Hey everybody!

Hope your summers are going great. I have a 2001 XJ8 Vanden Plas with about 177,000 KM / 109,000 MI on it.

When I turn on the AC there is a bit of a musty smell, it eventually goes away but the musty smell sticks to whoever is in the car! (Remember Seinfeld's smelly BMW?)

I'm not sure if there is a cabin air filter in the X308's that needs changing. If there is could somebody please direct me to the location.

Any other ideas or clues as to what may be causing this problem and how to fix it?

Much appreciated!!

 

Sounds like it needs an aircon bomb or a cleaner sanitizer flush - you can buy a spray usually equipped with a length of tubing to push into the aircon air inlets.

To clean it yourself you'll have to pop the bonnet and unscrew the wiper first. Next is remove the grill underneath - 5 odd screws.
Then locate the fan inlets, easier if the fan is on max inside the car, you'll hear the airflow from the inlet ducts, push the tube into them (there's two one either side of the wiper drive) and press the spray until the cleaning foam fills the ducts alternating each side until the can is empty. Job done. You'll see drips from the aircon evap ducts underneath the car as it cleans out.

I use this one...
Autoglym Air Con Conditioning Sanitizer 150ml | eBay

You can also get an air-con or valet specialist to do this for you but it's 10x expensive and not nearly as satisfying!

Oh, another tip is to keep the air-con on permanently, it's good for the system to run and doesn't impact performance or economy.

 

+1 on all the great tips by Sean B...

As for the aircon bomb, I use Comma, it comes in a can. You simply push the passenger seat forward and then put the A/C on full blast at its coldest and then place the can behind the front seat. Press the nozzle to activate, close the door and have a cig or a beer / coffee whatever and job done.

Get the cabin filter changed if required and you can also spray Zoflora or similar disinfectant into the engine side of the system
A/C on always..........switching your A/C off for long periods allows moisture to build up in the system and attracts bacteria.

If it's gone too far it can be a real mother to shift that odour when its gets hold.

Good luck and hope to hear

 

Here is what we were issued and used at the dealer back in the late 1990s

bob gauff

 

Thank you all for the tips! I'm going to check if Canadian Tire carries Auto Glym (I know they have some of their other products), and give this a shot.

I'll let you know how it goes and if I can get a hold on this musty smell.

Thank you very much.

 

You think dealers still have this stuff?

 

Super helpful. Thanks!

 

I think this is close enough. At AutoZone for some reason it's hidden behind the counter with all the parts. You need to ask for it.

https://www.autozone.com/a-c-chargin...8oz/208870_0_0