ex-quattro PETE

I wonder if it's just the accumulation of stale air (with some air freshener included) in the ducts, or if I have some fungus growing there. But if it was the latter, would I smell it longer than just for 1 second when I turn it on?

MrHydeA4

It's the dead fish Steve hid down there

N3WJL

changed the air filter ? There is an air filter for the air intake for vent system. I'm not sure where it is on the 2001. If it gets moldy you'll get that smell.

ex-quattro PETE

I'm going in for my 20K mile service tomorrow - I'll ask dealer to change it. Thanks!

BTW, you're not talking about the air filter for the engine, but the cabin air filter, right?

KenK in TX

You've got some funk growing in your vents - quite normal. Havent tried it on my car yet, but my standard fix for that is spraying Lysol in the fresh air intake (outside the car, by the windwhield) with the air on full tilt.

BG also makes a new product called Frigi-Clean (of Frigi-fresh?) thats a foaming cleaner for the same purpose.

Nogaro Nitwit

Would I do something like that?! :-P

N3WJL

right the cabin filter. Foir some reason they get kinda smelly when they get old.

Dolmangar

Yes you would, and then you would hound people about getting the "Dead Fish Mod"

Nogaro Nitwit

Hey, I am your neighborhood friendly mod pusher!

Silver Streakin'

which is NOT part of the 20k service for the 2001 A4 1.8t. Also, I had new plugs put in, since the first change under the service agreement is 40k miles for each, which is too long IMHO. For <01, they're each replaced at 30k intervals and, AFAIK, they're the same plugs and engine air filter. Why would they last 10k longer? I don't know, so I had the dealer replace them both at 20k so that I'm on 20k intervals for each.

Since the engine bay was already open, they only charged me a half hour of labor and $5 each for the plugs and $18 for the filter, IIRC.