not a pleasant smell when the heater is on

[jhan]

When I turn on the heater in the car, it smells unpleasant.. smells like a dust is building up or something like that.

I use one of those air fresheners (Air Glade?), but it starts to smell bad again when it runs out. The thing is, is this an air filter issue or do I need to do something else?

If it is air filter, then it's odd since I got it changed @ Mr. Lube 3-4 months ago.. maybe those guys just showed me the new air filter and didn't change it? I've seen one of those scams regarding Zippy Lube.

Anyways, thanks in advance.

[Rehan]

Which filter did Mr. Lube replace, the cabin air filter or the engine air filter? What kind of car is it, BTW?

[Stock R]

Mr. Lube probably changed your air filter for the engine. It has nothing to do with the air you breathe inside the car.

You might have some mold or other growing inside your air vents. Spray them down with lysol and try to clean the vents/ducts out.

[jhan]

My car is 01 Toyota Celica.. I didn't know cabin air filter thing existed, Mr. Lube just changed engine air filter.
How can I clean vents/duct effectively? Also, Lysol is the name of a spray product, right? Do I just spray it into vents?

[Atomic Chip]

Is there a dead cat or bird decomposing on top of the engine? Worth checking.

Hate it when that happens. >:(

[Rehan]

Yeah, many people don't realize that their vehicle has a cabin air filter in addition to the one for the engine. Not all have them, but some do.

This is what the one in my minivan looked like when I purchased it (2001 van purchased in 2005):
http://i10.tinypic.com/81ek1aq_th.jpg (http://i10.tinypic.com/81ek1aq.jpg)
click thumbnail for large version... a new one is white, BTW.

For your Celica, you can find the part information and replacement instructions at http://www.allergybegone.com/toyota-avalon-celica-camry-cabin-air-filter.html
(I don't know anything about that site...just found it through google.)

[jhan]

Is there a dead cat or bird decomposing on top of the engine? Worth checking.

Hate it when that happens. >:(
I actually thought about that because my friend had a dead squirrel decomposing near the engine :puke:
But it's not that, it just smells.. dusty

[jhan]

Rehan, great site! I'll definitely get the cabin filter changed soon. I wonder what it will look like :pukes again:

[Fraser River Rat]

My car is 01 Toyota Celica.. I didn't know cabin air filter thing existed, Mr. Lube just changed engine air filter.
How can I clean vents/duct effectively? Also, Lysol is the name of a spray product, right? Do I just spray it into vents?
Did the new cabin filter eliminate all of the unpleasant odours?

[kleptodathief]

mine smells pretty bad too...just use those GLADE vent freshener thingies!

esp when i go WOT i can smell something burnin! :twisted: <burnt tranny fluid is my guess>:( )

[Pete_Coach]

mine smells pretty bad too...just use those GLADE vent freshener thingies!

esp when i go WOT i can smell something burnin! :twisted: <burnt tranny fluid is my guess>:( )

So is this something like turning up the volume on the stereo when you hear strange noises from your car?
If you don't hear or smell the problems then everything is OK :cheesygri

[hytong]

there are two types, the ones with charcoal (called combi) and those without (particle only)

http://www.micronair.com/en/products/article_gase.php
http://www.micronair.com/en/products/article_feinstaub.php

and you can do a search for your vehicle here
http://www.micronair.com/en/products/search.php

[BobW]

My experience has been that a bad smell coming off of the heater is usually a sign of a leak; the smell is antifreeze (to me, smells kinda like bad fish). Heater cores are reasonably cheap..the labour to get to it to replace it is much bigger.