Hi guys,

 

I have searched the forum for answers and cant find any reference to this so apologies if it is answered already in another thread.

 

I have a soon to be 4 year old Superb III and the air con is functioning really well in that it does push out cold air when required.

 

The issue I have is that it is now being accompanied by a foul smell best described as being a bit "sour".  The sour smell also lingers for a while when the Air Con is turned off.

Has anyone else had this issue and how can i resolve it ?  I am sure it is not unique to Skoda.

 

Thanks.

Was the pollen filter changed at 2 years and the area cleaned/washed/ disinfected, then the same again now or are you waiting until 4 years since the car was first registered? 

 

2 years is just a recommendation or guideline on when they should be replaced, they can be checked any place, checked for being dry and clean. 

It will be mould/bacteria smell, when operating AC water will condense (so check the AC drains)

 

Check/change cabin filter as mentioned by @roottoot

 

I myself leave AC on all the year round, never get any smells, so might be worth leaving it running.

 

You might want to look at getting some AC cleaning product, and using that.

 

Example here, and read how it is used.

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/autoglym-aircon-sanitizer

 

Edited 3 November, 20223 yr by varooom
Spellink

I also had the same problem after a few years, just stale bacteria in the AC system.  I run an AC deodoriser spray but as I didn’t replace the pollen filter at the same time the smell lingered.

 

So I removed the pollen filter and used a Maguires product, installed a new pollen filter and the car smells super fresh again.

Watch this

 

I’ve personally used the ac bomb, but next time I’ll follow this video

 

Also get a new pollen filter, the Mann one which has the charcoal etc

 

What he does is done on an octavia but I’m sure that pipe is present on the superb too 

 

Edited 3 November, 20223 yr by Danoid

42 minutes ago, JimDoc said:

Has anyone else had this issue and how can i resolve it ?

As per others in this thread, a/c cleaner and a fresh pollen filter, then actually use the a/c.

Also don't be tempted by a cheap pollen filter, OEM or charcoal activated are best.

Had this problem early summer this year. Tried the 'Bomb' method but other than making the car stink for a couple of weeks ( some people like the supposed 'new car smell' but I don't - I have a problem with Fabreeze also...puke. ), the underlying smell of sour feet remained. Root cause was stale water trapped in the A/C system somewhere.

 

Cure for that was to take a good run out for 1/2 hr or so with A/C on MAX, ie max temp & max blower. Probably need your windows open for this as it gets very hot. This evaporated the water in the system and is now smells good as new. The earlier Bomb probably helped as well but was not a one-stop fix.

Simple answer is don’t turn it off, it is ducted air, bacteria won’t get a chance to grow if regularly being used.

 

 

5 hours ago, SurreyJohn said:

Simple answer is don’t turn it off, it is ducted air, bacteria won’t get a chance to grow if regularly being used.

 

 

Simple and perfect answer that no one seems to grasp. Its air conditioning not air cooling. It may also cool the air but its main job is to dry/filter/cool the air. It doesnt have to have an effect on temperature in the cabin but it will always effect air pollution and humidity levels in the cabin.

Leave it on all year round, forget about it.