Xantia Smelly A/C or Heating System

mattpc · Post by **mattpc** » 27 Nov 2005, 23:23

When I jump in the Xantia and switch it on at the moment the heating system seems to blast some really smelly air at me. Doesn't matter if the aircon is on or not. It's not the failing heater matrix smell- I do get that a little bit as well but the carpet is not damp in the passenger footwell and it's not losing any coolant. Also the fan only seems to either work on full power or not at all and the heating system seems to work on a cold or hot basis. Furthest left setting is cold and one notch further to the right and all subsequent notches are hot. Oh and the ambient temp sensor isn't working. The car is a 6 year old HDI 110 SX 141k

Mandrake · Post by **Mandrake** » 28 Nov 2005, 03:44

mattpc wrote:When I jump in the Xantia and switch it on at the moment the heating system seems to blast some really smelly air at me. Doesn't matter if the aircon is on or not. It's not the failing heater matrix smell- I do get that a little bit as well but the carpet is not damp in the passenger footwell and it's not losing any coolant. Also the fan only seems to either work on full power or not at all and the heating system seems to work on a cold or hot basis. Furthest left setting is cold and one notch further to the right and all subsequent notches are hot. Oh and the ambient temp sensor isn't working. The car is a 6 year old HDI 110 SX 141k

A dirty/clogged pollen filter which is growing all kinds of bacterial wildlife inside it perhaps ?

(re the smell part of your question anyway)

Regards,
Simon

mattpc · Post by **mattpc** » 28 Nov 2005, 08:33

Mandrake clogged filter is possible but unlikely as I changed it in August.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 28 Nov 2005, 12:41

mattpc wrote:possible but unlikely

Have had that too with a 'recent' filter.
Depends on the weather and what you've driven through.
It's come good since.
The filter can be washed for re-use, even though there's nowhere that it says so.

London luke · Post by **London luke** » 28 Nov 2005, 18:30

I brushed mine out last week. Soaked in anti bacterial kitchen cleaner and washed it. Smells lovely !! Works very well. Dont try to dry it too quickly....

p20 · Post by **p20** » 28 Nov 2005, 23:30

It could be a blocked aircon drain. Thats happened with mine. Although i'm not using the aircon at the moment so gave up looking for the damn thing. You can buy aircon system cleaner, which works pretty well. Set it away with the aircon on full and on recirculation for 10minutes and your system should be bacteria free. The car also smells like it just been valeted. Try finding the drain first though, then you can tell me where it is.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 29 Nov 2005, 07:12

. . . could also be the smell of a burnt printed circuit board . . . (re- only working at max speed ?)

//NiSk

mattpc · Post by **mattpc** » 29 Nov 2005, 20:07

Mmm doesn't smell like burning circuit board. Further investigations are probably required it's just not very appealing when the weather is so cold!!

London luke · Post by **London luke** » 30 Nov 2005, 00:32

The can type AC cleaner...
I tried using a Domestic product "Neutrodal" (Spelling !!) I think we all know the company. jamed the head down and closed the door. AC smells much better and I am sure any bacteria etc is dead.

JohnT · Post by **JohnT** » 01 Dec 2005, 12:24

If it smells like last nights curry type smell it could be a leaking heater matrix, the anti freeze causes the smell. I worked on two Peugeot 406 with this problem.

totters · Post by **totters** » 07 Jun 2006, 00:39

I don't have a solution, but the same problem. I've got a 97 xantia whith that problem of a strange smell when the heater is turnrd on to hot. It sort of smells like "deep heat", the stuff for spraying onto pulled mustles. Someone else told me it might be a coolant smell. didn't look yet, a bit puzzeled ya know. please reply with any suggestions.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 07 Jun 2006, 11:34

The 'musty carpet' smell.

The pollen filter needs washing.
See higher up in this topic.

f00lzz · Post by **f00lzz** » 07 Jun 2006, 12:31

Tried removing my filter on both cars...... still can't get get that damn cover to slide off despite all help/diagrams etc off you guys.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 07 Jun 2006, 12:57

Hi f00lzz,

Maybe try with a lamp and mirror to properly see under there.
Probably that there are still screws to hold the sliding cover in place.
The cover is on the floor in this photo, and the catches look fairly substantial.
You may need a sturdy screwdriver to grab into the ridging in the plastic.
Or even use a sort of drift to lightly tap outwards with a hammer.
The old posts still apply.

I’ll dig them up if you like.

Regards,
Terry.

f00lzz · Post by **f00lzz** » 07 Jun 2006, 13:39

Believe me! I have all the old posts

Checked for screws (good tip with the mirror) I'll get my big hammer out and give it a whack!

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Xantia Smelly A/C or Heating System

Xantia Smelly A/C or Heating System

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