Break Through the Mold and Protect Your Rights!
by
Craig Kimmel |
| Ask Craig your
question! Craig Thor Kimmel is a nationally recognized automotive
consumer advocate and managing partner of Kimmel & Silverman, P.C., the nation's
largest lemon law firm. For more information on automotive consumer issues,
visit
http://www.lemonlaw.com |
Dear
Craig:
Now that the winter is here and I've had to turn on my heater,
I've been smelling a strange musty smell coming from my vents. Is
this normal or is there cause for concern? My girlfriend thinks I
should take it in for service but I don't think that it's serious.
Your thoughts?
--John, Jenkintown, PA
John: There is cause for concern.
What you may not know about your vehicle's HVAC system may be
hazardous to your health. If you smell a musty fume coming from your
vents, it's important that you take action under your warranty and
if necessary, assert your State and Federal rights.
Bacteria, fungus, mold, and spores
can all grow from accumulated condensation in your AC system. These
unwelcome visitors can trigger allergy and asthma attacks and make
it difficult to drive. If you think you may have mold growing in
your vents, here's what you need to do:
**Make a service appointment with
your dealership immediately. Make sure the service manager
understands the severity of the situation.
**Try to track down where the scent
is coming from. If you can point your service manager in the right
direction, they may be able to fix it immediately. Also, let the
service manager know when the scent is the strongest (i.e. when
starting up the car, when turning on the heater to high,  when
turning on the rear defroster, when it rains.) The more information
you can provide your service manager, the better!
**Make sure you receive a repair
invoice outlining your problem and their solution. Do not let them
mail the invoice. Have them print out the invoice when you pick up
your car.
**If you still smell the fumes after
your service, you need to bring the car back to an authorized
dealership for another repair attempt. If you feel your dealership
is not handling the problem correctly, take your car to another
authorized dealership.
**If your car is under manufacturer's
warranty, you should not have to pay any extra monies for treatments
or ventilation services. This problem should be covered under both
the original and extended manufacturer's warranties.
**If your car is under manufacturer's
warranty and you have given the manufacturer three or more chances
to fix the problem, you can assert your rights to cost-free legal
representation under State and Federal Laws. You could receive a new
car, a full refund or a significant settlement from the
manufacturer. For a free consultation to determine if you have a
Lemon Law or breach of warranty case, visit www.lemonlaw.com.
--End--
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