I have a mildew smell that I can’t seem to get rid of, coming from the A/C vents. I bought a spray on Amazon designed for this exact thing, and sprayed it down the opening inside the engine bay, I can’t remember where but someone online said it was the place to hit. But I’m wondering if I sprayed the wrong area? Does anyone have a picture or diagram?

 

Take the pollen filter out and spray in there.
Pollen filter removal instructions attached, 2 minute job tops:

 

Replace the filter while you’re at it.

 

I’ll try again, but that’s the filter I pulled out and sprayed into before. Is there anything else I should try?

 

Maybe Unhingd has nailed it and it's the filter itself that is the problem. Either fit a new filter or run for a while with no filter and see how you go.

 

When I have used an air-con "de-smeller", it was done by setting the system to re-circulation mode, and then the can is started up by being placed in the passenger footwell whilst the system runs, (engine running of course). After about 10 minutes, one removes the can which is now empty and set the system back to normal air intake. Whilst the pollen filter may generate odour, it is the passages within the heater system that allow bugs and fungus to grow. Using air recurculation means the killer gas goes everywhere. It works for me, anyway.

 

There’s so much surface area built into the filter media that it’s difficult to kill all of the spores even with a spray. It’s best to start with a new filter, wipe down as much of the passages as you can reach into with a dilute bleach solution and then fog the system as Fraser describes with an unscented mildewcide. Don’t use any scented or ozium products unless you want your car to smell like a French whorehouse.

 

Luckily have not had this issue in the Jag but have in other cars .I have not used the bomb type product but used the aerosol can products before. Instructions vary for each but there are 3 main areas to target.
1. the external air intake which you have done, agree with replacing the filter
2. the internal intake within the cabin
3. Down the air vents in the dash

first product recommend option 1. Only, obvious have the air con set to external air and running whilst administering the product over 10 min

second time different product, it recommended option 2 and 3 with the air con Running on recirculate for 15 mins after application with doors closed which is the same as Fraser’s product recommendation.

I would buy two cans and do all three areas as option 2+3 misses treating part of the system and you have to saturate the entire thing ,all passages before and after the condensers. Option 1 alone may not have achieve a high enough concentration post condenser

 

Can you recommend a specific product? All the car odor “bombs” and whatnot I can find are scented.

 

unfortunately not. It’s been many years since I’ve had that issue on a car. If it needs to be scented, it’s probably not a very effective mildewcide.

 

I've used Lysol or similar sprayed into the AC intake while it's running. It might take a few tries depending on how bad the mildew is. The nasty Lysol smell goes away pretty quickly.

 

Check dedicated car detailing sites like this one:

https://www.autopia-carcare.com/clea...l#.X_XONthKgow

https://www.autopia-carcare.com/clea...l#.X_XN5NhKgow