Weird smell from AC vents (with heat on)

[Howie411]

So in the last few days I've had a weird smell coming from the AC vents when the heat is on. Doesn't matter if its the bottom vents or the top vents. Almost smells like a wet dog/tire smell. I had this problem with my old Pontiac G6 but it was when the AC was on not the heat. Any ideas? The car is about 1 year old.

[Milan_OH]

So in the last few days I've had a weird smell coming from the AC vents when the heat is on. Doesn't matter if its the bottom vents or the top vents. Almost smells like a wet dog/tire smell. I had this problem with my old Pontiac G6 but it was when the AC was on not the heat. Any ideas? The car is about 1 year old.

 

 

I had a similar thing in the summer, I thought it was a musty smell like something in the air duct was wet. Yes, wet dog/tire smell is similar enough. I haven't checked the cabin filter yet, haven't noticed much since the weather turned cold. In older cars, it was a clogged drainage vent in the AC system. Not sure about this unit........

 

 

Jack in Ohio

[William Horton]

So in the last few days I've had a weird smell coming from the AC vents when the heat is on. Doesn't matter if its the bottom vents or the top vents. Almost smells like a wet dog/tire smell. I had this problem with my old Pontiac G6 but it was when the AC was on not the heat. Any ideas? The car is about 1 year old.

 

 

Me too.. I noticed it with the heat on as well. Musty, wet dog, anti-freeze whatever,, smelled badly as you stated. I noticed that the AC light was not on. I went ahead and turned it on and shortly the odor quit and has not returned.. Hasn't hurt mileage having the ac light on either.. still getting 35-36 even with it on. I think it has something to do with dehumidifcation while the ac is on.. Without ac it must accumulate water somewhere causing the odor.

 

Try and let me know if it works for you too.

 

:rant: