Getting Air Conditioning Cleaned

supersaint3

I turned on my aircon today in the car after a lengthy spell for it off - and the bang out of it would choke a donkey - what can I do to clean it up? I believe dust and bacteria can settle in it etc? and causes the bad smell? any help would be appreciated!

milltown

Halfords sell a "bug bomb" sort of thing to clean car vents. Basically, you leave the car running with the A/C on full and the air set to recirculate and open this gas cannister in the back. Leave the car closed for a while and it works through all the vents, heaters and compressors etc.

Costs about €25 iirc but I have also heard that the car may need a good hoovering, dusting and glass cleaning after it.

Esel

No help for your current problem, but I understand it is best to run A/C at least once a month (week?) to protect seals etc and to prevent bacteria building up. For the future!

bazz26

A long term solution to this problem is to use the air conditioning more regularly. Put it on for about 10 mins once a week or so, this will prevent the bacteria from forming which causes the terrible smell.

I'm not too sure about those bug bombs working to be honest.

Dilbert75

There's a Milton non-bleach spray which you can spray into the cavity where the pollen filter sits (in most cars). Turn the temperature down low, fan up high, spray some of this stuff in and run it for 10 mins. Cleans out the bugs for about €3.

rebel.ranter

The canister solution is the best course of action, I would advise you to take out the pollen filter too. Replace that as well. Comma make a version of that aerosol.
As described above you put it behind the seat, set it off (it discharges automatically), hey presto, job done. Bye bye smelly sock smell.

C_Breeze

The A/C in my previous car had a stale smell to it , blasting it on max power for a good while seemed to sort that out, have you u tried that

TychoCaine

I've just bought one of those Comma Air Conditioning Cleaner jobbies from Halfords for €20. The S80 was on the forecourt for a few months so the A/C was a bit on the stinky side. You're supposed to have a "new car smell" within 24 hours, so I'll let you know how it works tomorrow.

Wishbone Ash

bazz26 wrote:

use the air conditioning more regularly

In my car, MB W210, the AC comes on automatically but it hasn't worked in over a year. Can it be repaired for a reasonable amount or have I left it too long?

Anyone got a contact number for an independent AC specialist in the Northside/North County Dublin area? Thanks.

bazz26

Wishbone Ash wrote:

In my car, MB W210, the AC comes on automatically but it hasn't worked in over a year. Can it be repaired for a reasonable amount or have I left it too long?

Anyone got a contact number for an independent AC specialist in the Northside/North County Dublin area? Thanks.

It may simply need to be regassed. A place that specialises in refridgeration units is probably the most likely place to get this done.

Seth Brundle

ICE (I think thats the name) in Ranelagh will do it - one of the last shops in Ranelagh on the left as you headingfrom town

Wishbone Ash

Thanks lads.

nialler

Wishbone Ash wrote:

In my car, MB W210, the AC comes on automatically but it hasn't worked in over a year. Can it be repaired for a reasonable amount or have I left it too long?

Anyone got a contact number for an independent AC specialist in the Northside/North County Dublin area? Thanks.

Wishbone I used these guys on my w220, great job done in under an hour, repressurised, checked for leaks etc, worked like a dream since.

[edit] and I run the aircon at least once a week for a while, then turn it off about 10 mins from home to dry out/have a ciggie with windows down.

Seth Brundle

nialler wrote:

Wishbone I used these guys on my w220, great job done in under an hour, repressurised, checked for leaks etc, worked like a dream since.

What guys?

nialler

kbannon wrote:

What guys?

nice spot K forever forgettign the link.

http://www.autoair.ie/contact.html


N

Wishbone Ash

Thanks nialler. Do they do it 'while you wait' or do they insist on taking the car for the day. The thoughts of trying to pass a few hours in Dunshaughlin doesn't appeal to me.

regedit

nialler wrote:

Wishbone I used these guys on my w220, great job done in under an hour, repressurised, checked for leaks etc, worked like a dream since.

[edit] and I run the aircon at least once a week for a while, then turn it off about 10 mins from home to dry out/have a ciggie with windows down.

Just out of curiosity, is it expensive to have the a/c serviced (repressurised and/or any leaks found)?

nialler

While you wait wishbone and it cost me about €100.

Wishbone Ash

nialler wrote:

While you wait wishbone and it cost me about €100.

Great stuff nialler. Thanks for that info.

supersaint3

TychoCaine wrote:

I've just bought one of those Comma Air Conditioning Cleaner jobbies from Halfords for €20. The S80 was on the forecourt for a few months so the A/C was a bit on the stinky side. You're supposed to have a "new car smell" within 24 hours, so I'll let you know how it works tomorrow.

Well Tycho how'd it go??

TychoCaine

Well the smell is substantially reduced, however there's a slightly sticky residue left on the hard surfaces and leather, which is going to be a PITA getting off. I'm going to have to give the whole interior a wipe down with dash & leather wipes

rebel.ranter

Forgot to mention that about the spray making a mess. The spray canister goes on the floor in the rear, make sure you pull the seat as far forward as you can, even go as far as tilting the seat back forward s it goes too. If I was doing it again I would tape a sheet of paper onto the headlining directly above where the spray is, saves cleaning up later.

Don't forget a dirty pollen filter will smell too, so change that out as well.

supersaint3

well I used the comma one from halfords last night, put a plastic bag under the can on the floor behind the passenger seat and a black bag over the seat itself, and... Nothing! The smell is still as bad this morning except for maybe a little citrus tinge at the edges...

rebel.ranter

Did you have the car running? And the fan on full speed set to the recirculate setting? With the aircon switched on?

supersaint3

rebel.ranter wrote:

Did you have the car running? And the fan on full speed set to the recirculate setting? With the aircon switched on?

YES!

rebel.ranter

? Don't know what to say!

supersaint3

rebel.ranter wrote:

? Don't know what to say!

Used Aircon from town - Maynooth this morning - I don't want to get too excited yet but no smell at all! So maybe this takes a day or two to take effect?

Mr.Diagnostic

I have used a few different one's and the one I found the best is the "Forte" brand. It is available from any Peugeot dealer.