Nasty, foul mildew odor from vents

[bopritchard]

I've got a 2004 CR-V that has the foulest odor coming from the vents. It smells like some kind of mold or mildew. It's not constant though, really just when you first start the car up and last for a few minutes. I've replaced the cabin filters and they were fine. Didn't smell at all. I can't figure for the life of me where the smell is coming from though.

HELP!!!

[tshih]

most likely it is mold growing in the air conditioning ducts near the evaporator. cold condensate water plus lack of light and mold grows. I don't know how to advise on a solution except to rinse the area with bleach (but that might corrode the aluminum lines of the evaporator if you don't flush thoroughly with lots of water).

[bopritchard]

is it easy to get into the ducts?

[tshih]

Your model year is later than mine so I don't know how different the ductworks are. For mine I have to remove the glove compartment door to see the interior air pollen filter which is behind the center console where the radio, etc is mounted. I would remove the filter and spray chlorox tile cleaning bleach solution into the ducts and hope the liquid will kill the molds and come out at the bottom somewhere where water is suppose to drain out. I suppose you can substitute some anti mold cleanser that is less corrosive than bleach but I don't know if there is a product on the market that address this problem. Can always take it to the dealer and spend big bucks getting them to clean out the ductworks.

[ironmonk97]

there is only one right answer on this subject, and i know it because of my nerd like skills, i skipped threough the owners manual one day and read that when you start getting a mildew like smell to replace the cabin filter. Now the book states that honda recommends you change it every 60,000 miles but if you need it earlier due to dusty climate or sea air wit the presence of salt then due so.
hope that helps you out.
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[dpornel]

I replaced my interior filter (pollen filter) on my 03 CRV last year and the foul odor immediately went away. However, the fould odor came back a week after I installed the new filter.