algae growth in climate control system

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rgarrett - 13 Sep 2005 12:32 GMT

I seem to have algae growing in the AC system of my '98 S90. When I start
the car the vents emit an unpleasant smell and often the windshield fogs
over. It will blow cold air for about 10 minutes, then blow warm air for 10
minutes, then cold again, then warm again and so on. Water does drip from
the condensate drain but probably not fast enough to keep it from staying
moist all the time and freezing up while running. A poke of the finger up
the condensate drain resulted in a coating of pink slime. Is there any way
to flush out this growth without opening the air plenum?

Thanks

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Mike F - 13 Sep 2005 15:26 GMT

> I seem to have algae growing in the AC system of my '98 S90. When I start
> the car the vents emit an unpleasant smell and often the windshield fogs
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Thanks

In my '98 V70, I cleaned the stink out of the evaporator with a product
designed to spray into the air intake at the base of the windshield with
the fan on high. However, that wasn't good enough for me, I removed the
heater motor and could more or less spray the product on the whole
evaporator. The I reinstalled the heater motor and blew it for the
amount of time specified on the can. This has been effective for 4
years now - more time that it took the evaporator to stink up from when
the car was new!

The fact that you have cold air for 10 minutes then warm air for 10
indicates another problem.

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Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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L David Matheny - 13 Sep 2005 16:00 GMT

<snip>

> In my '98 V70, I cleaned the stink out of the evaporator with a product
> designed to spray into the air intake at the base of the windshield with
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> years now - more time that it took the evaporator to stink up from when
> the car was new!

What is the name of this wonder product, please? TIA

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Mike F - 14 Sep 2005 13:08 GMT

> <snip>
> > In my '98 V70, I cleaned the stink out of the evaporator with a product
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> >
> What is the name of this wonder product, please? TIA

Well, it was 4 years ago... It was a can of "not for retail sale" stuff
that my friend that runs a garage lent me. I'll talk to him and see if
he still has any.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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dreadly - 13 Sep 2005 16:22 GMT

> I seem to have algae growing in the AC system of my '98 S90. When I start
> the car the vents emit an unpleasant smell and often the windshield fogs
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Thanks

You can get a special air-con spray to remove this, however, I have
heard that another way is running the engine up to temp and then turning
the blowers on full on full heat for approx 20mins, then turning to full
freeze for 10 mins.
I believe if you do this a couple of times it may kill of the crap.
Failing all that try roundup spray from B&Q :)

Andy

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Michael Cerkowski - 13 Sep 2005 21:08 GMT

This will also work, although as noted, the A/C system
isn't working properly.

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