My 2003 Elantra GLS recently developed an unpleasant smell in the cabin. I
narrowed it down to the air conditioner (didn't seem to have anything to do
with the fresh air vents). I washed out the engine compartment, made sure
the drains where the windshield meets the hood were clear and checked to see
if there was an air filter behind the glove box (in the fax compartment)
that needed replacing (there wasn't a filter installed). The smell has been
reduced, but I never found anything so I don't know what caused it and more
importantly if there is somewhere else I should be looking - any ideas?

 

"Victek" <Victek@xyz.com> wrote in message
news:hWrOi.1444$lD6.990@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net ...
> My 2003 Elantra GLS recently developed an unpleasant smell in the cabin.
> I narrowed it down to the air conditioner (didn't seem to have anything to
> do with the fresh air vents). I washed out the engine compartment, made
> sure the drains where the windshield meets the hood were clear and checked
> to see if there was an air filter behind the glove box (in the fax
> compartment) that needed replacing (there wasn't a filter installed). The
> smell has been reduced, but I never found anything so I don't know what
> caused it and more importantly if there is somewhere else I should be
> looking - any ideas?

The AC is not draining properly, or their is just a buildup of gun over the
past few years. This is a common occurrence with cars. Be sure the drain
is working, then spray a disinfectant into the intake while the fan is
running on low.

 

>My 2003 Elantra GLS recently developed an unpleasant smell in the cabin. I
>narrowed it down to the air conditioner (didn't seem to have anything to do
>with the fresh air vents). I washed out the engine compartment, made sure
>the drains where the windshield meets the hood were clear and checked to see
>if there was an air filter behind the glove box (in the fax compartment)
>that needed replacing (there wasn't a filter installed). The smell has been
>reduced, but I never found anything so I don't know what caused it and more
>importantly if there is somewhere else I should be looking - any ideas?

Does it smell like fart or rotten eggs? If so, it could be you need
your cabin air filter to be replaced. After I replaced mine (looked
like the lungs of a person who'd been smoking for 30 years), the smell
was gone. Have you had your cabin air filter changed out? If so, then
the try out what Edwin said. If not, it's pretty easy to do if you are
handy with a screwdriver and can follow directions. I can send you a
PDF of how to do it if you'd like.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

"Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.> wrote in message
news:gmpkg3hjogg30bfsj2p9bevbj8i2v6s6l9@4ax.com...
>>My 2003 Elantra GLS recently developed an unpleasant smell in the cabin.
>>I
>>narrowed it down to the air conditioner (didn't seem to have anything to
>>do
>>with the fresh air vents). I washed out the engine compartment, made sure
>>the drains where the windshield meets the hood were clear and checked to
>>see
>>if there was an air filter behind the glove box (in the fan compartment)
>>that needed replacing (there wasn't a filter installed). The smell has
>>been
>>reduced, but I never found anything so I don't know what caused it and
>>more
>>importantly if there is somewhere else I should be looking - any ideas?
>
> Does it smell like fart or rotten eggs? If so, it could be you need
> your cabin air filter to be replaced. After I replaced mine (looked
> like the lungs of a person who'd been smoking for 30 years), the smell
> was gone. Have you had your cabin air filter changed out? If so, then
> the try out what Edwin said. If not, it's pretty easy to do if you are
> handy with a screwdriver and can follow directions. I can send you a
> PDF of how to do it if you'd like.
>

Thanks for the reply. Regarding the cabin filter, is that the one that's
supposed to be above the fan, behind the glove box or is it somewhere else?
Is there a way I can get the PDF you mentioned from a web site or a forum
that allows binaries?

 

>> My 2003 Elantra GLS recently developed an unpleasant smell in the cabin.
>> I narrowed it down to the air conditioner (didn't seem to have anything
>> to do with the fresh air vents). I washed out the engine compartment,
>> made sure the drains where the windshield meets the hood were clear and
>> checked to see if there was an air filter behind the glove box (in the
>> fax compartment) that needed replacing (there wasn't a filter installed).
>> The smell has been reduced, but I never found anything so I don't know
>> what caused it and more importantly if there is somewhere else I should
>> be looking - any ideas?
>
> The AC is not draining properly, or their is just a buildup of gun over
> the past few years. This is a common occurrence with cars. Be sure the
> drain is working, then spray a disinfectant into the intake while the fan
> is running on low.
Thanks, I'll have to checkout the drain - are there any pictures on the web
that show the location?

 

>Thanks for the reply. Regarding the cabin filter, is that the one that's
>supposed to be above the fan, behind the glove box or is it somewhere else?
>Is there a way I can get the PDF you mentioned from a web site or a forum
>that allows binaries?

It is the one behind the glove box and yes, here's a link of a PDF of
how to do it: http://www.neiu.edu/~scs/elantra-cabin-air-filter.pdf

Let me know when you have the file or have printed it out. I will
delete it in 24 hours otherwise.

I bought a new cabin air filter from Autozone. I think it only cost
around $20 with tax and it was a Bosch brand filter. It was
brainlessly easy to install with the directions.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

>>Thanks for the reply. Regarding the cabin filter, is that the one that's
>>supposed to be above the fan, behind the glove box or is it somewhere
>>else?
>>Is there a way I can get the PDF you mentioned from a web site or a forum
>>that allows binaries?
>
> It is the one behind the glove box and yes, here's a link of a PDF of
> how to do it: http://www.neiu.edu/~scs/elantra-cabin-air-filter.pdf
>
> Let me know when you have the file or have printed it out. I will
> delete it in 24 hours otherwise.
>
> I bought a new cabin air filter from Autozone. I think it only cost
> around $20 with tax and it was a Bosch brand filter. It was
> brainlessly easy to install with the directions.

I got it. Thanks very much!

 

>> I bought a new cabin air filter from Autozone. I think it only cost
>> around $20 with tax and it was a Bosch brand filter. It was
>> brainlessly easy to install with the directions.
>
>I got it. Thanks very much!

Ok, good luck. Let the group know how it went.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

Hello VicTek,

V> My 2003 Elantra GLS recently developed an unpleasant smell in the
V> cabin. I narrowed it down to the air conditioner (didn't seem to
V> have anything to do with the fresh air vents). I washed out the
V> engine compartment, made sure the drains where the windshield meets
V> the hood were clear and checked to see if there was an air filter
V> behind the glove box (in the fax compartment) that needed replacing
V> (there wasn't a filter installed). The smell has been reduced, but I
V> never found anything so I don't know what caused it and more
V> importantly if there is somewhere else I should be looking - any
V> ideas?

Dead bacteria in pooling condensate in your HVAC systems. I had 5 Hyundais,
and all had stinky A/C systems. It is not so bad if the A/C is used daily
but if not used for a couple of days and then used, the smell is pretty evident
inthe first 20 - 30 seconds or so.

Not a heck of a lot can be done except change the cabin air filter if so
equipped, and also spray liberal amounts of A/C bactericidal / fungicidal
spray into the vents in the cowl at the fas of the windshield with the blower
on high. A/C does not have to be on. Then let it sit, say overnight.

Regards,
Wayne Moses
Houston, Texas