How do i get rid of the smell when turning on the AC

[niteflite]

2012 3.8L sedan base trim - i bought this with around 30k miles on it a couple of months ago as CPO. When i turn the AC on i get the musky smell for the first several seconds. What do i need to replace in order to get rid of this smell? I've had cars for 40-50k, maybe even up to 100k and i didn't ever encounter that smell when turning on the AC. Is it the cabin air filter? Something else?

Thanks.k

 

[Mark_888]

2012 3.8L sedan base trim - i bought this with around 30k miles on it a couple of months ago as CPO. When i turn the AC on i get the musky smell for the first several seconds. What do i need to replace in order to get rid of this smell? I've had cars for 40-50k, maybe even up to 100k and i didn't ever encounter that smell when turning on the AC. Is it the cabin air filter? Something else?

Thanks.k

I don't recall hearing about that complaint in this forum with the Genesis. So I would definitely check the cabin filter, as they need to be replaced much more often than your engine air filter, and more often than people realize. Replacement is a little tricky, but there are other threads on the subject and also check YouTube for video's on how to replace it (assuming you don't what to take it a dealer).

 

[niteflite]

i've replaced the cabin air filter in the sonata. that was a very easy job. but i guess the genesis is a different car. but. this was a CPO. it's supposed to come with a clean or new cabin air filter.

 

[Mark_888]

...this was a CPO. it's supposed to come with a clean or new cabin air filter.

Please don't tell me you fell for that CPO inspection BS. They washed the car and gave you the extended drivetrain warranty, that's about it. Just because they were "supposed" to do it, doesn't mean they did. We are talking about a Hyundai dealer, not MB.

 

[Alwaysforward]

2012 3.8L sedan base trim - i bought this with around 30k miles on it a couple of months ago as CPO. When i turn the AC on i get the musky smell for the first several seconds. What do i need to replace in order to get rid of this smell? I've had cars for 40-50k, maybe even up to 100k and i didn't ever encounter that smell when turning on the AC. Is it the cabin air filter? Something else?

Thanks.k

Place your car on level ground. Crank your AC on high and let run for a bit. Now look under the car an make sure you see condensation dripping onto the pavement. If not, your AC drain hose is clogged and that water in the tube becomes stagnant and can begin to stink. Once unclogged, replace your cabin filter and you should be good to go.

 

[Southern Boy]

2012 3.8L sedan base trim - i bought this with around 30k miles on it a couple of months ago as CPO. When i turn the AC on i get the musky smell for the first several seconds. What do i need to replace in order to get rid of this smell? I've had cars for 40-50k, maybe even up to 100k and i didn't ever encounter that smell when turning on the AC. Is it the cabin air filter? Something else?

Thanks.k

This is what the dealers use to remove any smell from the car. http://www.premiumboatcare.com/odor-bomb-new-car.html?productid=odor-bomb-new-car&channelid=FROOG
Place the bomb in the car with the ac on max recirculation with max fan and let it go. Smell should be gone.

 

[Gunkk]

I would NOT recommend using "bomb" type products in spaces significantly smaller than what they're designed for. If they have flammable propellants like the boat-bomb, you could literally blow up your car. That bomb stuff uses butane/propane as a propellant. No bueno. http://www.robbieenterprises.com/MSDS/Odor Bomb.pdf

Instead, get some Lysol in the scent of your choice, or HVAC disinfectant spray. Open doors & windows! With the ac filter removed and AC on, recirculate on, and fan on high, spray into the intake where the filter normally is. I've done this with my wife's solara and it's worked well.

 

[Mark_888]

I think he should try the cabin filter first. There may be mold or mildew growing in the filter.

 

[mf7lakes]

Lysol will kill the mold............

 

[Ron5.0]

Definitely check your cabin filter, just because your car is a certified used car doesn't mean they changed the filter or did any service to it, all they check for is safety and other important things, a filter is not a safety issue so they don't go for that.

I bought my car with 15k as an certified used car also, but the 15k service, injectors and cabin filter were not changed on inspection. So I did it myself..

Where I'm at we offer an A/C system biocides and deodorizer with valvoline.
It's two different cans one is used as a foam up the drain hoses which cleans out the whole system and I've seen it work, and the other can is a spray can used for odor which is sprayer with the car running from the outing into the evap. I've seen customer come in with this complaint with sonatas but never a genesis. This should definelty work for you since it's only a couple seconds on start.

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[packerfan31]

2012 3.8L sedan base trim - i bought this with around 30k miles on it a couple of months ago as CPO. When i turn the AC on i get the musky smell for the first several seconds. What do i need to replace in order to get rid of this smell? I've had cars for 40-50k, maybe even up to 100k and i didn't ever encounter that smell when turning on the AC. Is it the cabin air filter? Something else?

Thanks.k

The other replies are good. Another thing to do is to turn off the air conditioner about 1/2 mile from your ending location. This will help dry off the system. It is a good practice anyway without downside and we have had good results with our vehicles doing just that.

 

[Alwaysforward]

2012 3.8L sedan base trim - i bought this with around 30k miles on it a couple of months ago as CPO. When i turn the AC on i get the musky smell for the first several seconds. What do i need to replace in order to get rid of this smell? I've had cars for 40-50k, maybe even up to 100k and i didn't ever encounter that smell when turning on the AC. Is it the cabin air filter? Something else?

Thanks.k

How did you make out? Did you get rid of the smell?

 

[niteflite]

well, sounds like i should go buy a cabin air filter. i see four different brands at advance auto parts. which does the majority of the people here recommend?


Purolator Cabin Air Filter

Beck/Arnley Paper Cabin Air Filter

Fram Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter, Height - 1.18 in.

Denso Cabin Air Filter - Particulate - Electrostatic

OR. i can go on ebay and look for hyundao oem.

