airconditioning filter?
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New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17
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From: Birmingham, Alabama
airconditioning filter?
My AC is smelling really musty... It just started monday... we had a lot of rain this weekend and the truck sat up in the drive during the rain... I dont know if that had any effect on it or not, but it smells like I poured beer down the vents(if i did I dont remember it)... What I was getting around to is, Is there a filter for the AC that I can pull out and see if it has gotten spoiled or something... any suggestions would be appreciated... Thanks!!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
NAPA sells an air conditioning deoderizer kit. $$$ Works good.
An alternative is to get some Febreze and spray about 1/2 of the bottle into the intake vents while the fan is on high.
Let me know if that works. I've only used the NAPA kits at work.
An alternative is to get some Febreze and spray about 1/2 of the bottle into the intake vents while the fan is on high.
Let me know if that works. I've only used the NAPA kits at work.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Yes I forgot to mention that you need to unplug the AC pump at the engine or it will turn on and cool the evaporator. Reason for that is the cold evap will condense the deoderant against it and not allow it to circulate through the AC housing.
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New User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Austin,TX
you can also remove the blower fan and gently spray the core with water to clean off old dust and dirt and to pull out any debris like leaves. Mine was really clogged when i bought the truck. also cleaning the wheel on the blower will let thr fan blow more air and easier on blower motor
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Louisville, KY
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
NAPA sells an air conditioning deoderizer kit. $$$ Works good.
An alternative is to get some Febreze and spray about 1/2 of the bottle into the intake vents while the fan is on high.
Let me know if that works. I've only used the NAPA kits at work.
An alternative is to get some Febreze and spray about 1/2 of the bottle into the intake vents while the fan is on high.
Let me know if that works. I've only used the NAPA kits at work.
wouldnt it be easier to spray with the fan off and then turn it on?
New User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Austin,TX
I'm talking about from the engine compartment side , not inside the cab
And cleaning the core (looks like a tiny radiator)with a water hose, with the spray nozzle set to real gentle (don't want to flood the cab by using more water than can drain out.
once you pull the blower out you can ALSO clean the fan blades
After all that, a deodorizer spray will work much better or might not be necessary
Sort of like using deodorant without taking a shower first--- its just not as effective
And cleaning the core (looks like a tiny radiator)with a water hose, with the spray nozzle set to real gentle (don't want to flood the cab by using more water than can drain out.
once you pull the blower out you can ALSO clean the fan blades
After all that, a deodorizer spray will work much better or might not be necessary
Sort of like using deodorant without taking a shower first--- its just not as effective
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
I just went through this very ordeal with my '99 F350. Pulling the blower out revealed that I had very little access to the evaporator coil. I raked the glop out of the drain with my finger to make sure it was clear.
What I ended up doing to clean the coil was using a dish soap bottle full of coil cleaner (hardware store) and a length of flexible tubing. The tubing was necessary to get to about the upper 2/3 of the evaporator. Just squeezed the cleaner up there and let it bubble the garbage out. Also pulled the rheostat coils (mounted lower than and to the right of the blower when looking under the hood) to be sure the cleaner didn't damage them. I then took the garden hose and blasted the remaing goop out the drain, mopped the water out of the blower housing and put it all back together. No smell, and the airflow has noticeably improved.
What I ended up doing to clean the coil was using a dish soap bottle full of coil cleaner (hardware store) and a length of flexible tubing. The tubing was necessary to get to about the upper 2/3 of the evaporator. Just squeezed the cleaner up there and let it bubble the garbage out. Also pulled the rheostat coils (mounted lower than and to the right of the blower when looking under the hood) to be sure the cleaner didn't damage them. I then took the garden hose and blasted the remaing goop out the drain, mopped the water out of the blower housing and put it all back together. No smell, and the airflow has noticeably improved.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Originally Posted by FarmerPhilCo
wouldnt it be easier to spray with the fan off and then turn it on?
Lead Driver
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
In many vehicles it's difficult to physically impossible reach the surfaces of the evaporator and especially the far side of it. The standard procedure is to run the car for 15 minutes or so with the AC off and the fan on high to dry out any water that may be remaining in the system. Then with the fan still on high spray the deoderant into the recirculate opening inside the car and the high speed fan will dispirse the chemical throughout the AC system.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Originally Posted by Pikachu
That still won't remove the crud which is in the evap coil or drain, it just treats the symptoms. A 5 year old vehicle is probably due for a cleaning anyhow. You should be able to do it in less than an hour.
You haven't tried this procedure on an Audi have you? Less than an hour??? 
I'll agree that a truck is a lot easier and an hour would be reasonable.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
You haven't tried this procedure on an Audi have you? Less than an hour??? I'll agree that a truck is a lot easier and an hour would be reasonable.