Why Does Your Car's Air Conditioner Smell Weird?

9 March 2015
 Categories: , Blog

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Have you ever been driving along the road on a hot summer day, turned on the air conditioner, and all of a sudden were assailed with a weird smell? If so, then of course, you're probably wondering what that smell is, what is causing it, and how it can be fixed. Fortunately, you're not alone. If you keep on reading, you will discover some of the main causes of car AC smell and the solutions offered by dealerships and auto body shops.

Mold or Mildew Buildup

Sometimes mold, mildew, and other bacteria build up in your air conditioning system over time as a result of not being used very often. Fortunately, if this is the cause of the smell, it is very easy to solve. Just try running your air conditioner on low more frequently, even when you don't think that you need it. When you do run your air conditioner frequently, don't have it on maximum, as this can cause moisture to build up, which will only make the smell worse. You may be able to get an air conditioner bacteria treatment system to use to get rid of this smell, but if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, then you can just take it to the dealership or mechanic's shop and they may be able to do it for you.

Leaking Fuel

If you smell gasoline as soon as you turn on your air conditioner, this can be a sign of a very dangerous problem. Usually, this is representative of a gas leak somewhere in your car, which, if left untreated, could make you very sick or could end up potentially causing a fire or an explosion in your car. If you're smelling gas after turning on the air conditioner, take the vehicle to a mechanic right away, as this is something that you can't afford to let go.

Smell of Rotten Eggs

Rotten eggs never smell good, and if this smell is coming from your car's air conditioner, it could indicate that something is wrong with your car's combustion system. You could get out of your car and start checking all of the combustion components, but that might take a lot of time. Therefore, it is usually just a good idea to go straight to the dealership, as they can give you a better idea of what is going on and what would be needed to fix it.

Hopefully after reading this article you now have a better understanding of what causes weird smells to come out of your car's air conditioner so that you can get the problem figured out right away should this ever happen to you. Visit an auto service like Redlands Auto Electric for more details.