Cabin smell from HVAC
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Brockville, On, Canada
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Cabin smell from HVAC
Rom the day I bought my 89 c4, I have been aware of a smell when the fan is turned on in the cabin. Doesn't matter if hot or cold is selected, just a smell. I have "bombed" the cabin with one of those press-and-walk cans designed to rid cars of smoke or pet smells. Mine is still there. I have found that if I spray a bit of auto febreeze into the the recirculating vents below the dash at the center, it'll help for that trip.
I then got down on my knees and looked through the louvers to see what was behind, and it looks like a finned rad that is completely covered with dust, and now wet febreeze.
Is there any way to. Get it out to clean it outside of the car?
Anyone know what part that is?
I then got down on my knees and looked through the louvers to see what was behind, and it looks like a finned rad that is completely covered with dust, and now wet febreeze.
Is there any way to. Get it out to clean it outside of the car?
Anyone know what part that is?
#4
Rennlist Member
The condensate drains on these cars have a tendency to get plugged with gunk and start to get swampy. Important to make sure it is clear and not holding moisture as it will corrode the coil and cause leaks....
#5
Nordschleife Master
Yea, that's the evaporator. Those vents are basically the air intake for the HVAC system when the fresh air flap (cowl vent) is closed. Our cars don't have a cabin filter, so the evap is pretty nasty after 20-25 yrs of service.
I'm not sure what method is best for cleaning it up.
I'm not sure what method is best for cleaning it up.
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#8
Nordschleife Master
They exit behind the front undertray through a rubber opening in the fuel pump cover. That's the only access point other than removing the gas tank and the firewall that sits between the gas tank and the HVAC unit.
#10
Rennlist Member
Just to add to vandits post, there are four tubes two from the cowl and two from the bottom of the AC cassette, they y together and two come out the bottom. The one you want to check is the one with the rubber nipple under the car. It's a rudimentary check valve to keep crap out of the drain but it does get clogged.
#11
Nordschleife Master
There's two drains for the cowl and two for the evaporator, both pairs drain through the HVAC unit, but they are separate all the way down till the rubber piece at the fuel pump cover. The Y-fittings that are upstream of the final drain piece are unions for the left/right drains for each pair (cowl and evaporator).
Pair that is outermost and more foreground is cowl. Inner pair that is behind is evaporator.
Pair that is outermost and more foreground is cowl. Inner pair that is behind is evaporator.
#14
Hi, I think I have the same issue as you, looking at the fins on the evaporator and it looks like a plastic wall and you cant see the fins its that blocked! Did you ever find a solution to fix this? I have a smell like old stockings, not that I smell old stocking :-)