MaryJo Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 When the heater is first turned on we get an obnoxious smell variously described by us as 'rubber and water' or 'fishy' or 'almost bad eggs'. Someone suggested this was a product of bacterial buildup somewhere in the heating system. Does anyone have any comments and, most importantly, can anyone please suggest a solution for this unpleasant problem. Thanks in advance for any help. Gogirl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Halfords etc sell a canister that you let off in the car and this temporarily kills it all off. I've not tried it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Hi Gogirl, Do you have air blowers, climate control or aircon? Anyway, sounds like the system needs a clean out. The stealers can do this for you - for a price. You might have a leak somewhere on the system which is pulling the smell in - sounds like the radiator fluid and water which has this nasty smell (used to happed on the wifes old golf). How long is it since the air filter and radiator fluid were changed? I bet it is probably brown inside the radiator and smells the same as the smell you have in the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Air con can do this, especially if not used often. I think its condensation that lies in the pipes and goes "off" a bit. Then next time you switch on you get a musty smell till it clears. My A3 used to do this. Try leaving the air con on all the time, even when not actually using it to cool, you may find it lessens the effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chandler2411 Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 i have the same problem in the b6 s4 avant.... i've only had it since 1st april... something tells me it shouldn't be smelling like this if the dealership "prepare" the vehicle to audi standards before letting it off the forecourt... in my previous s3, the smell upon starting the car was of cholrine "watery" and of mild must "dusty" which would weaken over time but the s4 has a certain eggy quality that seems to be hanging around... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Idea - but never tried - how about spraying some anti-baterial spray through the air ducts or even febreze? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 I tend only use my aircon when it is hot and sunny (so about twice a year up here then ). When I do use it there is always a funny smell at first but more so when I turn if off (a sort of damp musty smell). Within minutes though it's back to normal. Can't say it's ever smelt of fish though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 It says in the manual to keep the aircon on every day, to stop it smelling.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a4tdi130 Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 I had the same problem in my last car, they again said "you should always leave the air-con on". So - why do they fit a bloody off switch to them then Anyway, they were able to put some lemon smelling anti bacterial stuff through the system, took about half an hour and cost under £100. Was a Jaguar rather than Audi, but I would have thought they could so something similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yen77 Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 perhaps the best thing is to try not to let a smelly one go just before you switch off the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownswood Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 my car sometimes has a smell like this when i get in it first and its strange cos i keep it so clean but i too never use the climate control unless totally neccassary, its mostly only ever used in ECO, i think ill try using it a little more and see what happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Car smells nice but fuel consumption increases. Doh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 I leave mine on air con permanently. I've tried switching it off, but the effect on fuel consumption seems negligable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timascherl Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 If you car is under warranty and you push for it most dealers will clean the aircon system and get rid of the bacteria that causes the smell free of charge Somebody told me if you switch your air con off a few minutes before you come to a stop and switch the engine off it gives the condensor a chance to dry out and you don't get the mould and bacteria building up which causes the smell. Leaving your aircon on all the time will not cure it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPLiiX Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 I have tried that can you get from Halfords as someone else said on here and I did not buy it from Halfords but it does work!! It's easy to use to - just read the instructions! Well worth the try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Like I said before - leave the aircon on all the time. That's what it is for. Even the stealer says you should switch it on every day to stop it smelling! I won't tell you again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El_Dingo Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Check for a badly fitted or missing cover over the cabin filter. In older A4's this is part of the nearside scuttle cover at the base of the windscreen - you have to remove the wiper arm to remove it. (I don't know if this applies to new A4 yet ) This is a classic VAG design fault and affects VW's and Seats too. Rain water can get into the cabin filter and stinks like hell if not attended to. Water in the passenger footwell, or a wet carpet are a sure sign! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted April 21, 2005 Report Share Posted April 21, 2005 Exactly what used to happen on my Msrk III golf.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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