Nail Polish/Acetone Smell the First Time Using AC?

[asdf123]

Did anyone else have this experience? I've used it twice and the smell is pretty potent. Should I expect the smell to go away after a week or so?

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[Ducati1098]

Miles? Year? Do you know what refrigerant smells like? Could be what you’re referring to maybe.
Did the A/C seem to work correctly other than the smell?

 

[asdf123]

2024. 1,500 miles. I do not know what refrigerant smells like but that's what comes up when I google the smell haha. Yeah the vents seemed to blow cool air appropriately for what its worth. But driving in the car smells chemically and requires me to open the windows

 

[Ducati1098]

2024. 1,500 miles. I do not know what refrigerant smells like but that's what comes up when I google the smell haha. Yeah the vents seemed to blow cool air appropriately for what its worth. But driving in the car smells chemically and requires me to open the windows

It may just be a new car smell. Some strong smells will dissipate after things get broken in. I would just keep an eye (or nose) on it and see if it gets any better with time. If not then I’d bring it to your dealer.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I once had an unpleasant odor from a new vehicle's HVAC. The dealer told me they sprayed air freshener into the vents of all new vehicles. "Most people like it." I did not like it, but it faded after a few weeks.

Just another outside possibility.

 

[Area51BS]

Brand new? What top? The white tops(interior) have a potent smell of styrene. Could be that.
My Bronco smells odd when sitting all week. Not necessarily the vents. Goes away when driving for a day. Only to return when closed up again.

 

[asdf123]

Yes, a Wildtrak with the painted top. It didn't have the odor the first month of ownership. I feel like it started once I tried the AC for the first time the other day. Thanks for all the replies. I think that I'll drive around with my windows down for a couple days and air it out and then retry the AC again and go from there.

 

[BSam95]

This is interesting. Just got my 2025 Badlands and have a similar issue. It’s almost like a cross between acetone and gasoline smell. I typically do the remote start so the vehicle can cool a bit before getting in but when I get in, the vehicle has that smell. I was thinking it could be something with the remote start but now I’m thinking maybe it’s the AC as well. I’ll have to troubleshoot with no AC at all.

Have about 250 miles on the vehicle so far. Rolling windows down and driving around eliminates the smell but it comes back with each start.

 

[KABQ]

Probably not relevant, but the first time I used AWD it smelled like propane. Lots of weird smells as things heat up for the first time and off-gas assembly lubes, etc.

 

[asdf123]

@BSam95 @Area51BS

Good point, I'm beginning to think you are right and it could be the plastic from the interior of my painted hard top. May it's because it's finally 60-80F where I live? The last time I turned on the AC it seemed fine. I'm attempting to keep my windows open as much as possible and I'm hoping the smell goes away and I'm not slowly dying of cancer lol

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