A/C filter....

[BenGieCruz]

does anybody have DIY on how to change this?
is it hard?

any input would be appreciated

bengie

[BenGieCruz]

bump!

[Tiesto]

Why do you need to change it so soon?

BTW: It's pretty pointless to bump a thead after only a half hour...

[TSlice]

Open your hood. On the passenger side, and close to your firewall is a black plastic cover secured by a strip of rubber weather stripping. Pull the weather stripping up enough so that you can pull the plastic cover off. You can then get at the air filter, it should be pretty self explanatory from there.

[BenGieCruz]

Why do you need to change it so soon?

BTW: It's pretty pointless to bump a thead after only a half hour...

gotcha, i bumped cuz i was tring to get it out before the sun goes down.

anyway remember how everyones AC had the fugly smell , well mine too, so I irdered a new filter and had it mailed cuz the closest dealer from here is almost 4 hours away.....

i appreciatte the help thou!!!

bengie

[Tiesto]

I never had to replace the filter on my 04 Camry and it smells fine, why is this one going bad so fast?

[BenGieCruz]

jeje cuz theyre too sensitive I guess, i had a 04 beetle and ac never smelled either, my wifeys corolla doesn't smell either......

i guess is just an audi thing, probably the hot weather or something i don't know...

there was a thread a few weeks ago (2 if i recall) and a lot of people AC's were smellin'

[4-tified]

jeje cuz theyre too sensitive I guess, i had a 04 beetle and ac never smelled either, my wifeys corolla doesn't smell either......

i guess is just an audi thing, probably the hot weather or something i don't know...

there was a thread a few weeks ago (2 if i recall) and a lot of people AC's were smellin'

My AC smells too even after not running for about a week.
But, I dont' think it's the cabin filter. If it were it would smell no matter if you want AC, hot/warm air, or just open the recirc for venting. Incoming air goes through the filter anyway not just when AC is on.

I think it's problem with the placement of the evaporator just like in the E46 BMW, which got a retrofit of some kind to keep the system dry and so musty/moldy smells couldnt' grow.

This needs to be reported to Audi by anyone who has this issue so that Audi can find a permanent fix. I'm tired of smelling that nasty odor, and I don't mean the funk your friends bring on a longer trip. [:)]

[Tiesto]

Is it possible to have this covered under warrenty? I don't like what I'm reading.

I bet the techs would just claim they don't smell anything though, no way to really prove there's something wrong. [headbang]

[BenGieCruz]

I bet the techs would just claim they don't smell anything

as usual.....[down]

[Jmaak]

I replaced mine about 3 months ago, and the smell has returned. I want to get rid of the smell, but not if i have to replace the damn filter every 3 months.

[quattrosaint]

I'm a noob to the forum but this is my second Audi. Yes this is covered under warranty. I had mine changed after 4K miles when it started smelling like a highschool locker room. Audi even gave me a loaner.

[Tiesto]

I'm a noob to the forum but this is my second Audi. Yes this is covered under warranty. I had mine changed after 4K miles when it started smelling like a highschool locker room. Audi even gave me a loaner.

Awesome, thanks for letting us know! [up]

[TSlice]

It's also part of the scheduled maintenance. Take a look at your manual.

[4-tified]

I'm a noob to the forum but this is my second Audi. Yes this is covered under warranty. I had mine changed after 4K miles when it started smelling like a highschool locker room. Audi even gave me a loaner.

Your interior smelled bad even when you didn't use the AC?
I can't see a reason why the filter would make the system smell, unless the filter got contaminated by mold, but that would be rare not the common problem most people seem to complain about.
The filter is used even when the AC isn't working.

I only smell a nasty odor when I turn the AC on for the first 10 minutes.
When the AC isn't on the smell isn't there.

It's hard to pinpoint this because many people use the "auto" temp function, which actually uses the AC a lot more often than when using the HVAC system in manual mode. I don't like the "auto" HVAC systems in cars.

