Notices
Excursion - King of SUVs 2000 - 2005 Ford Excursion
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

AC smells!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 8, 2013 | 03:10 PM
  #1  
BigBus's Avatar
BigBus
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
AC smells!

When i turn on my ac im getting almost a wet dog smell. Lol wtf could that be from? Didnt seem to smell like antifreeze. This is new to me, any ideas?
 
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2013 | 10:35 PM
  #2  
GermanMike's Avatar
GermanMike
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 456
Likes: 6
This "wetdogsmell" comes from bacterias in your AC System and your filters.
Usually its done when you go to AC Shop, change all filters and flooded all AC Channels with a hygienic gas. Its not that expensive, here....
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 08:38 AM
  #3  
az_r2d1's Avatar
az_r2d1
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
One way to prevent this is to switch off your ac about a minute or two before you park the truck. Leave the fan on full blast, but no ac. This will prevent condensation in the system after you park it. Try it, won't work right away since you already have the smell, but it will go away. I always do this, and never have smells.
Also check if the ac is draining water from front and rear ac's. With high humidity outside you should see a steady amount of water dripping out. Right behind the exhaust tip and right inside the front passenger side wheel.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 09:52 AM
  #4  
swheeler's Avatar
swheeler
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by az_r2d1
One way to prevent this is to switch off your ac about a minute or two before you park the truck. Leave the fan on full blast, but no ac. This will prevent condensation in the system after you park it. Try it, won't work right away since you already have the smell, but it will go away. I always do this, and never have smells.
Also check if the ac is draining water from front and rear ac's. With high humidity outside you should see a steady amount of water dripping out. Right behind the exhaust tip and right inside the front passenger side wheel.
This is exactly what you have to do.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 09:57 AM
  #5  
mgraveman's Avatar
mgraveman
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 898
Likes: 3
Yeah, but if he has mold in there he needs to get it out. Short of cleaning with chlorine I don't see how to do it.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 10:31 AM
  #6  
az_r2d1's Avatar
az_r2d1
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
Originally Posted by mgraveman
Yeah, but if he has mold in there he needs to get it out. Short of cleaning with chlorine I don't see how to do it.
I've been in cars w the smell. After a couple cycles of drying it out before parking the smell went away and didn't come back as long as I dried the system out before parking.

I am in AZ where people worship their ac systems. It's used 70% of the year in a car here. July and August are more humid and that's when the smell issues comes up for people.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 04:09 PM
  #7  
BigBus's Avatar
BigBus
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Awesome guys thx for the responses and im gonna try torun it out
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 05:24 PM
  #8  
BigBus's Avatar
BigBus
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Should i spray a disinfectant or somehthing inthe vents or anything?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-7

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 05:49 PM
  #9  
az_r2d1's Avatar
az_r2d1
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
I'd try to dry it out first for a while. I've never used any chemicals.
I've heard of people spraying lysol in.
Just set the AC to MAX and spray it into the air intake under the glove box.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 07:48 PM
  #10  
59CRL's Avatar
59CRL
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by BigBus
Should i spray a disinfectant or something in the vents or anything?
I was also going to recommend checking the drain on the firewall and I would also spray Lysol who's main ingredient is chloride..... in there to help kill any bacteria, germs ect.....
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 08:24 PM
  #11  
Apocalypse's Avatar
Apocalypse
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,304
Likes: 28
From: Salem, VA
I was looking today, is there no cabin filter on our trucks?
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 08:41 PM
  #12  
Mikei70's Avatar
Mikei70
Mountain Pass
10 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 201
Likes: 8
From: Long Island, NY
Originally Posted by Apocalypse
I was looking today, is there no cabin filter on our trucks?
No, there isn't, but there are aftermarket options. I don't know how effective they are: cabfresh

Pictured on an F250:

 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 09:33 PM
  #13  
Apocalypse's Avatar
Apocalypse
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,304
Likes: 28
From: Salem, VA
Their site sucks and so naturally it won't work lol.
 
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2013 | 09:44 PM
  #14  
Mikei70's Avatar
Mikei70
Mountain Pass
10 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 201
Likes: 8
From: Long Island, NY
Originally Posted by Apocalypse
Their site sucks and so naturally it won't work lol.
It's like an old Geocities website.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FordPickMeUp
Cooling, Heating, Ventilation & A/C
2
May 25, 2022 02:32 PM
ironmine
Garage & Workshop
4
Feb 19, 2008 07:17 PM
wipper
Excursion - King of SUVs
6
Sep 16, 2004 10:33 PM
galaxie223
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
9
Jul 31, 2003 09:20 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:21 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE