That's interesting. The fact that kwikfit specifically ask on that web page about whether the air con smells. Perhaps it is mould? How that would occur on a car just 4 months old I don't know but it's a fact that the smell occurs (sometimes).

However, I tried out my a/c today specifically because I reported on it yesterday in this forum. Guess what? No smell at all. Perhaps it was not on long enough (30 mins) to cause condensation on the internal radiator thingy (technical term).

I will monitor and make a note of the Kwik-fit offer too...

£50 in Halfords for clean and regass or you can buy a diy kit for less.

You should not need a re-gas! If so i could come out to you seeing as your in MK in a couple of years!! (or as and when its needed)

The coil in your car that gets cold is the evaporator! This will get wet as it cools the air, it acts as a dehumidifier! If the coil is wet and you start the car up with the blowers on you will get a damp (musky) smell as the air is going over the wet coil.

There might be a layer of dust on the coil giving it a bit more of a pong but shouldnt be anything to worry about, you could just buy a clean kit from halfords to put your mind at rest!

The smell will go after a few minutes because the coil starts to dehumidify the car thus creating more condensation on the coil and running away! Not giving the water time to become stale!

Hope this helps

Puntoruletheroad said:

If the coil is wet and you start the car up with the blowers on you will get a damp (musky) smell as the air is going over the wet coil.

Click to expand...

Interesting what you say, and explains the musty smell (both in the Punto and the Astra before that). As you say, it disappears very quickly. In fact, in the last few (wamer) days I have not had the smell at all after using the air con.

Either in this car (or more likely the Astra previously, difficult to remember at my age) I have had the condensation water leak out into the passenger footwell whilst using the aircon. Perhaps a drain was blocked or there was excessive condensation. Either way, that would have led to more than usual mustiness too I'm supposing!

As you say I don't need a re-gas at this time and the air con is running well, nice and cold.

Well the drain could get blocked! Because its warmer the coil dries out quicker!

Glad i could help

BTW: for everyone lol!!

If you ask a fridge engineer they are more than likely to come out and clean/re-gas the a/c for 50 quid (compare to kwik fit) and they will probably stick some leak detection dye in the sytem!

I would lmao