Smelly Air Conditioning
 

Guys, any ideas why my A/C smells moldy when I first turn it on? Is there something that needs to be cleaned?

-Steve

You need to replace your cabin filter, when it gets old, it stinks. Pop the hood and remove the cowl cover to the right/passenger side of the battery cover and you'll see it. One clip on the left of the filter needs to be uncliped by hand and then you can pull the old filter and pop in the new one.

A smelly AC is almost always due to water collecting in the system. Be sure your drains are clean. The water promotes the growth of mold and mildew.

Replacing the cabin filter is a start, but will not likely eliminate the smell already there. For this, it's recommended that you use an anti-mildew spray, sprayed directly into the car's ductwork. There are several of these products available such as: http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einszett-klima-cleaner-air-freshener.html or http://www.allergystore.com/mold.htm. You can use Lysol, but this won't be as effective, will take longer (more applications to work) and you may not like the fragrance it leaves.

The way to prevent future mold and mildew is to switch off the compressor a few minutes before your destination and just run the fan, drawing in outside air to evaporate any moisture in the ductwork and the evaporator and to make sure your drain(s) are clean.

Thanks guys! My cabin filter is pretty dirty so I'll try that first.

-Steve

aside from spraying a disinfectant into the duct work which is the back end of the real problem, you need to be concerned about mold/mildew growing in the evaporator (especially if drain has been plugged up).

There are 2 solutions to the root of the problem. One is a foam spray you use by forcing it up to the condenser thru the drain tube and let it work it's way in all the crevices and kill the mold/bacteria/etc. Not sure if they're Porsche approved but here are some examples of product you can usually pick up in a local parts store or at a dealer. Wurth I think makes a few variants too:

http://i37.tinypic.com/iljf9c.jpg
http://www.acsource.com/ProductImage...izer_final.jpg
http://www.keep-it-kool.com/treat/treat_pics/AR4206.jpg

The other solution is simple....... with the engine fully warmed up, run the engine for 30-45 min w/ the heat set on max and make sure the A/C is on (snowflake lit up). Occasionally, rotate thru the various vent settings (to kill any mold/mildew around the blend door and or various ducts). It'll get more than 'toasty' so do this w/ the top down while driving some day. You may have to repeat this once or twice before the odor is gone completely and maybe once a year afterwards....

Good luck :)

Silly question but where is the drain tube located?

Thanks,
-Steve

There actually several drains for the heating/ac system.

PM me with an email adress and I can send you a diagram.

I know there are numerous drains throughout the vehicle, but I thought there was only one drain for the HVAC system? LB, please send me the diagrams too? burgboxster (at) gmail d0t c0m

Thanks in advance! :)

LB

Rec'd the email. Wow - quite a comprehensive file w/ all the drain diagrams! I haven't seen one so complete. Did you put it together?
If so, quite impressive! :cheers:

Question... If I'm reading it correctly, the diagram shows only one drain (#4) for the AC/evap. Where are the others? :confused:

Thanks!
:)

Can't atke credit for it, it's a compilation from the factory repair manual. If you look at #3 from the Water Drainage Plan, it too serves the ac/evaporator. Probably not as critical as #4, but still if it allows water to collect, there's your mildew problem.

Thanks for the help on the add'l drains to check out.

Repair manual - really? I'm surprised to see the repair manual in Word or did you scan / cut and paste them into Word? Really is helpful.

:)

It's a cut & paste into Word. Not easy as you 1st have to print it to Microsoft Office Document Image Writer to circumvent the security in the document, and then send it to Word. This scrambles it somewhat and you have to do some reassembly.

Thanks LB, that's a really nice document. Any thought to attaching it to this thread?

Thanks again,
-Steve

Hi, is this what you wanted?

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...NewPicture.png

Thanks - LB's diagram is a little more detailed but your diagram also works.

Thanks a ton guys - I have what I need to do some cleaning.

-Steve