We often get complaints of a musty or moldy type smell in some of our customer’s cars particularly this time of year. What this is caused by is usually a contaminated cabin filter and or a combination of the filter and the evaporator harboring bacteria generated from naturally occurring moisture in the system.

Most of the time the problem can be eliminated by changing the cabin air filter. Many people don’t know they even have a cabin air filter. Much like the furnace filter in your home, the cabin filter cleans the air coming into your car’s ventilation system. It not only filters out dust and airborne particles but also filters out harmful allergens. In some vehicle maintenance manuals it is referred to as a pollen filter.

yes, that is actually dog food that rodents packed into the cabin filter!

Cabin filters are located in the ductwork leading into the blower system of the vehicle. Most of the time they can be accessed under the hood by simple removal of a panel, or located behind the glove box which requires removal of the glove box. Some glove boxes have a feature that tilts it out of the way for access.

According to the Car Care Council, the filter should be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, or per the owner’s manual. This is quite subjective to the conditions you live and drive in. In some cases a specially formulated aerosol needs to be sprayed into the evaporator housing to kill the mold that has developed there to eliminate odors.

“Many people don’t even know they have a cabin air filter in their vehicle and most others aren’t aware of the health benefits of changing it,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Checking the cabin air filter is a simple preventive maintenance step that goes a long way toward protecting passengers, as well as the vehicle’s HVAC system.”

http://www.carcare.org/time-to-change-your-vehicles-cabin-air-filter/

Check your owner’s manual on how to change your cabin filter or ask your auto care professional. Spring is a great time to have it changed after a wet winter.