I shall order the type that is foam and has a long tube on that you deliver to the evaporator. My question is how the heck to I go about getting to it

The standard method is to put the car front on ramps. Get underneath so you can access the A/C evaporator drain tubes. There are two sticking down. They may have a flap valve on the ends. You insert the cleaner tubing into each tube, pushing it as far into the evaprator housing as possible. Then fill it with foam, then leave it to work according to the instructions on the can.

TC

 

Brilliant - 2 tubes?

Have you got an underview pic, I know it's cheeky but I've not had the car long.. took it to dealer to be serviced so not had it on stands etc yet, is there anywhere I can put my stands whilst jacking points are in use?

Cannot make head or tail of the haynes

 

If you get underneath you can't miss 'em. They stick down just in front of the front of the floor pan, where your feet go.

TC

 

Spuper dooper hope it gets here before my marathon trip on friday !!

Taaaa

 

Just did it as per instructions on the can, through pollen filter and recirc inlet. Dont think itll make much difference, recon itll be ok to shove up the drain tubes when I get chance?

Its silver hood aircon cleaner

 

You haven't bought the foam type, so it will only give a temporary effect.
I doubt squirting it up the tubes will work any better than the manufacturer's instructions.

TC

 

It is a foam kind of thing with long applicator???????.. certainly foamed when I pushed the cap on too far-neighbors must have laughed. I meant through outside air inlet filter removed, not actually through the filter-bad typing I know

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AIR-CONDITIONING-AIRCON-AIR-CON-CLEANER-SANITIZER-500ML_W0QQitemZ270405198040QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item3ef567e0d8&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1689|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

What was I actually meant to buy DOH? I think after this I shall just content myself with getting legionnaires and be done with it

 

I too have the smelly aircon, only when starting the car, goes after a few seconds but it isn't nice. Would like to know the general consensus on which type of cleaner is the best - the Wynns "bomb" type (where you let it off in the cabin and let the aircon recirculate it through the system) or the "up the tubes" type where you, well, squirt it up the tubes?

I would go for a full air con service but it's still blowing icy cold when I ask it to and I'm already shelling out for a new back box, service (Lates of course ), MOT and potentially two new tyres in the coming weeks

Wynns bomb: http://tinyurl.com/n6r3fx

Tubey one: http://tinyurl.com/kst8lx

 

The smell is caused by a slime coating the evaporator. The only way to kill this off is a direct contact bactericide injected directly into the matrix. Passing a perfumed air stream through the system isn't going to do anything very significant. The best contact foams cost more, so you get what you pay for.

TC

 

Well I've plumped for a can of Innotec branded foam at £10. Hope that is expensive enough to get the job done! I think the can looks like it means business:

I will report back with the results.

 

I think the can looks like it means business

Well it's very green anyway.

TC

 

Well just back form the monsterous run to newcastle. .. . (very happy btw massive traffic 4hr run = 6hrone way then 70mph 200mile leg return all the way aircon on etc 39.75mpg form my 1.8t = win!)

Seems the can of stuff I used had infact done the trick. Sorry I was quick but was getting ready for the adventure.... I didnt push it up the drains as you said but did as the can said. So pollen filter removed (sorry my original confusion) then a long squirt in there and then another squirt in the recyle bit (did that twice -- seemed scary being so close to motor but anyhoo), I omitted filling the vents like it said .. seemed a waste. The smell was still there directly after but 2 days later its gone -- must be a proper bacteria killer (it doesnt smell nice atall btw)...

So yes all's well that ends well and I didnt even jack it up ! (if the smell returns I will). Silver hood aircon cleaner seems the ticket

 

OK the stuff has arrived and I will give it a go tomorrow. I understand the preferred method is to stick the hose up the evaporator tubes as far as it will go and spray - is this correct? Do I need to do both tubes or just one? And how will I know when to stop spraying?

Any guidance will be much appreciated, thanks.

 

I didnt even have to venture under the car which I was amazed by! My can gave you a period of time to spray for down the vents e.g. 10s. Spray the can and you will see how quickly the foam squirts out. Canned stuff is above + beyond bomb type thing but doesnt smell nice (well mine didnt)

Dont be stingy though a good few seconds of spraying to coat the evaporator, (its a block a bit smaller than A4 piece of paper.

HTH

 

I'm not convinced you can coat the evaporator by spraying stuff into any of the air vents. The evaporator drain pipes lead directly into the evapotator housing, which is the logical place to inject the foam. If ten seconds is the recommended dose then give it that. I'd do both tubes to make sure the evaporator matrix is completely covered. I'd leave this gloop for double the time indicated in the instructions before using the A/C again. Longer if possible and I'd repeat the treatment a few days later as a double-whammy.

TC

 

Just an update, I applied the foam a couple of days ago, up both evaporator tubes. I could only get the applicator about 10 inches up the tubes - is this normal? I expected it to go further. Anyway, I gave each side a good long blast, until the foam starting coming out of the tubes, which took about 10 seconds. Left if for several hours and when I returned there was a strong citrus smell in the cabin, which soon disappeared. The bad odour that was present before seems to have gone although I thought I detected a slight whiff of it this morning. I will re-apply the foam in the next couple of days I think.