A smell when humid

I have a 2002 VW Passat 5speed 4 cyl turbo. I bought it last Jan. When summer came and it got humid i noticed a mold or anti-freeze smell coming from my vents. I had the car taken in and the vents ionized. Now in the winter, anytime it is wet out, or humid, and i turn my heat on i get the smell again. Also on days that it is humid out or rainy when i leave work my car is all fogged up. The inside is all fogged up like someone has been sitting in my car breathing heavy all day. Yet no other cars around me, including another Passat is fogged up. I have not found any leaks on the passsenger side where the heater core usually leaks, and it would be noticeable since my interior is champagne colored. I have taken the car in 3 times and they have not found a leak or anything wrong with the heater core. I am getting very frustrated. Now i am taking it in again for the 4th time. I am ready to give up. Anyone ever run into this problem? Maybe I can mention it to the techs.

Thanks

If the smell & humidity is coming from the dash, then it's either heater core or clogged A/C evaporator condensate drain. Have you noticed any loss of coolant? Antifreeze has a definite smell, see if it matches the smell in the coolant reservoir. Earlier Passats (and all VW's) had frequent problems w/these heater cores, but I haven't heard of it on newer Passats.

If you look at the firewall behind the engine you can see where there is a rounded cutout flap in the foiled insulation. Fold this back and you can see the rubber/plastic drain tube coming from the A/C box. Run the fan and see if air blows out freely. You can probe around in there to see if it's obstructed w/leaves & dirt.

Your problem sounds similar to a problem that i have been having with my 2001 Passat.

It started with extensive condensation on the inside of the car (windows, steering wheel etc.). Then the door locks were not working.

After having the car reviewed by the dealer - 3 X - they told me it was a sunroof leak, then a pollen filter leak, but the problem is still not resolved.

I take it in again this week and am hoping for a resolution.

I would definitely have them check for leaks from the sunroof/pollen filter as well.

please keep me posted on resolution.

Ok it turns out they finally found it. they removed the drain plugs under my floor panels and tons of water came out. They have to replace everything and still find where the leak is coming from. But its a step in the right direction. Thanks for the inquiries



Your problem sounds similar to a problem that i have been having with my 2001 Passat.

It started with extensive condensation on the inside of the car (windows, steering wheel etc.). Then the door locks were not working.

After having the car reviewed by the dealer - 3 X - they told me it was a sunroof leak, then a pollen filter leak, but the problem is still not resolved.

I take it in again this week and am hoping for a resolution.

I would definitely have them check for leaks from the sunroof/pollen filter as well.

please keep me posted on resolution.

My wife has a 2002 Passat and the floor on the passenger side of the back seat was soaked. What should I check first?

Hi Superbobu2 --

When they check your car have them check your comfort control module and your transmission control module - both were right in the area of my water leak and the comfort control module needs to be replaced.

The repair is costly $600 for the module.

My car is in again today -- I'll let you know if I find out anything additional.

Ok they found the leak. Turns out the windshield was not sealed properly. They ended up replacing the windshield and all my carpets. Now i will keep my fingers crossed that this is fixed. What a hassle. 4th time in for this. Better be the last

the front and back passenger side floors get soaked almost every time it rains. I have twice actually seen water rush (not drip) into the car from the panel just above the upper-right air bag panel as well as from the panel just above the very rear right window. My car now smells very musty.

I brought it in to the dealer 1 month ago and was told it was the pollen filter being clogged (nonwarranty item). I explained that it wwas coming from above but to no avail.

I now have it in a 2nd time. They, coincidentally, have now alluded to the possibility that the sunroof may have "debris" clogging some drains and that would also not be a warranty item, so that I cannot get my carpets removed and replaced.

Reading the above, it seems VW does it's best not to do work under the warranty. The fact that my owner's manual does not instruct me to clean the pollen filter or remove debris from the sunroof did not move them. How can something not be covered under warranty if VW doesn't tell you it's your job to maintain?? I know for sure that I keep my sunroof clean and I can't imagine how there could be any debris.

Does anyone have any advice as to what exactly I have to say to get them to actually find the real leak??? I don't want to go to arbitration with the VW parent over this, though I do feel I have a very good argument to win.

Screw that fight them. I have now had my car in 6 times and about to go in for 7th. This is bull! I live in RI but bought my car at MA dealer. I have to now go all the way back there and give them a chance to fix it before i can claim lemon.

Funny thing is everyone always complains about wet carpets. I have yet to find my carpets wet. But the smell is bad, especially now when its real humid out and i get a film on the inside of my windows.

Well looks like it is covered under warranty, according to a phone conversation I had. I'll let you know more details when provided.

well i don't know what i am going to do. they smell is back but it does not qualify under the lemon law. can't keep the car like this

replacing the carpets didn't solve the problem?? Are you sure they replaced and not simply poorly cleaned the carpets??

no i think they replaced them. they looked new. the smell is back because the water leak is back. my inside windows are fogging up. the carpets have never felt wet so i dont' even know why they replaced them.

This is a huge pain. I did months of research before buying a passat. Got a great deal and now dealing with this. And the dealer i bought it from has yet to return my call even though i left several messages!!!!

I take it the don't know where the leak is coming from now, since the windshield has been replaced?

Yea, VW service leaves something to be desired.

So far no luck. The dealer has been real good to me. He gives me a rental everytime i go there, considering i bought it at another dealer that is pretty cool. I contacted the dealer i orginally purchased the car from and after several messages they have yet to call me back. I will be filing a complaint with VW.

they have replaced the windshield, moldings, inside carpets, checked the vents, filters and other stuff i guess. No luck. Water leaks are hard to find. It leaks down into my body frame and then after several weeks the water gets bad and starts to smell

Very frustrated! Bad luck!

This has been happening to me also! I own a 2000. I bought the car used. It fogged up once but when I run the AC it smells like BO! I am very clean and so is the car. I haven't noticed the carpets being wet but I am going to check that and talk with my dealer this Monday about the issue.

Everyone that is having this issue. Please keep posting this will help us all save a lot of time and money trying to get this problem resolved!

well, I didn't realize I would be in such good company. My Passat has been leaking for nearly a year, only in the rear passenger footwell. I refuse to take the car to the dealer here anymore - frankly, I think they're thieves. My mechanic, who is really good, has been looking for the source of the leak, but no luck yet. He thinks it has something to do with the drains at the back of the engine compartment clogging with debris, but he cleans them out diligently, and my car fills up with water every time it rains. The inside of my windows get totally fogged up, and frankly, the car stinks. Has anyone had any luck finding a source for such leaking??? Seems like everyong has water collecting in the same place - surely there's an answer.

well, I didn't realize I would be in such good company. My Passat has been leaking for nearly a year, only in the rear passenger footwell. I refuse to take the car to the dealer here anymore - frankly, I think they're thieves. My mechanic, who is really good, has been looking for the source of the leak, but no luck yet. He thinks it has something to do with the drains at the back of the engine compartment clogging with debris, but he cleans them out diligently, and my car fills up with water every time it rains. The inside of my windows get totally fogged up, and frankly, the car stinks. Has anyone had any luck finding a source for such leaking??? Seems like everyong has water collecting in the same place - surely there's an answer.

My carpets are not wet and i am not sure where the water is collecting. I was told once that it was in the body frame. He said he removed a screw from below my car and water poured out. But they cannot find how the water is getting in. I am taking it in again this week 7th time, and I think i am going to tell them to take the car back, make me an offer and just get another one.

So I was told that despite VW service having cleaned the pollen filter 1 month ago, the pollen filter was again clogged along with the drains for the sun roof. At least the sun roof I can see and take care of myself now.

The service rep's answer to my question regarding how to keep the pollen filter clean was- "Bring it in and we'll clean it out". Besides the fact that it was NOT the pollen filter leaking since the water came from above the windows, that answer is ridiculous. Is there a way for me to lift that back plastic panel under the good of my 02 Passat to clear out the pollen filter drain should it ever get clogged??

that is weird. And it has nothing to do with a water leak. Why the heck is the filter cloggin so quick, you live in the dessert or something?

So, guys, did anyone find out resolution to this problem?
I just have the same nowadays. And I was told it is pollen filter on one dealership and sunroof drain on the other. Pretty much sure they are looking to rip me off. What is the real problem before I dive into this sea of unknown hassle?

I just had it looked at for the 9th time. They said my sunroof drains were clogged. Funny thing is i had mentioned that to the other dealer i had gone to previously and they told me that was not the problem. Now i am waiting for spring to finally start and see if the smell comes back. But probably gonna sell the car. NO telling what all that water has done. Had enough. Very disappointed

I just had it looked at for the 9th time. They said my sunroof drains were clogged. Funny thing is i had mentioned that to the other dealer i had gone to previously and they told me that was not the problem. Now i am waiting for spring to finally start and see if the smell comes back. But probably gonna sell the car. NO telling what all that water has done. Had enough. Very disappointed



Well, 9 times are surely enough. I would go for it. As long as you can afford to sell it and get another brand. As for me ,this is my first and last VW.