Evaporator, Cleaning
Special tools and workshop equipment required
- Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B.
- Ultrasound A/C Cleaner - Airco-Clean Fluid VAS6189/1
Evaporator, cleaning using the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B
Causes of Odor
- Smells like burnt oil.
-- Mostly forms in the engine compartment due to leaks on the engine or transmission.
- Sulphurous smell similar to exhaust.
-- Due to leaks in the exhaust system.
-- Through exhaust fumes, which get into the passenger compartment, for example, when driving in reverse through an exhaust gas cloud.
- Fishy smell like coolant.
-- From leak at cooling system of engine or of A/C system heater core.
If fishy odor occurs depending on temperature setting (weaker with temperature setting "Cold" than with temperature setting "Warm"), check A/C unit heat exchanger for leaks (air does not flow constantly through heat exchanger).
- Smells like a burned clutch.
- Evaporation from floor mats, decorative seat covers, etc.
- Rotten, mildewy, moldy or musty smell from plenum chamber.
-- Due to various contaminants, such as leaves, pine needles, etc. collecting.
-- Due to water that cannot drain out of the plenum chamber.
Checking the plenum chamber water drains. Refer to PLENUM CHAMBER WATER DRAIN, CHECKING .
- Smell from A/C unit.
Odors originating in the A/C unit can mainly be detected in fresh air mode and recirculating air mode. If a smell occurs only in fresh air or recirculation mode, the cause is probably not the A/C unit.
In the case of a leaking heater core, the odor of the escaping coolant mostly depends on the temperature setting. With "Cold" temperature setting, air does not flow through the heater core and the odor is not as strong.
-- Due to too much condensation water in A/C unit.
Checking both condenser water drains. Refer to CONDENSATION WATER DRAIN, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Due to an old or heavily contaminated dust and pollen filter.
Checking the dust and pollen filter. Refer to DUST AND POLLEN FILTER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Due to deposits on evaporator fins.
Clean the evaporator. Refer to Evaporator, Cleaning using the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B below.
Evaporator, Cleaning using the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B
Preliminary work
-- Check whether odor is actually in A/C evaporator by switching from fresh air to recirculation.
The odor can only be removed by cleaning with the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B if it originates in the evaporator.
-- Check the plenum chamber and the water drain valves for dirt and debris and clean if necessary. Refer to PLENUM CHAMBER WATER DRAIN, CHECKING .
-- Remove the dust and pollen filter and check for odors and dirt. Refer to DUST AND POLLEN FILTER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
On this vehicle, the dust and pollen filter is installed between the Fresh Air Blower -V2- and the evaporator, therefore it must be removed during cleaning.
-- Clean the installation slot of the A/C unit dust and pollen filter (remove leaves, dust and other contaminants). Refer to DUST AND POLLEN FILTER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Reseal the opening on A/C unit through which dust and pollen filter was removed.
-- Start the engine.
It is sufficient to activate the ready mode on vehicles with the high voltage system (watch the display in the Instrument Cluster Control Module -J285-). Refer to the Owner's Manual.
The engine must not be running when the ready mode is activated on vehicles with the Start/Stop System. Refer to the Owner's Manual.
-- Set the "recirculating air mode" on the Climatronic Control Module -J255- A/C display and control head and switch the A/C compressor off (the indicator lamp in the AC or A/C button does not light up).
-- Open instrument panel vents and set the lowest temperature possible on the Climatronic Control Module -J255- A/C display and control head ("Cold" temperature setting).
-- Closes the windows and sunroof.
-- Set the lowest fresh air blower setting on the Climatronic Control Module -J255- A/C display and control head and select the "Instrument panel vents" for the airflow direction.
Cleaning
-- Shake the bottle of Ultrasound A/C Cleaner - Airco-Clean Fluid VAS6189/1 and pour the contents into the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B (when doing this, be sure to read the operation manual which comes with the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B.
-- Place the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B in the front passenger footwell.
-- Start the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B (according to the operating instructions) and route outlet hose belonging to it so that the vapor escaping via A/C unit recirculated air opening (in the front passenger footwell behind the glove compartment) is drawn in by the Fresh Air Blower -V2-.
-- Close the vehicle doors.
The cleaning process takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It is complete when vapor no longer comes out of outlet hose.
Final Procedures
-- Switch off the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B.
-- Open the vehicle doors and air out the passenger compartment for at least 10 minutes.
-- Remove the Ultrasound A/C Cleaner VAS6189B from vehicle and clean it according to operating instructions.
-- Turn off the ignition.
-- Install the dust and pollen filter. Refer to DUST AND POLLEN FILTER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .