Very bad interior odour

[KP090]

Hi guys,

I have a CLK 280 2006 plate.

My car when the blowers are on with or even without the AC gives out a very bad odour... so bad that I can even smell it on my clothes afterwards... it’s very musty.

I’ve tried the ac cleaner sprays you put on the footwell, a spray that you can spray directly into the vents, I’m having to constantly spray the carpets and use interior cleaners to mask the smell but soon as the blowers are on it’s game over again.

what could the cause be?? I was suggested that it might be a blocked evaporator drain that’s causing the bad odour? In the summer when the cars heated up by sitting in the sun the smell gets worse. I need to fix it ASAP as I’m having to go spray myself with fragrance when I get out of the car if I’m going somewhere nice lol

please help!

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Get the AC properly treated by an aircon place - even ATS or whatever. Mine stank and I had an re-gas and antibacterial cleaning treatment on a Groupon voucher, and it sorted everything out.

After the aircon treatment, the smell didn't go away straight away, it took about 1-2 weeks, now it has no smell when I turn it on/off.

 

[skippyjasper]

Also replace the cabin air filters if not done already.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[alabbasi]

You probably have mold building up on the evap or heater core. A re-gas won't help that but if you remove the cabin filters under the hood and dump a couple cans of disinfectant spray, it will. Make sure you clean out all the leaves and blow out the drain tubes also.

 

[slade1]

When fixed use the aircon all the time, I have done nothing to aircon for the past 20 years in 2 cars apart from filter changes.

 

[chrisk2010]

+1 for all of the above really Change the cabin filters have the air con serviced and depending if you have climate control there may be filter in the passenger footwell.

If you stick you VIN# up we'll be able to check that.

Here's a link that explains it

Mercedes-Benz W203 Cabin Air Filter Replacement - (2001-2007) C230, C280, C350, C240, C320 | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

 

[KP090]

You probably have mold building up on the evap or heater core. A re-gas won't help that but if you remove the cabin filters under the hood and dump a couple cans of disinfectant spray, it will. Make sure you clean out all the leaves and blow out the drain tubes also.

The smell is so bad that even without having the blower on I can still smell the musty type smell soon as you open the car door.

I’ve the filter changed under the bonnet probably less than 4K miles but I have a service due in a month or so will get it done, I did check it but it doesn’t seem dirty or dark in colour other.

I’m thinking it’s probably blocked evaporator drain that’s leaving a major build up of mould.

I’ve tried those aircon bomb cleaners you leave in the footwell and they only mask the smell for less than a month or so..

If I take out the cabin filter, is it safe to spray into the cavity where the fan etc is? The smell is so bad it lingers on clothing

 

[KP090]

Get the AC properly treated by an aircon place - even ATS or whatever. Mine stank and I had an re-gas and antibacterial cleaning treatment on a Groupon voucher, and it sorted everything out.

After the aircon treatment, the smell didn't go away straight away, it took about 1-2 weeks, now it has no smell when I turn it on/off.

Think all they really do is just use those air con spray bomb things in the footwell, they don’t really help in my case

 

[KP090]

+1 for all of the above really Change the cabin filters have the air con serviced and depending if you have climate control there may be filter in the passenger footwell.

If you stick you VIN# up we'll be able to check that.

Here's a link that explains it

Mercedes-Benz W203 Cabin Air Filter Replacement - (2001-2007) C230, C280, C350, C240, C320 | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

Thanks for the link, I have an auto button in my car but I’ll post my vin later on, I don’t have access to it at the moment

 

[chrisk2010]

Thanks for the link, I have an auto button in my car but I’ll post my vin later on, I don’t have access to it at the moment

No problem it'll only be to check the build sheet for the car to see if you have option 581.

You could check yourself if you use something like this.

Free online Mercedes-Benz VIN Decoder : MBDecoder

 

[55AMGCLK]

I cannot remember where I found this Star bulletin from now (issued in 2009) but it is applicable to the 209 model...

 

[Delderek]

A tip I read somewhere tells you to turn on the heating to full when you get out and leave running for 5 or 10 mins, for a week or so. Supposedly kills the bacteria.

