bad smell when AC is on (94 E420)

i searched the posts for similar topic and i was able to find some related info but i wasn't sure if i got the answer. so here goes.

i recently bought a 94 E420. the car is great except for a bad AC smell. it is only observed for 10+ seconds right after the AC is turned on. (there appears to be no smell when the heat is on, though). after about 10+ sec, the smell goes away.

i brought the car to a local dealer and they weren't much help. they used a product called ozium that's supposed to get the smell out but it didn't help.

can someone help please? i want this car to be perfect.

the car has very low miles (< 40k) so i am guessing that the AC wasn't used much. could that be the reason?

anyinfo would be very helpful.

thanks

I think all cars might have this badsmell due to the aging of the car...I know Chrysler cars have SERIOUSLY BAD SMELL when AC is turned on

[J.HIDALGO]

I wander if your drainage/condensation tubes are plugged. Do you see drops of water coming out from under you car, right under the dash area? Water may be accumulating from the AC evaporator and, since it has no place to go, you are feeling that humidity smell.
Good luck!


------------------
J.H.
'86 300E

[This message has been edited by J.HIDALGO (edited 10-12-2000).]

thanks for suggestions. the dealer told me that the drain was working. i am sure that it's the condensation but i don't know what to do about it.

[Ted2222]

At one time, I rid my car of a foul odor in the ventilation system by doing the following:

Adjust the vent to the "flow through" position.

Turn the fan on high.

Spray "Lysol Disinfectant Spray" into the outside vent openings.

The odor in my car disappeared.

Hope this may be of help to you.

------------------
Ted
1979 240D
160,000 miles

[This message has been edited by Ted2222 (edited 10-09-2000).]

Used Lysol also. Spray into the vent with the fan on low and shut off immediatly after and let sit overnight. Kills the bactaria causing the bad odor.


------------------
Mercedes-Benz Master Guild - 2 years
Shop Foreman - 20 + years - dealer.
Part owner - MBZ Transmission remanufacture
2000 SL500
1995 E320
1989 300SE

[Robert W. Roe]

Once you get the smell resolved, take steps to make sure it doesn't come back. Switch your AC to "EC" a couple blocks prior to your destination; this lets the fan blow off (?) some of the condensation. Doing this actually made a slight smell go away on my '84 300SD.

------------------
Robert W. Roe
1984 300SD 172K mi

[unkl300d]

Yes, I have seen similar posts
to yours and it was bacteria
and such. MBZ recommends the
use of the a/c system
frequently to keep it 'in shape'.
Lysol is a super idea!

Enjoy your new auto.

------------------
1979 300D
133K miles
1989 300SE
1995 C280

thanks for your suggestions. i went straight to a local safeway to buy a can of lysol. i sprayed lysol near the a/c intake and i am going to have the car sit over night. i will let you guys know how well it works. thanks all. and i've also heard of turning the a/c to ec recommendation. and i should try that out too.

thanks again.

Good Thread!

Just as you think that most posts are repeats of problems you've seen posted before, you learn something new. That's what keeps me hooked on mercedesshop.com.

Larry

You also have fresh air filters in the cowel
that should be replaced but rarely are.It
would be hard to tell you how to get to them
but they located under the hood in the cowel.
I would have a tech replace them and while
he's there he can spray the disinfectant
directly into the a/c evaporator. I hope
this helps.

[Douglas Broome]

Indeed, a squirt of half household bleach/half water works just as well.

and now for the update.. the lysol did the trick! well, i am now smelling "water fall" smell but i will take that over the a/c odor. to be fair, i don't know if the lysol scent is over-powering the a/c odor. (ie. the a/c smell is still there but i just can't smell it because the lysol scent is so strong.) whatever the case might be, i don't smell the foul a/c odor.

i initially used a product called ozium (has anyone heard of it?) it was the product that my local dealer used but it appears like lysol was a better choice to get rid of the a/c smell. i am also going to turn the a/c to "ec" mode a few blocks from home.

thanks all.. i will give a long-term update as the lysol scent wears out. maybe the a/c smell will come back or maybe not.

thanks