what is the smell every time after AC work?

fuhongl

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Every time after dealer has done AC work and recharged Freon, there is this smell in car that makes my head swirl a little.
Is that ok to ingest?
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shadekun

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I don't exactly know.. but whenever I turn on my ac and I know my car is dirty like dirt and stuff I notice it smells like feet lol
 

BogdanM

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It’s the smell of bacteria living on the AC evaporator located into the dashboard. Each time you use the AC that evaporator gets all wet (that’s where the water dripping under the car is coming from) and then remains wet after you turn off the car when reaching the destination.
Solution: clean it regularly (once a year at least) with ozone (kills the bacteria).
 
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fuhongl

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Does it have something to do with the cabin air filter?
I may have read somewhere if not clean cabin air filter, then it will smell.
 


Shankmeyster

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I replace my cabin filter every 5-10k miles. Same with my air filter. Once that smell starts it's probably time to change it.
 

Rickmeister 48

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Every time after dealer has done AC work and recharged Freon, there is this smell in car that makes my head swirl a little.
Is that ok to ingest?
I don't know, but if your getting your a.c. worked on and charged that often, something isn't right.
 

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Every time after dealer has done AC work and recharged Freon, there is this smell in car that makes my head swirl a little.
Is that ok to ingest?
NO - it is not OK .. in so many ways.
If it makes your head "swirl" it must be quite a high concentration of Refrigerant.
It potentially makes you less safe to drive, and it cannot be doing you any good.

IT also should not be leaking refrigerant !!! IT sound like you may have a leak on the Passenger side of the firewall, that should be found and stopped - both your your Health, and for your Bank account .. you don't want to have to keep going back to the Dealer , just to have the A/C recharged, because of a leak. Get the leak FIXED.
 

Slickone

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i think the OP is takling about something other than mildew, considerin it only happens when it's worked on, but if you do want to get rid of the typical mildew smell, other than just running your vent or heater to dry it, there are several different brands of spray meant just for this. BG Frigi-Fresh works well.

I replace my cabin filter every 5-10k miles. Same with my air filter. Once that smell starts it's probably time to change it.
You're wasting your time and money.
 

SC310

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I have that same weird smell after I use the windshield washer fluid. Doesn't make me light-headed, just an odd all-purpose cleaner-y type smell.
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