I have something thats bothering me since I only have <1k miles on my RA, and it's this :

I always turn on the recirculating air button on AC controls, since I never like to let in outside air.
Now, when I have the A/C on, it keeps the air inside the car nice and clean, and fresh. So that's nice

But, when I turn the A/C off and leave recirculating air "on", the inside of the car starts smelling, how to say, 'not fresh'. how can I describe it.... it kind of kills the "new car smell"

What do I need to do to get the recirculating air to smell good? Stick some wood chips in the airbox? is there some aftermarket thing that I can use? someone help, this is driving me crazy !

Where does have the air filters at? Maybe I can cut up some "Little Trees" Air Freshners and stick them in there so my regular (non A/C) air smells good!

09 Silver Ralliart

 

Is it a burning smell or like a rubber smell?

 

As long as it's not a burning or chemical smell, it sounds like the normal nasty smell when you turn the AC off. I don't know what causes it, but it is indeed common.

 

His question is how he can make it smell better. not if the stinky smell is normal or not. A few air freshners under the seats work, and you don't have them dangling around. I'm not sure where theair filter is for the interior HVAC system.

 

there should be some kind of a/c treatment for that, maybe the dealer has one ? is it like a musty smell? I used to perform a/c treatment's for musty smell when i worked at a dealer (non-mitsu tho)

 

What you're smelling is the air picking up all the yucky plastic and metal smells from being recirculated through the plenum. Your car has a cabin air filter (I think), use it and let in some outside air.

You could also try a charcoal cabin air filter, but I doubt it'll help much.

 

charcoal cabin air filter? that sounds good, but where do pick one up? . yeah that is the smell, its the yucky plastic smells from the recirculation.

it smells musty, and not so good. is there any way to get access to the plenum and put some little trees in there/or one of those famous squash air freshners? anyone know?

otter : i dont know if RAs have cabin air filters, since when I put it to outside air, i got behind a truck and all the burned diesel smell sneaked into the cabin, i had to open the windows right away !

 

First off do not even think of putting anything in the airbox.

The car is new, sometimes you get odors from the engine burning off. Seems the car is too new to have mold build up in the AC system but you never know.

One thing the dealer can do is run a deordorizer through the AC system.

Changing out air filters, prob will do nothing since they are new.