Hi,

I just started noticing a rather minor inconvenience with my '98
Civic. Whenever I'm starting the car after previously turning it off
with the A/C working, for the first few minutes the ventilated air has
a tepid smell, regardless of whether the A/C works or not. The smell
is hard to describe, it hints an old, rotten, steaming rag. This did
not happen before or with my other, newer Civic.

If previously the car was turned off without having the A/C operating,
no smell comes out when I turned it back on.

What's up with this? Does the A/C need some sort of servicing? Is this
the way old A/C goes?

Thank you.