Mazda 323F LX - Bad Smell

[Whickerman]

Hi All.
Recently bought a mazda 323f Lx 5 door and have noticed that the fan seems to smell... When the heater's activated (happened first after a really wet day) there was a damp smell. This has progressed to a vomit-like smell - not stinking the car out but def there. Any ideas at all?

[gsr600]

Hi Whickerman
you dont say how old the car is,
does it have aircon / or a pollen filter,
have a look around the heater air intake, may be something simple like dead/mouldy leaves,
providing there isnt a fluid leak on the heater rad - because anti freeze can chuck up a bit.
good luck

[derekpara]

Is water getting into the cabin and soaking the carpets ? If so, this will give off a rancid smell. Pull the top carpet aside and feel the underfelt.

[handsomebob]

If it's a fairly old car with air conditioning and a pollen filter, the pollen filter will need changing. The filter gets soaked with the aircon water and "goes off" A temporary measure would be to remove the filter altogether and put a magic tree in the retaining box instead! This will sweeten the air on it's way into the cabin - the filter needs replaced though.

[Whickerman]

Thanks all. It's a 1999 model. Not sure about the presence of a pollen filter. Where's the air intake on this?

[Whickerman]

Sorry - no air con

[kjn2]

Try this first;- Spray a nice freshener in the footwells of the car in the front, turn on heater and leave for five miutes on recirculation with doors/windows closed, next time you get in problem will hopefullly be solved.If not then needs investigating for probs as above. Good Luck