Wierd Smell Coming out of the Heater?

[chris.mp5]

It was just recent that I took the car to work. I cranked up the heater, then a few minutes later I've noticed this weird nasty smell coming out of the vent. I turned the heater off, then put it back on and still the same problem after a few minutes later. I went outside and i noticed the smell was also coming from under the hood. I Couldn't really pin point where the problem is coming from. I'm not really a mechanic so wonder if anyone have a clue? Thanks

 

[paper1122]

You might have a leaking heater core. How is your coolant level? As much information as you can provide will help us help you.

 

[chris.mp5]

You might have a leaking heater core. How is your coolant level? As much information as you can provide will help us help you.

I've checked coolant and it seems normal. its between high and low when the car is cooled down and it rised up just before high when its heated up.

I tested out the car today and see if i notice anything. I drove around and It still had a weird odor so i turned down the heat then turned it back up a min later. For some reason the smell decided to disappear when the car was fully heated. Everything seems to be normal until I parked in the driveway, it started to smell again. I immediately took it out again for a drive, and same thing, the smell stopped until i parked my car. Any ideas?

 

[oaklandopen]

If you are using the defroster then you may just have some mold on the evaporator. it happens

now....im not too sure how the proteges work (i have an ms3) but for me when my vents are on defroster, feet, or feet/defrost combo my compressor and therefore evaporator are working. if there is any moisture on the evap coil there is gonna be a smell

Its tough to really be able to describe an odor online, but the best guess i can make is that its mold buildup on yoir evaporator coil. after a few minutes it disappears because thats what happens naturally on the evap coil

 

[chris.mp5]

If you are using the defroster then you may just have some mold on the evaporator. it happens

now....im not too sure how the proteges work (i have an ms3) but for me when my vents are on defroster, feet, or feet/defrost combo my compressor and therefore evaporator are working. if there is any moisture on the evap coil there is gonna be a smell

Its tough to really be able to describe an odor online, but the best guess i can make is that its mold buildup on yoir evaporator coil. after a few minutes it disappears because thats what happens naturally on the evap coil

Well regardless, it still smells whether its in defroster or not. But if it were to be a mold build up. How would I be able to get rid of it?

 

[oaklandopen]

Short of dismanteling your dash.....nothing. if, in fact, it is your evaporator its gonna happen regardless. the only thing you can do is make sure your drain hose is clear. it should be able to be seen from under the car, a rubber hollow tube that looks like it comes from the front of the cabin

but like i said, your smell could be anything. i cant smell your car for you, but your description of when it occurs makes me think its your evap coils

i trust when you use the word "nasty" you know the difference between maybe something musty like an old dish sponge and something like burning electrical components or burning plastic