11th gen Civic AC Smell

[Jaded8]

Anyone having a weird ac smell in their new civic? I thought it would go away but it still randomly occurs. My car is at 3.5k miles now.

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[TypeRD]

Check the cabin air filter? Seems early for it to go bad so soon, but it’s possible.

 

[Shankmeyster]

I've seen dirty cabin filters on brand new cars. Check it.

 

[madbikes]

There are products that can deodorize the A/C vent. You remove the A/C filter, turn the fan on, then spray the product from where the system draw fresh air inside the car.

It is a little early for A/C odor, but check the A/C filter first.

 

[TDC50]

Maybe Im way off with this suggestion but any chance you are using the washer fluid on the windshield when u get the weird smell? I noticed the washer fluid has a strong odor and if ventilation is on it quickly directs it to the cabin.

 

[Jaded8]

Thank you! I’ll check out the cabin filter. The smell
happens randomly when driving and only when the internal circulation button is turned off. Smells like something burnt maybe rubber.

 

[CTR]

I've considered making a thread about it but I've noticed a coolant smell through the vents when the blowers are on floor or floor/upper vents. Someone else mentioned this in their 11th gen Civic when I did some research and they said it went away over time.

My theory:
The coolant overflow is pressurized in this car and mine might be overfilled. I think that during PDI they might have topped it off too much since it's pretty hard to see the MAX line on the overflow tank. When the car reaches operating temperature it could be venting the extra coolant in the form of vapor which is right in front of the cowl/cabin air filter. You get a slight smell of coolant but then it goes away very quickly once the system reaches a stable temperature. At first I was concerned about a leaking heater core but I think that would be constant once the car is warmed up.

It seems to be getting better so I'm not that concerned about it. Maybe the level on the overflow is getting lower so it's not venting as much? Maybe there is a component in the HVAC system that smells a lot like coolant or burning rubber during break in?

 

[jonnys_honda]

Maybe Im way off with this suggestion but any chance you are using the washer fluid on the windshield when u get the weird smell? I noticed the washer fluid has a strong odor and if ventilation is on it quickly directs it to the cabin.

This was it for mine! Got a bottle of RainX. The orange stuff stinks!

 

[cryptolime]

it's probably just off-gassing from manufacturing. i doubt you'd have mold growing yet with so few miles. mine had and still does have that "new car" smell but it's slowly going away. it will probably go away in the summer when it gets hot.

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