General Nasty pong from the aircon matrix

[Dave Ducato]

Is it possible to clean the aircon matrix as it's giving a nasty pong. I had an aircon guy use some chemicals that were sucked through the air intake to kill the bacteria on it, but it was pretty short lived and the pong soon returned. So, is it possible to clean without a major strip-down of the dash?

 

[Greasytrucker]

Are you sure it’s not just the cabin filter that smells and needs replacing?

 

[Reg 65]

Yes I would check the cabin filter too
But you don't have to replace it.
If you are a tightwad like me you can just chuck it and run without a filter.

 

[Dave Ducato]

It's definitely not the cabin filter (replaced it), and the pong only occurs when the AC is running.

 

[AsdaPricey]

Hello @Dave Ducato

Did your AC man run the cleaner through with temp set hot or cold?

I had a Volvo XC70 which struggled with the pong your experiencing and also used proprietary cleaners with little effect - I received advice to use a Dettol Antibacterial spray applied into the air intake with pollen filter out and to finish of the treatment with temp turned up full heat with a window cracked and let it run for 10 minutes like that to evaporate any moisture/antibac spray from with in the evaporator. Worked very well.

 

[Dave Ducato]

The AC guy ran the aircon at full speed but at its maximum coldness setting rather than at the maximum heat setting. I'll give that a go and see if it solves it. I'll need to get some Dettol Antibacterial spray first.

 

[RS3100]

I had the same problem on my Volvo, possibly because it was laid up for 3 months whilst I was in Norway and I perhaps should have dried the HVAC system by running it hot beforehand, rather than just leaving it probably with condensate around the evaporator. I tried a couple of the aerosol bombs that you set off in the front footwell and allow the aircon to suck in on recirculation mode, but found both short lived and the smell returned. I then bought a can of Klima Doktor aircon cleaner from Amazon. It's an aerosol with a long flexible spray tube that can be pushed into all of the air inlets and outlets. The aerosol sprays an expanding foam and I first removed the cabin air filter, then sprayed into the filter housing around the evaporator until foam was coming out of the chamber and the drain tube. I also sprayed it into the air vents and the HVAC intake. I covered the upholstery and carpets with plastic sheet as I had read a review which said that the foam sprayed out of the vents when the aircon was run, but in the event I found that didn't happen to me, but it has totally cured the smell and 5 months later it hasn't returned, so I would recommend it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BP6YPCC?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title