Car AC Smells Like Nail Polish Remover – What's Wrong?

When you drive your vehicle, you are likely to turn on the climate control feature. You don't want to be too hot in summer because it makes any ride uncomfortable and even influences your health. So, turning on the AC is the right idea. But what if you start feeling some weird chemical smell right after you turn on the air conditioner?

If your car AC smells like nail polish remover, it's most likely the refrigerant leak. Another possible reason is the bacteria contamination of the air vent pipes.

Today, we'll tell you why the air from AC vents may smell like nail polish remover and what exactly you should do to avoid problems when you smell this odor. We have asked car mechanics to provide you with the most precise information and all of them were quite sure that the problem is not in your cabin air filter.

Why is this not the filter?

Well, it can be your filter if it was submerged in some chemicals before installation. Also, some chemicals may have gotten into your ventilation system in the vehicle and are now evaporating and causing problems. But these issues are not really likely to happen. In most cases, the actual reason for the problem is different.

But still, if you just took your car from the dealer or from the repair shop, it can be some vapors of chemicals. Just visit the dealer or call your mechanic to deal with the problem. Ask these guys if they have used any chemicals that can smell like this.

Refrigerant leak - the most likely reason

Your AC system in the car works thanks to the special refrigerant or freon. It can be of a different kind, but usually, it's a strong-smelling chemical. When it leaks in small quantities, you usually can't smell it because it evaporates quickly and is then blown away from your vehicle through the vent system.

But when the leak is extensive, you can clearly feel it because a lot of vapors are inside your vehicle. The strong chemical smell that may resemble the smell of nail polish remover is a clear sign of an extensive leak in your AC system.

It isn't necessarily leaking inside the vehicle. The leak may be located in the engine bay of the car but the ventilation system takes the air from that place and it can be the source of the smell. So, a thorough inspection is needed.

Also, one of the key signs that the AC system is leaking is the slow deterioration of the AC work. The temperature inside your vehicle will gradually go up until it matches the temperature outside, even though you turn on the AC-Max mode, you can't get any cool air coming on you from the AC vents.

Is the leaking AC system dangerous for you?

Inhaling this chemical smell is not recommended. You should be OK because all modern cars use eco-friendly types of refrigerants. But still, the reaction to this odor can be individual. For example, you can feel dizzy, develop some headaches quickly, or even faint.

So, the best idea for those who feel a sharp chemical odor in the vehicle is to open all windows as quickly as possible and let some fresh air enter the car. Also, you should stop your vehicle on the right side of the road in a safe place, turn off the AC, and see if the problem is gone.

In most cases, the strong nail polish remover odor will not make anything bad for you. But sometimes, it still can be dangerous. Especially, for people with all kinds of allergies and for those who are very sensitive to different kinds of odors.

What can you do to fix the problem?

If you smell this chemical odor in your car, the best solution is to schedule a visit to one of the dealerships or repair shops immediately. Don't turn on the AC until you have the problem solved.

Any professional will start with a quick diagnosis. Usually, they use special machines that service air conditioners in cars. These machines pressurize the system and check whether there is a leak. If they find the leak, they will not send any freon into the system but will signal that the leak is there and should be repaired.

In most cases, it's all about replacing one or two metal tubes or connections. But sometimes, radiators or even the compressor should be replaced. This will mean quite big expenses. But if you want to drive your car comfortably, you will have to pay for the repair.

Reason number 2 - dirty vents

If you are sure that the AC is OK and there are no refrigerant leaks, you should check the condition of the vents. The ventilation outlets are connected to the fan system with plastic pipes. They are pretty smooth to avoid contamination, but the condensate is still there when you turn on the AC and then turn it off and lock the vehicle with no ventilation in it.

This condensate creates the optimal conditions for bacteria growth. And eventually, millions and billions of different bacteria cover the pipes of the air vents from inside. You will not see this because the process happens directly in the pipe and the vent itself is not affected.

Here are some signs that prove this is your problem:

• the bad smell comes out of the vents no matter what mode of ventilation you are using;
• the smell is much less noticeable when you turn off the vents at all;
• it smells like nail polish remover but sometimes the smell is just rotten;
• the problem continues to deteriorate time after time you drive your car;
• the effectiveness of your AC doesn't change - it works well and there is no sign of refrigerant leak;
• eventually, you can't drive in the car with the windows rolled up - you just can't breathe.

The problem may get worse and better from time to time. For example, if it's completely dry in the vehicle, the smell will not be that awful. But if the humidity level is high, the problem gets unbearable.

The quality of the smell will also change from time to time. The smell will remind you of different things depending on the growth of bacteria in the vents. Although you can't see that contamination, you can deal with it.

How to cope with the bacteria contamination in your vents?

Air vents in any car are going to be contaminated with bacteria and other pollutants. They gather condensate all the time and they are heated in winter. So, bacteria love that place in your car. What's more, you can't see them and they are sure you will not get them (a joke, of course).

So, how do you deal with these contaminants without paying a couple of hundred dollars to the repair shop?

Here's how:

• go to the store with car parts and accessories;
• ask them to advise you on some AC vent cleaner;
• read the instructions carefully or find a good video with this type of cleaner;
• make all the needed steps to clean the vents.

Usually, it's very easy to do: just use the can with the cleaner to send it all the way to the vents. This active foam will kill all the germs and bacteria and will then disappear when you turn on the AC. But be careful - you should do everything according to the instructions. Otherwise, you may do something wrong and damage your vehicle or have no results at all.

When working with chemicals, wear protective gloves and also a face mask to avoid any health risks.

Final words

Unfortunately, the strong chemical smell in your car is not going to mean anything good. But still, the problem is usually not so bad. You will just need to follow the guidelines we've provided above to make sure you get rid of the problem and can use your AC in the car again.