 

[KP090]

No problem it'll only be to check the build sheet for the car to see if you have option 581.

You could check yourself if you use something like this.

Free online Mercedes-Benz VIN Decoder : MBDecoder

I just used the vin decoder and no option 581 appears for my car? so does that mean i dont have any filters in the passenger footwell?

I did notice a bit of damp in the footwells so ill get it booked into a garage and get them to check all the drains..

ive just sprayed some Normfest into the vents and also took off the filter in the enginge bay and while having the AC running sprayed into the fan, hopefully this keeps the smell away for a week or two till i get the garage to look at it.

Thank you

 

[chrisk2010]

I just used the vin decoder and no option 581 appears for my car? so does that mean i dont have any filters in the passenger footwell?

I did notice a bit of damp in the footwells so ill get it booked into a garage and get them to check all the drains..

ive just sprayed some Normfest into the vents and also took off the filter in the enginge bay and while having the AC running sprayed into the fan, hopefully this keeps the smell away for a week or two till i get the garage to look at it.

Thank you

Yep that means no carbon filter in the footwell they'll be just one under the bonnet above the battery.

The damp in the footwell is probably the smell the drains are under the wiper if you what to check them out. With mine i took the wheel and wheel arch liner off on the passenger side (where they drain to) and then cleared the drain out, there was loads on stuff in there even though i regularly put a hose to it.

Good luck fella hopefully you'll get this sorted soon.

 

[KP090]

Yep that means no carbon filter in the footwell they'll be just one under the bonnet above the battery.

The damp in the footwell is probably the smell the drains are under the wiper if you what to check them out. With mine i took the wheel and wheel arch liner off on the passenger side (where they drain to) and then cleared the drain out, there was loads on stuff in there even though i regularly put a hose to it.

Good luck fella hopefully you'll get this sorted soon.

thanks a lot, appreciate all the help! I’ll get the those drains checked but they don’t seem like they have anything covering them but maybe within the pipping it does?
Did you ever check your AC drain pipe?

 

[MrGreedy]

A small like this exists because the conditions exist for some rank, manky mouldy scum to live i.e. wet/damp.

All as above, in no particular order.
Make sure air con is working and used.
Drive round with the windows cracked and heater on full for a good while (winter obviously helps this for your comfort).
Check and clear all drain vents.
Change any cabin filters for new; you can get Bosch and Mann also treated with an antibacterial substance (although it sounds like you don't have one).
Make sure you don't have any other leaks allowing water in.

Just a note; you can also get aircon treatments that are an expanding and dispersing foam type. Might be a last resort into the bottom of the fan box or similar if all else has failed.

 

[optimusprime]

Cheap fix is 2 spanish onions cut in to slices on a plate put them on the floor or under the seat and forget . Or buy the Odor Bomb we used thes in second hand caravans we took on part exchange the smelled was like a brothel haha,. Did the trick its like a ratle can you pull the cap off turn it over and push it hard on to the floor then get out and shut the door.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Cheap fix is 2 spanish onions cut in to slices on a plate put them on the floor or under the seat and forget . Or buy the Odor Bomb we used thes in second hand caravans we took on part exchange the smelled was like a brothel haha,. Did the trick its like a ratle can you pull the cap off turn it over and push it hard on to the floor then get out and shut the door.

Opti...just remind us how a Brothel smells...

 

[Petrol Pete]

OP. If you have a cabin filter above your battery (if your battery is in the engine compartment) you may have an elusive drain underneath the battery that many do not realise is there. on my 2006 S203 C55 the top cover of the cabin filter has a water drain , and below the battery tray is this...



You can see the blocked drain hole at the bottom of the picture, the clear bit of pipe going through it is the battery breather hose. My car had it's original battery, so my guess is that no one has been here for a long while (replaced battery last year) I cleaned this whole area up and re sprayed the steel battery tray. I would suggest all owners of similar vintage C class (W203) have a look under there battery tray once in a while.

 

[optimusprime]

Petrol pete you know what,, i would not know .But i have smelt a few things in my life that i would relate to one.ha ha