Air con leak, strong smell in car.

[rustic]

I drove the Picasso and there is a very strong chemical smell coming from the heater assembly, even with the aircon off, as the air must blow over the aircon bits, ie is this called the evaporator? The air con last week was very poor and it is no longer cooling.

The smell is very strong so I had to drive 150 miles each way with the windows open...

Any advice of what to do, this is my first enquiry as I just got home.

Can it be repaired? I assume it is leaking, are there any fix it sealers you can get.

Or worst case... remove all the aircon gas, so it doesn't poison me:doh HOW?


I hate to think what the cost will be, I haven't started to investigate the leak yet.
I have had no experience with aircon, other than pressing a switch.

Usually stripping out the heater usually involves removing the dash....
Not an option really.


Any advice please.

Best regards,

Rustic

 

[stevo]

aircon gas is odourless, so its not that you can smell.

check in the passenger footwell - there should be a drain for the condensated water - this can get stinky

next option - is the passenger footwell wet? Is the smell 'burnt' or a bit like curry? That might be the heater matrix leaking, so check coolant level in the expansion tank. That is, however, an expensive job

 

[solarman216]

Stevo is right the gas has no smell, but the oil does, it is probably this that you can smell if the AC is not working, costly to repair, Rick

 

[melissachels]

matrix i thinks, pain in the but to do as the dash has to come out but matrix isn't too dear. i bought this one bout a yr ago

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CONVOY-MA...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f235d5596

scrap that thought it was for terrano :doh

 

[stevo]

if the worst is true - let me know cos I work at a citroen garage and can access the repair manual

 

[solarman216]

Mel it is a Piccaso he is talking about, Rick

 

[melissachels]

Mel it is a Piccaso he is talking about, Rick

i know:doh i did edit :lol unfortunately i don't know how bad a job it is as i've never owned or worked on one

 

[rustic]

aircon gas is odourless, so its not that you can smell.

check in the passenger footwell - there should be a drain for the condensated water - this can get stinky

next option - is the passenger footwell wet? Is the smell 'burnt' or a bit like curry? That might be the heater matrix leaking, so check coolant level in the expansion tank. That is, however, an expensive job

Coolant level ok, also aircon not working, so must be the oil in the coolant then!

I have a Haynes manual, so I guess next job is to look at that and see what bits I need to look at..:doh

Thanks for the replies so far.

best regards,
Rustic

 

[solarman216]

Er no Rustic, the oil I refer to is the Air con compressor lube oil, stinks, it goes round the AC system with the gas so if matrix leaking then oil will leak to, only a very small amount but smells bad, Rick

 

[rustic]

Er no Rustic, the oil I refer to is the Air con compressor lube oil, stinks, it goes round the AC system with the gas so if matrix leaking then oil will leak to, only a very small amount but smells bad, Rick

I don't know why I said coolant:doh
Trying to think of two different things at once, no wonder men can't multi-task:sly

:lol:lol:lol


Will have a sniff round today to see where it is coming from.

Thanks for the advice.

best regards,
Rustic