AC is putting out, then call Greg Clark Automotive Specialist today. Our technicians have many years of experience and will help you breathe easy and enjoy fresh clean air inside your car all year round.
Call Greg Clark Automotive Specialist now for your free AC inspection and quote!