Air con sour smell.

[C180BEW204]

Hi, wonder if it is normal for c180 w204 having sour smell upon during initial of turning on the air con. Smell will go away after about 10 seconds

[achtungku]

Hi, wonder if it is normal for c180 w204 having sour smell upon during initial of turning on the air con. Smell will go away after about 10 seconds

 

Just change the filter

[giggss]

change aircon filter !

[C180BEW204]

Thank you Giggs and  achtungku for the advise.

[nutty88]

I have the smell but only when I ramp the engine. Same problem as my previous Murano.

[C180BEW204]

change aircon filter !

 

Went to change Air con filter. They find that AC filter (Charcoal) still very new and they clean it with compress air and Refitted the filter. Now and then the smell still comes back. 

Exhaust smell sometimes also can be smelt inside cabin. Was told to activate AC circulator to prevent air from coming in. The problem is the circulator is automatically open upon start up.

[darksaint]

Went to change Air con filter. They find that AC filter (Charcoal) still very new and they clean it with compress air and Refitted the filter. Now and then the smell still comes back.

Exhaust smell sometimes also can be smelt inside cabin. Was told to activate AC circulator to prevent air from coming in. The problem is the circulator is automatically open upon start up.

Rem not to use any car perfume as well.

The air circulator is a safety feature which is off by default

[C180BEW204]

Rem not to use any car perfume as well.

The air circulator is a safety feature which is off by default

 

Thanks for the update.....Safety feature by default?? Any suggestion to prevent exhaust from seeping in thru the aircon?

[MarkCWQ]

Thanks for the update.....Safety feature by default?? Any suggestion to prevent exhaust from seeping in thru the aircon?

A lot of us find the auto off air circulation system irritating. Can look for EleBest to turn it permanently on for you!

[cmsoh]

Turn aircon on full blast, spray a can of Dettol aerosol (or any other brand) near the area of the filters ... let it run for a while.

Found that this really cleared up the stale/sour smell in my 5-yo car.

[AY8686]

Went to change Air con filter. They find that AC filter (Charcoal) still very new and they clean it with compress air and Refitted the filter. Now and then the smell still comes back. 

Exhaust smell sometimes also can be smelt inside cabin. Was told to activate AC circulator to prevent air from coming in. The problem is the circulator is automatically open upon start up.

Bro even if they clean the filter by right cannot reuse filter i rather you change new one, i changed my aircon filter at 35000km before 40000km got sour smell when startup but after while the smell goes off, went to change filter everything solve or you can try to clean your condenser

[ToeKneE_33]

What I do to get rid of the sour smell is:

 

1) Turn off aircon compressor by pressing AC, but keep the interior fans running, preferably at high speed.

2) Turn up the temperature setting as high as it will go, basically turn the car into a sauna.

3) Drive along with the windows down, for as long as you can.

 

Works for almost every pre-owned car that I buy, and I am on my 16th car

[C180BEW204]

Bro even if they clean the filter by right cannot reuse filter i rather you change new one, i changed my aircon filter at 35000km before 40000km got sour smell when startup but after while the smell goes off, went to change filter everything solve or you can try to clean your condenser

 

Thanks, any reliable aircon folks to recommend? You change your filter to original with Charcoal or just the paper type many aircon shop carries? 

I went to Ubi and they quoted me $65 and it turns out to be paper type. 

[yorkshireman]

you can consider oem filter such as Mahle that can be found at Tye Soon, last recall each filter is going at $35; for air-condition repair, perhaps Tomika LLP at Alexandra