AC drain pipe clogged (so stinky)

[brad]

There are 2 types of cabin filter. One just does leaves & the paper is a whit-ish colour. The other removes odours & is carbon impregnated. It's a dark colour. Often the non-carbon is fitted because it is cheaper.

Also, try & get up in the cavity and wipe itr out with kitchen towel or dry rag. Possibly even take the fan motor out if it's down that way (it is on most Jap cars but Euros seem to want to make life difficult).

Make sure all the plenum area is clear of leaves. Also take off the guard liners down where the mudflaps would be & get rid of all the leaves in there.

The manual says change the cabin filter every 2 years but in AUS I reckon every 12 months. You can wash them if you're careful but it also washes all the carbon out

[Wolfgang]

Something else you can try is Einzett Air Con Treatment.

Car Care Products / Einszett 1Z / Interior / Air Freshener / Air Condition Treatment - Klima-Cleaner

There are 2 types of cabin filter. One just does leaves & the paper is a whit-ish colour. The other removes odours & is carbon impregnated. It's a dark colour. Often the non-carbon is fitted because it is cheaper.

This would explain why I'm getting fumes into my cabin after my original cabin filter was replaced last service?

[brad]

Something else you can try is Einzett Air Con Treatment.

Car Care Products / Einszett 1Z / Interior / Air Freshener / Air Condition Treatment - Klima-Cleaner




This would explain why I'm getting fumes into my cabin after my original cabin filter was replaced last service?

PAss

Pull it out & have a look.

[Lucas_R]

I wouldnt bother wasting your time/money on these deodorants/freshening sprays etc. My A/C developed this horrible stench a few months ago and i tried several air freshening sprays i had at home (Glen 20 and Febreeze type things) and also removed the cabin filter, vacuumed the leaves and crap out of it and re-installed it. The filter itself stank. It was time for a new filter.

VW wanted $46 for one, so i looked online and found a UK ebay seller (an Audi Dealership over these) selling them for approx $25 incl international shipping. Audi Pollen Filter 1K2819653B A3 TT 2004 Bnib | eBay

Filter replaced, stench gone immediately.

[deeps]

I feel the problem is the carbon is absorbing odours - and then getting "saturated" with the smells and then ends up just transmitting the odour through the vents.

I've never had carbon in my air filters in my previous cars, and never experienced this problem before. Particularly not so soon (The smell started approximately 4-5 months after owning the car).

[brad]

I feel the problem is the carbon is absorbing odours - and then getting "saturated" with the smells and then ends up just transmitting the odour through the vents.

I've never had carbon in my air filters in my previous cars, and never experienced this problem before. Particularly not so soon (The smell started approximately 4-5 months after owning the car).

That could be. I know on our fish tank that the carbon in the filter absorbs (whatever it absorbs) then when it reaches saturation it starts outgassing the same stuff. That's why I threw the carbon/charcoal in the bin.

[Martin]

The other point about using the in-car sprays with the air con set to recirc is that afterwards that product soaks up smells - eat fish n chips in the car and you'll smell that for the next two weeks

(May depend on which product you use - but that's an experience I've had)

[deeps]

Anyone know the part number for the carbon cabin air filter? I'm worried about whether there is a Right hand drive version and Left hand drive version - don't want to buy the wrong one.

Some of them seem to end in an A and others in a B, i'm guessing that's the difference?

[brad]

same as a Golf
1K0819644
1K0819653

Activated Carbon AIR Filter Fits Volkswagen 1K0819644B 1K0819644 1K0819653A | eBay

[Fireside]

Hey all, just wanted to let you all know that I Found and solved the problem earlier this year. It ended up being blocked sunroof drainage pipes, after cleaning the blockage with some compressed air I haven't had the problem since and the car smells like leather again! So if anyone has a problem with an odd smell in the future make sure to test the sunroof wells are draining water. Took 2 years but got there in the end!