With the hot weather in Queensland, your air conditioning system in your car is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Even on the rare cold mornings in winter, turning on the heater can instantly make driving that much more pleasant. But have you ever turned on your AC only to be hit in the face by a bad smell?

What causes the car AC to smell funky and how do I get it smelling fresh again?

1) Mould and mildew

As the air conditioning unit dries the moist air in your car, water forms and that moisture has to go somewhere. The water drops form on the evaporator and run out to the drainpipe outside. Those water drops create a damp environment, which is perfect for breeding mildew! As mildew builds up and air passes it out of your air vents, it brings with it a funky smell.

How to fix it: You can eliminate any build-up of mould or mildew by spraying mildew and mould cleaner into your air vents.  Another way to combat this is to turn off your air con a few minutes before turning off your car to ensure that you draw in fresh air instead of recirculating air in the cabin. By doing this, any build-up of moisture will be expelled.

2) Dirty filter

Air conditioning units have a filter to remove allergens such as dust and pollen from the air. This filter also captures moisture, which in turn breeds bacteria. If you’re turning on the heater, a dirty filter can often lead to a burning smell as it burns away the dirt and dust that it has accumulated.

How to fix it: If your AC smells funky, then it might be time to change the filter. This is generally a simple and inexpensive fix to that bad smell.

3) Fuel leak

If you are smelling petrol in your car right after turning on your AC, it’s usually an indication of a fuel leak. The smells are sucked up and blown right into the cabin of the vehicle by passing through the AC vents.

How to fix it: If you are inhaling petrol fumes, it can be dangerous for your health. You should take your car to the mechanic as soon as you can to get it checked.

If your car’s AC smells funky and you can’t get rid of it, an air conditioning mechanic such as Auto Leaders can service your air con, change any filters and get it blasting fresh cool air in no time!