Willow Glen Auto Repair

That musty, mildew-like odor that hits you the moment you turn on your car’s air conditioning isn’t just unpleasant—it’s a red flag. If your car smells like a damp basement or old gym bag when you first start it, you’re likely dealing with moisture buildup inside your A/C system. While it may seem harmless, this issue can grow into something more serious if not addressed properly. Fortunately, the cause is usually something you can fix—and, in many cases, prevent in the future. What Causes That Musty Smell The most common cause of mildew odors is moisture trapped inside the A/C evaporator core, which sits behind the dashboard. When you run the air conditioner, humid air passes over the cold evaporator coils. This cools the air but also causes condensation to form. Normally, that water drains out through a tube under the car. But when that moisture doesn’t fully evaporate—or if the drainage is blocked—it creates ... read more