I still say if you smell a nasty odor when you turn on your AC, the problem is not with your filter. Those of you that use the "auto" function and have an odor, take note of when the AC compressor comes on and when you smell the odor. Again, a problem with modern HVAC systems is that they are designed to use the AC compressor even when you may not know it is being used. Many/most system now turn on the AC system whenever you select air to blow at the windshield. It's supposed to help eliminate the fog that sets in in many modern car due to how well sealed they are now a days.

[Tiesto]

So you're saying this a completely unfixable problem without somehow repleacing the compressor? [headbang]

[BenGieCruz]

i think it is not repairable, i change my filter yesterday and still smells fugly.

also when i took the old filter out it looked like brand new to me i smelled it and it didn't smell at all. so i don't really know what it is....=[

[Tiesto]

This is fucking bullshit, my brand new car that I've been working on HARD to keep the new smell in is going to smell like shit in a year? FUCK!

[barkerd427]

Mine is almost a year old with about 28000 miles on it and I don't have any kind of smell in the car. It seems like there are a lot of people with this problem though.

[BenGieCruz]

yu sir!!!!!!!

that reminds me that my car is a little over a year old......

so yeah after a year your AC's gonna smell like A$$

be advice is only for the first minute or so (after turnin' it on) jajaja LMAO

[4-tified]

So you're saying this a completely unfixable problem without somehow repleacing the compressor? [headbang]

NO NO.
The E46 3 series had a quite similar, if not the same, problem.
The issue wasn't the mechanicals of the system. The AC worked quite nicley just like in our A4's.
The problem was not in the compressor. The problem, with many cars, is the evaporator unit that gets wet, and that moisture is loved by bacteria and mold. And, where they can flourish is where you find that smell.
The evap is where the cool air comes into the cabin, and the blower air blows the cold air from the evap into the cabin.
Moisture builds in that area, especially during humid high heat days.
The condensation build up is just like your cold mug on a hot day.
The outside hot humid air condenses onto your cold mug and forms the moisture, just like in the evap unit. But, if that water isn't removed or dried, it can be a breeding bed for mold or bacteria.

Draining that moisture away is ideal or putting the evap unit in an area better suited to drying it off, can keep the smell away.
You can remove the cabin filter and spray lysol into the incoming air stream while your system is set to high blower and sucking in incoming air along with lysol or some car specific products. Those products will come in contact with the smell producing critters and clean up.
You can also spray down around the floor area where the recirc air is drawn into. You may also dry using the recirc while using this so you can get the cleaning product in there.

One other trick some say works is to turn off the AC 5 minutes before stopping and turn on the heat in the car so that the dry heat can help remove any built up condensation on the evap unit.
You can decide for yourself if that is something you want to do.
I do it sometimes when the smell gets a bit much. I'll pick a nice cooler dry day and open then windows, and turn the heat to maximum and the let the hot dry air clear out some of the smell. It works a bit, but works better with the cleansing products too.

BMW found a way to help keep the evap unit dry with a retro fit kit.
I think it was somewhat successful but not fully. Audi might look into it as well, but most manufacturers recommend the spray product trick.
It's temporary at best as the real problem is the HVAC cooling design in most cars.

[Tiesto]

Thanks but I don't want to spray Lysol/run my heater in the middle of summer, I want to kill the fucking mold and keep it from comming back.

Again if this was a common issue with all cars I wouldn't be complaining but my old Camry seems to have a better system...

Audi sure as hell better get working on a retrofit kit, if I have to deal with the smell Audi will lose serious points in my book when it comes time for another car.

[4-tified]

Thanks but I don't want to spray Lysol/run my heater in the middle of summer, I want to kill the fucking mold and keep it from comming back.

Again if this was a common issue with all cars I wouldn't be complaining but my old Camry seems to have a better system...

Audi sure as hell better get working on a retrofit kit, if I have to deal with the smell Audi will lose serious points in my book when it comes time for another car.


