Rotten Egg smell from Air Conditioner

[LadyStinger]

My air conditioner smells like rotten eggs when I turn it on. only happens when the air is on. read an article saying to stray Lysol into intake vents. could not find any outside vents by engine cowling so, just sprayed where they usually are in other cars. now the cars smells like Lysol, lovely!
so, where are the fresh air vents for the Air and is this a dealer issue?

 

[Kamauxx]

Pull the in cabin filter and replace it. Maybe something got stuck in there that's offensive to your senses.

 

[StingaGT]

I don't think Hyundai/Kia designs HVAC system well, condensed humidity doesn't seem to dry well, but it stays with filter and makes stinky smell.
Try setting vents to upper ones only (no feet or to windshield), close the vents, set heat to max and run it at lowest fan speed for about 10 minutes. this helps, but wouldn't help if your filter is completely bad.

 

[LadyStinger]

The filter is 1 year old, 10500 miles. is it time to replace it already? any suggestion for what filter to use?

 

[Kamauxx]

The filter is 1 year old, 10500 miles. is it time to replace it already? any suggestion for what filter to use?

If it stinks in your car I'd say there's no reason not to spend 10-15 bucks on a filter.

Check the manual for the part number and search Amazon for one with good reviews. I haven't changed mine yet.

 

[MrSmoofy]

Think the manual says every 6000 miles or every year.

 

[eflyguy]

The filter is 1 year old, 10500 miles. is it time to replace it already? any suggestion for what filter to use?

It literally takes 2 minutes to change, and you're well beyond recommended miles although I've left filters far longer than that and never had an issue.

I don't think Hyundai/Kia designs HVAC system well, condensed humidity doesn't seem to dry well, but it stays with filter and makes stinky smell.

I've got around 200,000 miles on 3 Kias and never had any "stinky smell" from the climate system.

 

[Buzz]

Examine your engine bay and air vents for dead animals, something may have crawled up into your warm engine and died.

Wife's car had something similar, found a mouse behind the filter.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Examine your engine bay and air vents for dead animals, something may have crawled up into your warm engine and died.

Wife's car had something similar, found a mouse behind the filter.

Those god damn hamsters.

 

[LadyStinger]

Update... no critters in engine compartment. replaced cabin filter, performed 10m heat suggestion by StingerGT. maybe a little smell is gone but it is still there. called dealer and they say they do an air conditioner refresh. not warranty but need the smell out!!. will let them do it and let all know results.

 

[Kamauxx]

Update... no critters in engine compartment. replaced cabin filter, performed 10m heat suggestion by StingerGT. maybe a little smell is gone but it is still there. called dealer and they say they do an air conditioner refresh. not warranty but need the smell out!!. will let them do it and let all know results.

They're probably going to change the filter and set off an air freshener bomb. That's what they do to prep used cars to go up for sale.

You can do that yourself. Save the time and money and check Amazon. All you have to do is turn your car on, set the AC to high and recirculate, and with all windows closed activate the "bomb." Let it run its course and then check to see if it helped. Shouldn't cost you more than $10.

*Edit: here's one.

https://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-5...=8-1-spons&psc=1#immersive-view_1556742225763

 

[LadyStinger]

I saw one of the "Bombs" but I do not want to "Mask" the smell. I want it gone!. a parts guy said to use it but he could not guarantee 1. the car would smell from the Bomb and that after the smell wore off, the issue may not be resolved. I'll call the dealer and ask if they use the Bomb method or what/how they use something else.

 

[gilthanis1]

I had the same issue with our 2016 Optima SX. As the posters above pointed out, Kia doesn't design their HVAC drainage very well and condensation from the AC doesn't completely 'run out', as it were, and tends to get moldy. This happened in the first 15k of owning the Optima, and we had the dealer fix it. They tried to charge us $129 for it since they do take apart whatever they need to and clean out the system. My wife and I quickly put the nix on them charging us a dam penny since it's not our fault.

They did make the same suggestion to run the heat for 5-10 min or at least turn the AC off for a few min before we pull the car in and park it to make sure it's 'dried out'. We never had an issue for the next 6-7k before we traded it in for the Stinger. I haven't noticed any issues with the Stinger. Definitely need to get the cabin air filter and change it this weekend though.

 

[Fredm]

After 9000 miles in my beautiful Stinger GTS there was a bad egg smell virtually every time I started the engine. I took it to my Kia dealer and after two days they told me I should have used my windscreen washer fluid more (??!!) and that when they had serviced my car they added a different washer fluid which may have reacted badly with my old fluid to chemically produce this bad smell. They flushed everything through, changed all my filters and advised me to use my washer more frequently. I am now up to 17000 miles and the same odour has returned. I have been using my windscreen washer religiously and wastefully over the last several months. There is no bad odour at all when I have smelled the open fluid container under the bonnet. I am due a service soon and shall await their view this time. I can confirm there are no dead rats mice elephants or tigers tucked away under my bonnet so I don’t accept the dead animal explanation. In opening the bonnet there is no bad smell at all. It is only when I turn the engine on and the smell appears to come through the a/c system. I am disappointed that only one other person appears to have suffered with this. I hate being unique sometimes! Any advice appreciated. My Stinger is the best car I’ve ever driven.

 

[JDM_Man]

Ok here we go again.

Theory time!
1. Mold on the in cabin air filter
2. Something has died somewhere in your engine bay/vents
3. Angry ex husband/boyfriend who's put "Liquid fishing bait" down the air vents near your windshield (smells like this)
4. Are you taking showers before getting into the car?
5. Do you possibly have a passenger who is not taking showers while the smell is there
6. Unknown farts emanating from the grassy knoll

This is all I can come up with.

 

[OzSting]

I feel bad for you, hope you get your rotten smell resolved. Your Stinger has become a Stinker.

Really sorry, I just had to say that.

 

[Hapa88]

The filter is 1 year old, 10500 miles. is it time to replace it already? any suggestion for what filter to use?

The manual for my 2019 Stinger says to replace the Climate Control Air Filter every 12 months or 6,000 miles/10,000 km, whichever comes first.

 

[ElChanclo]

Clogged AC drain port = stagnant water -> mold . Gotta get it cleared and cleaned.

Same thing with my RSX.

 

[G-319676]

2019 with 20k miles just starting having this issue. I changed the in cabin filter and nothing. I am leaning towards water being trapped and not draining properly.

 

[Matt Shelton]

Have you found a solution for your rotten egg smell? Went on a drive yesterday and upon turning on my 2019 GT2, it reeked of rotten eggs through the vents. Didn’t matter if AC was on or off. It reeked.
It was so bad, almost drove back home to switch cars.

I saw one of the "Bombs" but I do not want to "Mask" the smell. I want it gone!. a parts guy said to use it but he could not guarantee 1. the car would smell from the Bomb and that after the smell wore off, the issue may not be resolved. I'll call the dealer and ask if they use the Bomb method or what/how they use something else.