Golf 1.8t Gti ....Bad Smell

[trish]

Hi to everyone, I was wondering if anyone could help me with a bad smell i got in my Golf, It smells like i have a tramp in my car, It only smells when i first start the car and put the blower on cold or hot and also when i first put the air con on.. The smell goes after a short period but its a bit embarrasing if i give anyone a lift upon start up.
I was advised to change the Pollen Filter, which i have done and although its a little better, still smells like the tramp has left his coat behind... LOL,
No wet coming into the car and all the carpets are dry.
Like i said its only on start-up and lasts only a few minutes.
HELP
Any Ideals!!!
Trish x

[Midon]

If it smells of bad eggs; then your catalytic converter needs looking at.!

[sherlockuk]

The user manual on my climatronic states that once a week you should put it on auto and put the temp right down to low and leave it going for a while to blow the dust and debris out, or this will get damp and nasty smells will be produced...

So perhaps u should try that regularly.. Hope that helps!

[trish]

The user manual on my climatronic states that once a week you should put it on auto and put the temp right down to low and leave it going for a while to blow the dust and debris out, or this will get damp and nasty smells will be produced...

So perhaps u should try that regularly.. Hope that helps!

Many thanks for your advise, i dont have climate control just air con which dont give me the option of putting it on auto!

[sherlockuk]

Well I suppose you could try running your A?C on max and full fan speed, would do the same thing i suppose. Also try making the flow go through all the vents, i.e. windo and floor and face wnts to clear them all..

I know my old car used to blow all sorts through, but then it did not have a pollen filter

[Edwardo_TDI]

Sounds like a dead rat in your heater matrix to me!

[trish]

Sounds like a dead rat in your heater matrix to me!

I know im a woman, but....Its definetly not that !!!!

[Edwardo_TDI]

I know im a woman, but....Its definetly not that !!!!

Haha, no worries, I only assumed that due to the "tramp-like" smell you described.

[bw10030]

Almost certainly, the bad smell is the Pollen Filter needing changing. I find that on all cars I've had (VW and non VW) the filter needs changing every two years maximum - sometimes every year. If this is the cause, the smell is most apparent when switching the a/c on (or when starting the car if it's always on). It smells really bad, like there's an old tramp in the car, as you describe.

You can replace the filter yourself (i've just done mine on a Mk5 Golf TDI), no doubt the guru's on here will tell you exactly where it is and how to do it - it took me about half an hour, and included nothing more difficlt than undoing two fingers tight screws, and sliding a plastic cover off. No special tools (or tools at all) needed.

The process is to simply renew the filter (available at the dealers or from a factors), but it pays to spray a anti-bacterial cleaner through the a/c system before replacing - nothing special here, I used a Dettol aerosol anti bacterial cleaner, about £3 for Tesco! Spray into the filter housing when the filter is out, with the a/c on low (fan speed) and allow it to recirculate through the car. The smell is caused by the bacteria which is killed by the spray.

I now have a car which, whilst not smelling of roses, does not smell of old tramps! easy fix, and less than £30!

Good luck.

[trish]

Almost certainly, the bad smell is the Pollen Filter needing changing. I find that on all cars I've had (VW and non VW) the filter needs changing every two years maximum - sometimes every year. If this is the cause, the smell is most apparent when switching the a/c on (or when starting the car if it's always on). It smells really bad, like there's an old tramp in the car, as you describe.

You can replace the filter yourself (i've just done mine on a Mk5 Golf TDI), no doubt the guru's on here will tell you exactly where it is and how to do it - it took me about half an hour, and included nothing more difficlt than undoing two fingers tight screws, and sliding a plastic cover off. No special tools (or tools at all) needed.

The process is to simply renew the filter (available at the dealers or from a factors), but it pays to spray a anti-bacterial cleaner through the a/c system before replacing - nothing special here, I used a Dettol aerosol anti bacterial cleaner, about £3 for Tesco! Spray into the filter housing when the filter is out, with the a/c on low (fan speed) and allow it to recirculate through the car. The smell is caused by the bacteria which is killed by the spray.

I now have a car which, whilst not smelling of roses, does not smell of old tramps! easy fix, and less than £30!

Good luck.

Thank you for such good advise, will without a doubt be trying that, will let you know if it works, and get rid of that tramp for good!
Once again Thankyou very much!
Trish x