[jasonprice]

Hello everyone,

I'm thinking of buying a 2009 Mazda 6 (i Sport) and I read about the A/C mildew/musty odor problem on older models. I read the (latest?) TSB on that and it only mentioned 2003 - 2008 Mazda 6. I only found one single post in this forum about a similar complaint for a 2009 Mazda 6. Anybody else having this issue?

Thanks!

Jason

 

[Mz6GreyGhost]

No. My '10 has been odor-free the entire summer.

A suggestion: When you go to shut the car down, be sure that the system is set to draw in fresh air, instead of leaving it in recirc. It GREATLY helps to keep the system dry and odor-free.

As for the cabin filter, I recommend changing it once per year, no matter the mileage. You'd be surprised just how dirty it gets...

 

[jasonprice]

Thanks for the reply and suggestion! Although you have a 2010 model, you say that the 2009 should not have the odor issue. You think that the '09 and '10 are similar in this perspective because both are second generation models?

 

[Mz6GreyGhost]

I'd be VERY surprised if the systems aren't identical, since essentially nothing has changed from '09 to '10.

 

[brandonlee]

what does recirc mean? is it like when you have the button pressed and it lights orange?

 

[karlt10]

I have yet to own or drive or experience a car that didn't have a 'musty' smell if the car had previously been shut-off while the A/C was still running. Especially on recirculate.

You simply turn the A/C off at least 10-20 seconds before shutting-off the car and all is fine next start-up.

what does recirc mean? is it like when you have the button pressed and it lights orange?

It takes-in the air from within the car, instead of taking-in outside air. I(it re-cools the already cooled air) So, when the A/C is running, instead of trying to cool-down, say 90 degree air from outside, it pulls air from the passenger's side footwell and cools the air that has already been cooled.

It's great on really hot and/or humid days, but if you wear contacts and are on the highway, after an hour or so the air in the car can get really dry, which may bother your eyes. Switching back to outside air will let some humidity back in without making the car uncomfortable.

 

[jasonprice]

I have yet to own or drive or experience a car that didn't have a 'musty' smell if the car had previously been shut-off while the A/C was still running. Especially on recirculate.

I've been driving a 2002 Chevy Cavalier for 4 years now, and never had any problems with the smell, and since I live in Florida, the A/C is always on. I do believe that this might be because there is no cabin air filter in the cavalier. I have been in a Mazda 3 which had that mildew odor.

Now, why I'm asking this question is because for me it seems not right to have to worry about remembering to switch the A/C off before I get to the destination, or to have it on "fresh" instead of "recirc" after I stopped the car.

 

[Mz6GreyGhost]

Now, why I'm asking this question is because for me it seems not right to have to worry about remembering to switch the A/C off before I get to the destination, or to have it on "fresh" instead of "recirc" after I stopped the car.

Honestly, it should be done with every vehicle, since switching it to "fresh" allows the system to "breathe" when the car is shut down, and any built-up condensation (which can/does happen within any system) can evaporate.

Look at it this way: If for some reason your carpeting gets soaked, whether it's in your car or in your home, would you rather open up the windows and allow air to circulate and help dry it, or keep 'em closed with no air circulation? Guess which instance generates the musty/mildew odor?