We are accustomed to the vinegar odor because we consume and use vinegar on a daily basis. When our car air conditioners smell like vinegar, however, things are different. We want to get out of the car as soon as possible because it is so unbearable.
The causes of the vinegar-like smell in the car ac vary. The main culprit is frequently a filthy evaporator, where mold, mildew, and bacteria thrive. Other parts that can cause trouble include the cabin air filter, condensate pan, electric motor, and so on.
In my experience, fixing a car ac with a vinegar smell is not always hard. In this post, I will analyze why a car ac smells like vinegar carefully and then share your tips about how to fix and prevent it.
Table of Contents
Why does your car air conditioner smell like vinegar?
Note that not only vinegar can emit a smell of vinegar. Many other substances in nature can produce the same or similar smell.
Unless you have a naughty child, it is not likely that the vinegar smell of your car AC comes from real vinegar.
Dirty evaporator
After consulting with a few experienced mechanics, I’ve concluded that if your car’s air conditioner smells like vinegar, you should first check the evaporator.
If you’re unfamiliar with how a car air conditioner works, warm air will pass through the evaporator to become the cool air we want on hot summer days.
The evaporator coil has refrigerant flow inside, which can take away the heat in the air. Meanwhile, the excess moisture will be removed and converted to water droplets since the air temperature will go below the dew point.
That is to say, the evaporator could be very humid. Apart from that, the debris and dust can get into the evaporator with time, which bacteria and mold like to feed on.
Some species of mold and bacteria can release a sour odor, which will get into the air in the cabin.
Clogged car ac condensate pan
The water particles collected by the evaporator will enter the condensate pan and drain to the ground via the drain tube. That is why you will notice water dripping from the bottom of your vehicle.
However, if the drain hose becomes clogged or there is excessive condensation, the water accumulated in the pan will become stagnant and emit a vinegar odor after a few days.
Filthy cabin air filter
The cabin air filter filters the air before it enters the evaporator of your car air conditioner. If you find debris in the evaporator, it is very likely that the cabin air filter is clogged.
Microbes love dust and dirt as food sources. These contaminants, combined with the moisture in the air, create a breeding ground for mold and bacteria in the filter.
Hence, it is common to see it emits the smell of vinegar.
Battery acid leak
Many factors, such as extreme weather and overcharging, can cause the battery to leak acid, which can enter the car ac and cause a chemical reaction.
The leaking battery acid can cause a slew of safety issues, which you should address right away.
Dead animal
While dead animals can cause a car air conditioner to smell like pee, they can also cause a sour odor.
The small animal may become trapped in the car system. They will die after a few days, and their carcasses will eventually emit a foul odor; depending on the species of animals and the decaying process, some will emit a vinegar-like odor.
Ozone-emitting electric motor
The electric motor can release ozone, which will get into your car later because the car makes use of the air outside directly. Many people feel the ozone has a vinegar-like smell.
How to remove the vinegar smell from your car ac?
After the previous section, you will be able to pinpoint the cause of a car ac smelling like vinegar. In this section, let’s explore how to fix it by yourself or a professional.
Clean and disinfect the evaporator
There are two methods for cleaning and disinfecting the evaporator. If the sour odor isn’t too strong, spray a can of Lysol through the intake vent on the bottom of the windshield and allow it to circulate in your car’s air conditioning system.
If the vinegary odor is unbearable, use a specialized cleaner to remove the grime and debris from the evaporator directly.
Replace the cabin air filter
You don’t need to clean the cabin air filter as cleaning a regular ac filter. You can directly replace it with a new filter. The filter is often located behind the glove box, and you can access it easily.
Unclog the drain tube
If you notice the condensate pan is full of stagnant water with a sour odor, you should unclog the drain line.
Fortunately, the drain line is detachable, so you can clean out all of the debris and buildup.
See a mechanic
While it may be costly, in some cases, you will need the assistance of a mechanic to get rid of bad odors.
If the vinegar smell is caused by leaking battery acid or ozone emissions, you should have it repaired by a mechanic.
How to prevent the vinegar smell of your car ac from coming back?
Once you get your car ac back to normal, you want to keep the fresh air as long as possible. There are two ways to achieve it.
Regular maintenance
If you examine the causes of a car ac smelling like vinegar again, you will notice that you can avoid the majority of them if you perform regular maintenance.
The evaporator coil, for example, can be cleaned on a regular basis, and the air filter can be replaced once a year. It is also an effective way to keep other issues at bay.
Run a fan before stopping driving
Because moisture promotes the growth of bacteria and mold, a dry car ac is less likely to smell like vinegar.
As a result, you can turn off the air conditioner and then turn on the fan five minutes before you arrive to allow the evaporator to dry.
Recap
It could be frustrating when you open your car ac and find it blows air with a smell of vinegar. There are numerous reasons why this will occur, but fortunately, the majority of them are manageable.
In most cases, it is due to the clogged cabin air filter, evaporator coil, or drainage hose, meaning that the cleaning is overdue. The vinegar-like smell will disappear if you get these parts cleaned.
Occasionally, it can be a sign of leaking battery acid or the ozone-emitting motor, which requires the help of a mechanic.
If your ac at home comes across the same problem, you can check my post about why your air conditioner smells like vinegar here.
