AC smells like fish when starting up

[blackbeasst]

i drive 75 miles round trip per day to work so i never use the AC on the ride, but when i turn it on after sitting all day on the trip home the first 30 seconds the smell that comes out smells like fish or wet dog or something.

any thoughts as the car isn't even a year old?

 

[triangles]

Likely the reason it stinks is because when you just shut it off the car with the AC on your evaporator is wet from condensation. Letting something wet sit in a warm environment tends to promote stinky things growing. If you turn off the AC while leaving the blower going on high before arriving at your destination, it has a chance to dry out the moisture on the evaporator so things don't get stinky.

 

[focussed]

i drive 75 miles round trip per day to work so i never use the AC on the ride, but when i turn it on after sitting all day on the trip home the first 30 seconds the smell that comes out smells like fish or wet dog or something.

any thoughts as the car isn't even a year old?

This is typical with any car. A/C condensation produces stagnant water that can smell first few seconds if the water is allowed to sit. If you use AC continuously, the water buildup doesn't get too bad. This topic is extensively discussed on http://community.cartalk.com forums -

 

[NightHawk]

I've been using a small air freshener stick plugged into one of the front air vents.

 

[WattsUp]

What kind of fish?

 

[blackbeasst]

What kind of fish?

wrank :lol: