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MG MGB Technical - OT: Renault Espace air conditioning

Sorry to ask an off topic question but there are people with all sorts of experience!

Our Espace III has a pretty powerful air condioning system but smells extremely musty. What should I be looking for to try to get rid of the smell? I suspect condensed water from the atmosphere is collecting somewhere and getting mouldy.

I'd be grateful for any ideas (except for use the MGB and make six trips!).

Mike
Mike Standring

Mike,

On your MGB there is a drain tube, from the air box in front of the screen, that comes out under the can and get blocked. Your a/c system will have a simmilar tube so as to drain the water that condenses when the air is cooled. Check it out. You may have some rubbish in the bottom of the relevant chamber which is acting as a sponge.

David
David Witham

Yes, and maybe ask at a big accessory store or the main agent as I'm sure I've seen some sort of deodorizer/disinfectant for use with air cons. Rich.

Rich

Also helps to change the pollen and air filters. This smell often happens when the Aircon has not been used for a long period, it should be used regularly even in winter so that the system never builds up condensation.

It can be a pretty horrible smell.
dominic clancy

Mike
I agree with David. I had a new Toyota Camry that did the same thing. The drain hose was crimped under the carpet. Opened that up and the smell disappeared.
RM Taylor

A good trick with air con is to run it with the heater at full blast for 1/2 hour or so. This dries out the air circuit and puts the moulds back into hibernation. Clearyl you try to choose a cool day for this piece of violence.
S Best

I remember hearing the guys on Car Talk recommend spraying a bunch of Lysol in the system. Make sure to get the kind that kills molds and whatnot. If you can, spray it directly into the air intake for the A/C while it's running, and you'll kill everything. The car will smell a little ... flowery ... for a while after, but that's way better than musty.
Chris St. Pierre

Mike:

The Lysol is a good idea but first it will be necessary to make certain that condensation can drain freely or you'll just continue to grow unwanted cultures. I'd find the drain and confirm that it's clear.

Jack
J.C. Weidner

Well, Gentelmen, I´ve been under the Espace and there's nothing resembling that somewhat phallic tube that we have on the MGB. No drains or anything that looked similar. (I did discover an unpleasant patch of rust on the front subframe which is good to catch now.)

Anyway, I will try S Best's method of running it at full power with full heat. The trouble is, we've got 30° plus here at the moment!

What is Lysol please?

Thanks, everyone, for your help

Mike
Mike Standring

Brilliant! I've just taken my daughter to Tennis and sweated away for half an hour or so. When I went to pick her up again, there was no smell at all. The air conditioning is like new.

Many thanks again for your help, must get round to sorting that rusty bit out now.

Mike
Mike Standring

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2005 and 28/05/2005

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