Well, again, if you want to kill the mold then you have to use Lysol or something like that that will kill mold. You want it to not come back just like the rest of us. However, many many modern systems have the same issue. If enough people complain to their service departments and make sure the info gets to Audi corporate, then MAYBE they'll find an answer.
Don't hold your breath though. Even the BMW "fix" wasn't 100%.

As far as your next car, you won't know if it will do the same or not, if you don't know how the HVAC system is setup and what, if any, system is in place to keep condensation and moisture from happening.

Maintenance may be the best solution here, and you can have your Audi dealer do it if you complain enough.

[BenGieCruz]

4-tified, where and how do you have to spray the lysol? imma try this to se if it works......

[4-tified]

4-tified, where and how do you have to spray the lysol? imma try this to se if it works......

I'd use a decent smelling Lysol if they have it. You could also try an auto parts store and find a spray made for this.

Open up the incoming cabin air filter area.
Remove the filter. You can also spray the filter to freshen it up.
Spray into the intake path while the HVAC system and AC are one and set to incoming air not "recirc", and turn the fan speed up to create a good suction.
You can then spray under the dash maybe near the floor where air is going back towards the evap unit, with the "recirc" on.

Please post the results.

[michpan]

I'm not sure about your area but here, you can find a special spray can for this smell. Maybe you should source it at a local auto accessories shop or something, I don't know. It's also used by car cleaning shops. This spray can has a clip that when pressed, it keeps it open (spraying) until it empties. You put it on the floor on the passenger's side and open the a/c at the lowest temperature setting and maximum fan setting. You close the car and leave it there until the can empties. This should take care of any bacteria or smell.

I've done this recently and the a/c is smell-free now. Alternatively, there's a special foam you can use but the solution I described above is the best..


Michael

[BenGieCruz]

michpan & 4-tified, thanks 4 your input, i will try it this weekend and let you guys know the results...

bengie

[Six Speed Turbo]

It can be fixed, I took my car to Audi and had them check the filter. Mine was the filter giving off a nasty smell so I had them replace the filter. It has been 6 months now and still no odor. Some people have changed their filters with no sucsess. Maybe it is not (your) filter, I don't know what else it could be but if you have a dealer available I would use them to find your problem.

[Sanjman]

A/C filter is all subjective to your driving habits, conditions, and weather. I BELIEVE humidity, rain, and sometimes just SH!T that has the ability to rot are the most probable causes of that bad smell. It's like how a dirty sock smells after playing football or when you leave your clothing in the laundry machine for too long (days). It's F#@Kin gross.

If you notice... there aren't many SoCal or West coast people talking on this thread because they don't experience the humidity/rain like we do. I know for a fact I have had this problem with my Toyota, Lexus, and now my Audi.

On another note, is the cabin filter the same as the A/C filter? Or are those 2 completely different parts?

[4-tified]

A/C filter is all subjective to your driving habits, conditions, and weather. I BELIEVE humidity, rain, and sometimes just SH!T that has the ability to rot are the most probable causes of that bad smell. It's like how a dirty sock smells after playing football or when you leave your clothing in the laundry machine for too long (days). It's F#@Kin gross.

If you notice... there aren't many SoCal or West coast people talking on this thread because they don't experience the humidity/rain like we do. I know for a fact I have had this problem with my Toyota, Lexus, and now my Audi.

On another note, is the cabin filter the same as the A/C filter? Or are those 2 completely different parts?

The modern "cabin filter" is a new thing. In the past there weren't filters on the HVAC system. I've never heard of an "AC" filter" in car setup.

The same filter that allows air in for the AC is the same filter that allows air in for heated air and for fresh air.

If you have a smell all the time the HVAC system is running, then it could be a smellly filter. However, if you have a smell ONLY when the AC is on, then it's a different problem.

If you suspect your cabin air filter, then simply remove it and drive without it for a while and smell if the odor goes away. If it does, then it is probably your filter. If it doesn't then try the Lysol trick. [:p]