I have noticed that every time I turn on the A/C or fan in my car, I am thrown into horrible coughing fits, and after several months of experience, I am convinced that this is an allergic reaction.
I love my car and I want to keep it.
What can I do about this? Is this something that a regular maintenance trip could take care of? Or would I have to request special cleaning of the ventilation system?
If it has a cabin air filter, I’d start by swapping that. If it’s full of pollen or dust or mildew, that might be the source of the problem.
Do you have the vents directed at your face? If you do, you might want to aim them elsewhere in the car. Personally, I really don’t like them aimed at my face and have found that aiming them at my chest cools me off faster anyways.
Cool! That looks fairly easy. I’ll try it.
Sometimes mold/mildew develops in the A/C evaporator case. There are special products made to neutralize it without disassembling the system. Sometimes they work. Check for this at an auto parts store.
Thanks. I’ll ask when I go for the filter.
I’ve had this problem with my car ever since it was brand new. It’s a 2008 Camry with an ionic air filter on it–it must have been manufactured less than six months before it was shown that those things actually make allergies worse. Could that be part of it?
It’s a 2010 Scion. Would that be within the possible group?
Cabin air filter was crammed with pollen. No wonder I was choking. Thanks everyone for your advice!