Home automotive ewwww what s that smell replace your car s cabin filter in minutes.
Smell dirty cabin air filter.
Over time the filter becomes clogged with dirt dust and pollen.
In many cases the paper element is white to help you determine when the filter is dirty.
The cabin air filter is typically found inside your vehicle s glove box or it may be located under the dashboard or hood.
If you need to turn on the blower fan to max in order to determine if there s air coming out of the vents a dirty cabin air filter could be the reason for the decreased airflow.
You ll notice an unpleasant smell that doesn t disappear no matter how many times you clean your interior.
Musty odors from the a c evaporator are a common issue in humid climates and may require spraying a biocide or air fresher into the hvac housing to get rid of the smell.
The cabin filter does the same job as the air filter under the hood but it s responsible for filtering the air that makes its way into the cabin.
It s hard to enjoy your ride to work or meeting with friends because that unwanted smell just ruins your mood.
The filter is usually composed of a paper element that is folded into pleats and surrounded by a rubberized gasket.
Ewwww what s that smell replace your car s cabin filter in minutes.
Changing your cabin air filter at regular intervals will ensure that.
Unusual odor from the vents.
Simply replace the filter with a new one.
Is there a solution to this problem.
No that terrible smell coming from your vents isn t from anything that you just drove by.
But the slightly dirty air filter actually does a better job at catching pollen and dirt than a clean one.
Check your cars replaceable cabin air filter.
As a rule of thumb if the filter looks dirty it is.
It s coming from not changing your cabin air filter.
Dirty or excessively clogged cabin air filters can produce a dusty musty stench especially when the hvac system is turned on.
When you find the cabin air filter remove and inspect it.
Mold and mildew can grow here as well.
Another symptom of a bad or failing cabin air filter is an unusual odor coming from the vehicle s interior vents.
Another potential cause here is that your cabin filter s needs to be changed.
A cabin air filter can look almost exactly like the air filter used by your car s engine.
Removing and replacing a dirty cabin air filter on your car can stop that bad smell.
The smell may become more pronounced when the air is turned on and may make the cabin uncomfortable for the passengers.
If it s dirty or clogged then it may be causing the foul smell.
An excessively contaminated filter may produce a dusty dirty or musty smell.
July 1 2013 brittany bailey 221 comments.
What happens if your cabin air filter is dirty.
If your car has a persistent musty or funky smell a dirty cabin air filter may be the culprit.
