Why is my Renault Scenic's air conditioning smelly?

Our Renault Scenic 2006 1.5 diesel has developed a strange and unpleasant smell emanating from the air conditioning, especially when the unit is first turned on. We run the air conditioning generally when driving, although many journeys are of 10-15 mins duration. What could be the potential source of the problem and potential cures?

Asked on 3 July 2010 by Katrina1111

Answered by Honest John
Bugs living in the condensation moisture. Covered here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/air-conditioning
Similar questions
I have a problem with an unpleasant aroma in my car. It is a Ford Focus Zetec and has done 26,000 miles. This peculiar aroma upset my wife's stomach, so I took it to my usual garage. They said that they...
We have a petrol Jaguar F-Pace and on occasions, we notice the smell of rotten eggs. Do you have any ideas what this may be and how best to get it resolved? The car is 18 months old and had a new pollen...
My 2010 Toyota Prius has been stuttering and there's a rotten egg smell. I've sent it to Toyota for repairs. What could be the problem?
Related models
Far better than the previous model. The Grand model seats seven. Practical and versatile. Excellent crash test rating.