 

[niteflite]

Please don't tell me you fell for that CPO inspection BS. They washed the car and gave you the extended drivetrain warranty, that's about it. Just because they were "supposed" to do it, doesn't mean they did. We are talking about a Hyundai dealer, not MB.

i didn't fully fall for it but i guess in some ways i did. i looked at their CPO checklist and it had "check/replace cabin air filter" (or something alone those lines) checked off. i actually wound up calling hyundai consumer affairs about a couple of different matters and they basically said dealerships are independently owned and they can't do anything about it. so a bad review for this particular dealership went on angiest list and yelp authored by me. more are to come....

the car itself fundamentally is solid. drives great, getting good real MPG - got 22.1 rather than the 22.7 the trip computer said i got on my last tank. looks great.

 

[Mark_888]

i didn't fully fall for it but i guess in some ways i did. i looked at their CPO checklist and it had "check/replace cabin air filter" (or something alone those lines) checked off. i actually wound up calling hyundai consumer affairs about a couple of different matters and they basically said dealerships are independently owned and they can't do anything about it. so a bad review for this particular dealership went on angiest list and yelp authored by me. more are to come....

the car itself fundamentally is solid. drives great, getting good real MPG - got 22.1 rather than the 22.7 the trip computer said i got on my last tank. looks great.

Having read this forum a long time, you are not the only one that has discovered that Hyundai dealers don't actually do the things on the checklist. It has been reported many, many times on this forum that dealers don't do them. So you are not alone.

 

[Mark_888]

well, sounds like i should go buy a cabin air filter. i see four different brands at advance auto parts. which does the majority of the people here recommend?


Purolator Cabin Air Filter

Beck/Arnley Paper Cabin Air Filter

Fram Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter, Height - 1.18 in.

Denso Cabin Air Filter - Particulate - Electrostatic

OR. i can go on ebay and look for hyundao oem.

What about an OEM filter at a dealer parts department? There are also online dealers who sell the OEM ones.

You might want to search this forum about the other filters to see if someone has tried them.

 

[Ron5.0]

You can go oem, your best bet but I've heard of an aftermarket filter that uses a charcoal film on the filter, those seem best.

Don't know brand or where to find, I've seen them on customer cars and only heard good from them, I'll ask a customer next time I see one

 

[jolind72]

I am having same or similar issue w/ 2012 Genesis. Currently have 48k miles. Always happens during cold starts. Smells like a gas/fumes coming out of the vents. Went to the dealer to have it checked out. They recommended 'fuel induction' service for $180. Never had any other issues so I've decided to go for it. Service person told me there was a lot of build up and was able to clean it out. I am not an mechanic but I can tell it really helped BUT the smell didn't go away completely. Went back to the dealer but they say they could not duplicate it. Now I use AC with 'recycle' button always on. My air and cabin filters are brand new. I replace them myself. Now I started to use 'fuel injection cleanser/additive' that you can buy from any auto parts places. Smell only happens so spradically that even I cannot tell what might be causing it. I would appreciate any feedback if anyone might have a same issue. Only interested in serious replies.

 

[Ron5.0]

I am having same or similar issue w/ 2012 Genesis. Currently have 48k miles. Always happens during cold starts. Smells like a gas/fumes coming out of the vents. Went to the dealer to have it checked out. They recommended 'fuel induction' service for $180. Never had any other issues so I've decided to go for it. Service person told me there was a lot of build up and was able to clean it out. I am not an mechanic but I can tell it really helped BUT the smell didn't go away completely. Went back to the dealer but they say they could not duplicate it. Now I use AC with 'recycle' button always on. My air and cabin filters are brand new. I replace them myself. Now I started to use 'fuel injection cleanser/additive' that you can buy from any auto parts places. Smell only happens so spradically that even I cannot tell what might be causing it. I would appreciate any feedback if anyone might have a same issue. Only interested in serious replies.

The only way for your to get fumes smell inside is if something is leaking in the engine compartment, could be oil onto exhaust, engine could be over filled with oil and kick up into the intake and the AC picks it up. Could be a lot of things.
But a fuel induction service is never going to fix that problem, yes fuel induction work awesome but not related. This dealer you went to did offer you an AC system deodorizer or biocides ?

Really weird that you have to recycle air on and you smell fumes. Hard to believe but could be something in your hvac box. Do you leak water with the AC on?

 

[Mark_888]

I am having same or similar issue w/ 2012 Genesis. Currently have 48k miles. Always happens during cold starts. Smells like a gas/fumes coming out of the vents. Went to the dealer to have it checked out. They recommended 'fuel induction' service for $180. Never had any other issues so I've decided to go for it. Service person told me there was a lot of build up and was able to clean it out. I am not an mechanic but I can tell it really helped BUT the smell didn't go away completely. Went back to the dealer but they say they could not duplicate it. Now I use AC with 'recycle' button always on. My air and cabin filters are brand new. I replace them myself. Now I started to use 'fuel injection cleanser/additive' that you can buy from any auto parts places. Smell only happens so spradically that even I cannot tell what might be causing it. I would appreciate any feedback if anyone might have a same issue. Only interested in serious replies.

I don't think the mildew problem reported by OP is related to smell of gas in the cabin. A lot of people on this forum have experienced the gas fumes, including myself, although it doesn't happen very often anymore. I try not to overfill my gas tank or even wait until the pump auto-shutoff kicks in.

I use Chevron Fuel Injector Cleaner with Techron on a regular basis. This is the exact same stuff sold by Hyundai dealers with Hyundai label on it. I think it would be best to try and use this product instead of the dealer doing it at rip-off prices. I could be wrong, but I doubt that any fuel injector problems are related to gas fumes.