Car Talk

May 1997

Dear Tom and Ray:

My car is a '93 Volvo 960. When I first turn on the air conditioner, it [yellowcar2.gif] gives off an odor which makes me think the car is harboring a well-used cat-litter box. This odor ("stink" is more descriptive) goes away after several minutes, only to return each time I turn on the air conditioner. I've tried air-freshener sprays, but they just introduce a new dimension to the problem. I'd love to take care of this problem before next summer. Any ideas? -- Edgar

Tom: Well, my guess is you've got yourself a little mold-spore farm there, Edgar. Congratulations.

Ray: There's a part of the air conditioner called the evaporator, which removes the moisture from the air (i.e., "conditions" it). That moisture is then supposed to drain out through a hole in the bottom of the evaporator housing. That's why you often see water dripping out from underneath cars in the summertime.

Tom: My guess is that you don't see much water dripping out the bottom of your car, Edgar, because your drain hole is all plugged up. That's preventing water from escaping, and creating the perfect breeding ground for mold spores; a dark place with standing water.

Ray: You need to have somebody clear out the evaporator drain for you. It's an easy job and is usually done with compressed air. Then you'd be wise to spray something in the vents to kill the remaining mold spores. There are automotive products specifically designed for this purpose, but consumer products like Lysol seem to work just as well.

Tom: And if that doesn't work, Edgar, then I'd start asking around to see if any of your neighbors cats HAVE misplaced their litter box.

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