Hello!

 

This is not the usual AC smell because with the AC off and also the ventilation off completely I still get the smell in the cabin when I start moving. When I stand still with car turned on there is nothing. But as soon as I start moving the smell comes up. It also comes up when ventilation is turned on of course, regardless of moving.

It then disappears in a few minutes.

 

What could that be?

The same ducts are used whether the ac is on or not.  Sounds like a system clean is needed.

12 hours ago, Moshi said:

Hello!

 

This is not the usual AC smell because with the AC off and also the ventilation off completely I still get the smell in the cabin when I start moving. When I stand still with car turned on there is nothing. But as soon as I start moving the smell comes up. It also comes up when ventilation is turned on of course, regardless of moving.

It then disappears in a few minutes.

 

What could that be?

 

A dead opossum stuck in the vent? 

When did you have your vent filters last changed?

Has anyone smoked in the car?

No smoking in the car. No dead animals.

Filters have not been changed in the last 20 months. So I guess I'll start there.

 

It's just wierd to me that everything is turned off (ac and ventilation) and there is no smell. But when I start moving it's like the smell comes from the vents even though nothing should be coming from the vents.

1 hour ago, Moshi said:

No smoking in the car. No dead animals.

Filters have not been changed in the last 20 months. So I guess I'll start there.

 

It's just wierd to me that everything is turned off (ac and ventilation) and there is no smell. But when I start moving it's like the smell comes from the vents even though nothing should be coming from the vents.

 

The smell comes from vents even if the vent is not on?

Can you describe this smell or do you know how slipping clutch smells?

So you need to clean the system with a system cleaner.

Bombs (non destructive....)available to do this & sprays and all kinds of products, and obviously the new Pollen / Cabin Filter, but clean / wash the area of that as well/

1 hour ago, alf.onso said:

 

The smell comes from vents even if the vent is not on?

Can you describe this smell or do you know how slipping clutch smells?

 

Yes.

 

Hmmmm... I did have problems with the clutch slipping in the winter and spring (car shaking when driving off in 1st gear) but that somehow disappeared come summer. Interesting. Could it be the clutch? Everything is fine now though.

Edit: It smells in between something burnt and something rotten.

Edited 29 July, 20187 yr by Moshi

42 minutes ago, Moshi said:

Hmmmm... I did have problems with the clutch slipping in the winter and spring (car shaking when driving off in 1st gear) but that somehow disappeared come summer. Interesting. Could it be the clutch? Everything is fine now though.

Edit: It smells in between something burnt and something rotten.

 

It's hard to describe how slipping clutch smells but it definately has a hint of something chemica/electrical burning. It's a "sharp" smell.

The rotten smell kinda hints that it could be bacterial so filter change and system cleaner would be in order as @Offski recomended but all the conditions you described makes me think of clutch. 

 

1. Manual or DSG?

2. Year?

3. If you let go glutch pedal slowly, do you feel a slight jerking/vibration with your leg?

4. When clutch was slipping in the winter/spring, did it happen only with first start or every time you took off?

 

Clutch preblems never get fixed by itself and it can couse more problems when left untreated. 

 

1. Manual 1.4 TSI 110 kW

 

2. 2016 (made in november 2015)

 

3. No.

 

4. Pretty much every time I took off.

 

This clutch worries me right now then...

13 minutes ago, Moshi said:

1. Manual 1.4 TSI 110 kW

 

2. 2016 (made in november 2015)

 

3. No.

 

4. Pretty much every time I took off.

 

This clutch worries me right now then...

 

I aint no mechanican but your description makes me feel there could be contamination of oil on your clutch friction disc.

Maybe some folks here could give you better explonation or ideas but I would get someone to check up your car asap. If you have oil contamination, then it will mess up your entire clutch assembly. 

There is no mention of how many miles / km the car has done. How many in the past 20 months since the Cabin Filter change.

EDIT,  Or is the car 20 months old and on Variable Servicing and getting the Cabin / Pollen filter replaced at the first service?

How or where it is used, ie what country, long or short journeys.

 

Could it be a catalytic converter smell, or just the air intake system, maybe keep the A/C on.

 

As it is have a technician or mechanic check it out just in case a drive belt issue, or the clutch.

Edited 29 July, 20187 yr by Offski

Overthinking methinks 

 

When the car moves, air still moves through the ventilation system due to ram air effect, so turn off fans at speed, youll still get a breeze coming through.

 

Mould etc is the smelliest with the lowest of air flows because its most concentrated.

 

Bomb it!

Bomb it for a fiver

 

3 hours ago, Offski said:

There is no mention of how many miles / km the car has done. How many in the past 20 months since the Cabin Filter change.

EDIT,  Or is the car 20 months old and on Variable Servicing and getting the Cabin / Pollen filter replaced at the first service?

How or where it is used, ie what country, long or short journeys.

 

Could it be a catalytic converter smell, or just the air intake system, maybe keep the A/C on.

 

As it is have a technician or mechanic check it out just in case a drive belt issue, or the clutch.

