Just started having this problem last week- as soon as I turn the car ( and a/c) on- its stinks like pee for the first 30seconds and slowly goes away.

I did some research on this forum and elsewhere online and it seems like it could be: 1) fungus/mold in the system or 2: need a new cabin air filter. I checked out the cabin air filter and its a bit dirty by nothing stinky on it.

Some people have suggested switching to ECON for a while to "dry out" the system but I noticed that when I put it on ECON ( i.e. fan only), the smell comes back full blast!
What does that mean?!! Is that good??? I mean will it eventually clear the smell out of the system?

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

By the way, where is the evaporator in the 2005 A4? Is it easily accessible? I'd like to spray some lysol on it....

 

ill say sorry now for not helping out, but i couldn't help but laugh. :P

yea, either that, or u might want to recharge your ac if its the compressor

 

ha ha....thanks JC.....
compressor is fine I think, its cooling very well...

 

You have condensate water sitting on the evap. pan. There is a drain line. You should see water dripping near the pass front wheel underneath the car with AC on. More than likely the drain line is plugged. Change the cabin filter anyway if it needs it or not.

 

Drain line most certainly plugged, or gummed up.

Reccomend cabin air filter too just to be on the safe side.

 

Get the cabin filter with the charcoal in it. Supposed to help. Def might have some mold in there. Get some of that a/c cleaner stuff from the parts store and follow the directions. I had the same problems. Have to run your heat on full blast for ten minutes and then put the cleaner/anti-growth stuff in there.

 

thanks. couple of follow ups:

Can I clean out the drain line myself ( i mean, stick a metal it in or something) or is it a dealer's job?

To spray a disinfectant into the evaporator, where is the best place? I guess under the glove compartment is the air intake?
So i should put the AC or recirculate, at high temperature and spray the stuff at the passenger side under the glove compartment?

 

Don't know about the drain line, not that tech savvy.

As for the disinfectant, you spray it into the intake where the pollen filter goes (under the hood). def not recirc, you want the system pulling in fresh air and blowing it out the vent.

 

I've tried Lysol and Einszett Klima-Cleaner. Unfortunately both did not work. I have an appointment next Tuesday with the service department. I guess this is a common issue with these cars. Apparently there is a Technical Bulletin about this.