Hello everyone

I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?

If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?

Many thanks in advance.

 

What does it smell like? If mildew, you might have it in the system
somewhere. It's not uncommon; happens from being wet and warm! I've heard
you can fix it by turning on the AC full, then spraying some bleach into the
intake. I've never done it myself.

The Freon should not be getting into the passenger compartment. If it is,
you have a serious leak and need to get it repaired.

--
Bob Burns
Mill Hall PA
(email is spamtrap)


"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello everyone
>
> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>
> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>

 

What does it smell like? If mildew, you might have it in the system
somewhere. It's not uncommon; happens from being wet and warm! I've heard
you can fix it by turning on the AC full, then spraying some bleach into the
intake. I've never done it myself.

The Freon should not be getting into the passenger compartment. If it is,
you have a serious leak and need to get it repaired.

--
Bob Burns
Mill Hall PA
(email is spamtrap)


"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello everyone
>
> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>
> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>

 

"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello everyone
>
> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>
> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>

Any chance you need to replace the Cabin Air Filter, also known as Pollen
Filter?

I bought mine at:
http://handaaccessories.com/accmaint00.html

Bernie

 

"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello everyone
>
> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>
> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>

Any chance you need to replace the Cabin Air Filter, also known as Pollen
Filter?

I bought mine at:
http://handaaccessories.com/accmaint00.html

Bernie

 

Mildew is caused by the AC drain being plugged and the condensation backing
up in the evaporator/heater housing. You first need to clear the drain so
the water will drain. Then check with an auto parts store as they have
chemicals for neutralizing the mildew.


"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello everyone
>
> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>
> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>

 

Mildew is caused by the AC drain being plugged and the condensation backing
up in the evaporator/heater housing. You first need to clear the drain so
the water will drain. Then check with an auto parts store as they have
chemicals for neutralizing the mildew.


"SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello everyone
>
> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>
> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>

 

Or you can turn on the heater full blast for 10-15 mins, high heat and maybe
the dampness and mildew might go away....
Cheerio.

"Bluegoose" <bac2bac@comcast2005.net> wrote in message
news:QJmdnZ2dnZ1nvnmJnZ2dnRaMb9-dnZ2dRVn-zJ2dnZ0@comcast.com...
>
> "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
>> Hello everyone
>>
>> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
>> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
>> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>>
>> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance.
>>
>
> Any chance you need to replace the Cabin Air Filter, also known as Pollen
> Filter?
>
> I bought mine at:
> http://handaaccessories.com/accmaint00.html
>
> Bernie
>

 

Or you can turn on the heater full blast for 10-15 mins, high heat and maybe
the dampness and mildew might go away....
Cheerio.

"Bluegoose" <bac2bac@comcast2005.net> wrote in message
news:QJmdnZ2dnZ1nvnmJnZ2dnRaMb9-dnZ2dRVn-zJ2dnZ0@comcast.com...
>
> "SpiralKid" <jin0412@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1123139043.898289.78770@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
>> Hello everyone
>>
>> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
>> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
>> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>>
>> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance.
>>
>
> Any chance you need to replace the Cabin Air Filter, also known as Pollen
> Filter?
>
> I bought mine at:
> http://handaaccessories.com/accmaint00.html
>
> Bernie
>

 

>
> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>
> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>

After you follow the other posters' suggestions, get in the habit of putting
your CC in fresh mode when parked to avoid sealing in the residual moisture
in the AC. The stickler would disengage the AC for the last minutes of the
drive in fresh mode to promote some drying.

 

>
> I have a 98 Accord and whenever I turn on the AC, it smells bad about a
> minute and gets better and finally I don't smell any. FYI, I have never
> recharged the freon gas. Is it time to recharge it?
>
> If I need to do that, how much is it going to cost me?
>

After you follow the other posters' suggestions, get in the habit of putting
your CC in fresh mode when parked to avoid sealing in the residual moisture
in the AC. The stickler would disengage the AC for the last minutes of the
drive in fresh mode to promote some drying.

 

Thanks, the freon is not getting in. it's mildew.

 

Thanks, the freon is not getting in. it's mildew.

 

"Woody" <TheDuck@pond.net> wrote in message
news:MFqIe.1330$sW1.1104@newssvr23.news.prodigy.ne t...
> Mildew is caused by the AC drain being plugged and the condensation
> backing up in the evaporator/heater housing. You first need to clear the
> drain so the water will drain. Then check with an auto parts store as they
> have chemicals for neutralizing the mildew.
>
Do you have any recommendations? This complaint turns up all the time on all
sorts of vehicles, so I'd expect somebody is marketing a solution that
helps... I just don't know about it.

In the alt.autos.volvo group one of the regulars described a mixture he
sprayed into the recirculate intake with the A/C on recirc, full cold, full
fan. I don't recall anything except a major ingredient was vodka, and the
rest was non-toxic stuff like that. Kind of ingenious, condensing the
alcohol on the evaporator to kill the mildew and then letting it drain the
usual way to do more of the same. I imagine rubbing alcohol would do the
same job.

Mike

 

"Woody" <TheDuck@pond.net> wrote in message
news:MFqIe.1330$sW1.1104@newssvr23.news.prodigy.ne t...
> Mildew is caused by the AC drain being plugged and the condensation
> backing up in the evaporator/heater housing. You first need to clear the
> drain so the water will drain. Then check with an auto parts store as they
> have chemicals for neutralizing the mildew.
>
Do you have any recommendations? This complaint turns up all the time on all
sorts of vehicles, so I'd expect somebody is marketing a solution that
helps... I just don't know about it.

In the alt.autos.volvo group one of the regulars described a mixture he
sprayed into the recirculate intake with the A/C on recirc, full cold, full
fan. I don't recall anything except a major ingredient was vodka, and the
rest was non-toxic stuff like that. Kind of ingenious, condensing the
alcohol on the evaporator to kill the mildew and then letting it drain the
usual way to do more of the same. I imagine rubbing alcohol would do the
same job.

Mike