 

Car has 39.000 km. It has done 2 services so far and cabin filter was not changed yet. 

Was that some Dealership not servicing to Manufacturers Guidelines then?

What country are you in?

 

This is often an issue. 

In the UK Dealers Service Desk Staff Upsell and tell owners A/C servicing required at 2 years, or 2nd Fixed Service or 1st Variable Service.

They offer a freshen up / clean up of the system.   For money obviously.

 

Special Summer Offer as well.....  

Edited 29 July, 20187 yr by Offski

Either run your AC all the time or leave it off all the time. If I run it intermittently and don't let everything dry out I always get a musty smell for a while but it will go away as long as you don't run the AC.

 

Running the AC constantly ensures the temperatures are cold enough to not get that musty horrible smell.

 

 

16 hours ago, SuperbTWM said:

Either run your AC all the time or leave it off all the time. If I run it intermittently and don't let everything dry out I always get a musty smell for a while but it will go away as long as you don't run the AC.

 

Running the AC constantly ensures the temperatures are cold enough to not get that musty horrible smell.

 

 

I am guilty of this as well... In the afternoon when I am driving home I rather turn off AC and ventilation and pull down the windows and cruise that way. 

Just had the aircon service done on my Superb II, it was still working well before but wow - just about freezes my hands to the steering wheel now and it all smells rather nice. Worth doing I'd say.  The pollen filter was changed as part of the normal service as well.

Edited 30 July, 20187 yr by bigjohn

Yep air con should be used all the time as the aircon gas also acts as a lubricant for all the rubber seals in all pipework etc. When not used these seals dry out and become brittle and leak gas.  When i worked at skoda and all customers used to come in when weathee got warmer and complained their air con had stopped working is because they never use it.  Aircon can be used with temp in hot setting too and is a dehumidified so is just as important in wet winters, demisting screen and taking moisture out of car.   Not saying u need it on everyday (however i do myself and never had any problems with my ac)  but even a few times a week helps.  

My 2p worth....for those that don't know why it smells.....

 

Using a/c causes water to condense on the evaporator fins which becomes saturated. Excess water drains off but any bacteria/fungus riding on detritus, (typically dust, shed skin etc drawn in on recirc) is drawn through and sticks on the wet evaporator fins. If the a/c is on permanently it eventually builds up. While the a/c continues to work its too cold for the bacteria/fungus to grow so no smell. When the a/c is turned off, the damp crud ferments/becomes active, hence starts to smell until when (if) it dries out completely and without water it becomes inactive until the a/c is turned on again to feed it more water.

 

Turning off the a/c several minutes before you switch the engine off, and turning the fan setting up to high, helps to dry the evaporator and blow its surfaces clean (provided too much stuff hasn't built up and established itself permanently) , stopping or at least delaying the day when the smells begin.

 

 

 

My AC was getting a bit whiffy- only on startup then it went away after a few seconds.  It really stank though, like wet dog or rotten socks   

 

Tried one of those bombs but didnt work.

 

Someone gave me a bit of advice which seems to work - turn the a/c off, crank up the heat full blast on the normal fan and drive round for about half an hour.  Might need to open all the windows at this time of year as the car ends up like a sauna!  This dries the system out and gets rid of any damp mouldy stuff that's causing the smell.

 

This works- but I've had to do it a few times when the smell threatens to come back.

 

Interestingly, I was on holiday last month in France and the smell completely disappeared.  When I came back to the UK it returned slightly.  I think this was due to me doing very long drives (4/5 hours at a time with aircon down to its lowest setting all that time), but now I'm home my drives are much shorter and the damp stuff returns without getting properly blasted.

 

Either that or the UK is just stinky.    

 

On 29/07/2018 at 23:00, SuperbTWM said:

Either run your AC all the time or leave it off all the time. If I run it intermittently and don't let everything dry out I always get a musty smell for a while but it will go away as long as you don't run the AC.

 

Running the AC constantly ensures the temperatures are cold enough to not get that musty horrible smell.

 

 

I ran my aircon constantly but the smell appeared.

If you use a bomb, remove the pollen filter, spray detail up to intake and wait 15 minutes. Put a new pollen filter in (after a wipe dry on the housing).

 

Run the system and the bomb after this.

 

 

2 hours ago, cheezemonkhai said:

If you use a bomb, remove the pollen filter, spray detail up to intake and wait 15 minutes. Put a new pollen filter in (after a wipe dry on the housing).

 

Run the system and the bomb after this.

 

 

Tried to remove the pollen filter but found it impossible to get the cover off.

No need to remove the pollen filter! Close all windows, turn on engine, set Temp to LO, set a/c to recirc, max fan speed, AC OFF (compressor off). Place bomb in passenger footwell aiming upwards toward the recirc inlet. Set it off, close all doors and let it do its job (5 - 10 mins)

 

The antibac spray does not go through the pollen fillen, just recircs.

Yes but I suggested it as they can get quite manky and I found a bit of detail in that area got rid of the lingering smell on the mk2.