Mildew smell from A/C?
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From: Iowa
Mildew smell from A/C?
Has anybody else experienced a moldy/ mildew smell from the air conditioner inside the truck cab?
I get a bad moldy/mildew smell when I turn on the Defrost or the A/C.
I have talked to my Ford Service department about this smell and they gave me a can of "Freeze Fresh" to spray into the air intake when I smell this odor. It claims to kill bacteria in the A/C unit. I have had to use this spray atleast once a week for several weeks now.
The service department says they can open up the A/C box and take a look but since the water does drain to the ground when the A/C is running they said that it is not a plugged drainage issue.
just wondering if anybody else has noticed this problem and what they have done or could do.
Thanks,
2004 F350 PSD CC DRW 4x4
I get a bad moldy/mildew smell when I turn on the Defrost or the A/C.
I have talked to my Ford Service department about this smell and they gave me a can of "Freeze Fresh" to spray into the air intake when I smell this odor. It claims to kill bacteria in the A/C unit. I have had to use this spray atleast once a week for several weeks now.
The service department says they can open up the A/C box and take a look but since the water does drain to the ground when the A/C is running they said that it is not a plugged drainage issue.
just wondering if anybody else has noticed this problem and what they have done or could do.
Thanks,
2004 F350 PSD CC DRW 4x4
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: NE Texas
It may be draining, but not completely. The drain hose could be dislocated (not fully seated at the bottom of the pan/box) and allowing moisture to remain inside.
Really, that's the only place moisture can build-up.
They need to look at the drainage system anyway...or else you'll always be spraying that junk in there.
Really, that's the only place moisture can build-up.
They need to look at the drainage system anyway...or else you'll always be spraying that junk in there.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
What most people think of as "moldy" smelling is really corroded aluminum from the evaporator. But, a lot of times, it smells like a combination.
Guess what I've used for this a few times? Plain old Lysol sprayed into the air intake (for the A/C unit, not the motor!). Make sure the A/C is not on "MAX" (that will recirculate inside-cab air), and spray into the air intake in front of the windshield (I think it's right there on the SD's, isn't it?).
Lysol will kill everything just as well as any other spray, I'd assume.... and it works! And comes in a few different scents now...
The other solution is to use the A/C from time to time. I notice it smells after not using it for a while, but after using it a few times, the smell goes away (which is that aluminum smell, it's not really a "mold" smell).
Anyway... was that enough rambling?
art k.
Guess what I've used for this a few times? Plain old Lysol sprayed into the air intake (for the A/C unit, not the motor!). Make sure the A/C is not on "MAX" (that will recirculate inside-cab air), and spray into the air intake in front of the windshield (I think it's right there on the SD's, isn't it?).
Lysol will kill everything just as well as any other spray, I'd assume.... and it works! And comes in a few different scents now...
The other solution is to use the A/C from time to time. I notice it smells after not using it for a while, but after using it a few times, the smell goes away (which is that aluminum smell, it's not really a "mold" smell).
Anyway... was that enough rambling?
art k.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Massachusetts
azzy522, I read your signature and see you have a 2004. When my 03' was "new", I have 40K miles on it know, I had that smell a lot. Have not had that smell for a while. Guessing it is that new plastic smell from the ducts.
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From: Iowa
The service manager told me that it was just cause it was new and that smell would go away. However I hav 11K miles now and I took him for a ride on another issue and he said "WOW" I did not know it was that bad. That is when he gave me the can of "Freeze Fresh"
What would happen if I pured straight bleach down the air intake on the cowl? whould it smell like bleach for along time?
Has anybody ever had a dealer open up the A/C evaporator box? I can see it from under the truck but it looks like one of them jobs that can only be performed with the engine out of the way. I would not think that would be a good engineering idea for service to the evapoator.
What would happen if I pured straight bleach down the air intake on the cowl? whould it smell like bleach for along time?
Has anybody ever had a dealer open up the A/C evaporator box? I can see it from under the truck but it looks like one of them jobs that can only be performed with the engine out of the way. I would not think that would be a good engineering idea for service to the evapoator.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
I wouldn't use bleach - no telling what it will do to the rubber seals and things, bad gases from reactions, aluminum+bleach?
I notice that if I use my vehicles (all Fords) alot, the smell goes away. If I do not use them, the A/C smells like rotten aluminum ...
I notice that if I use my vehicles (all Fords) alot, the smell goes away. If I do not use them, the A/C smells like rotten aluminum ...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: NE Texas
Originally Posted by azzy522
Has anybody ever had a dealer open up the A/C evaporator box?
Did you notice if the discharge hose was collapsed or crimped? Could you pull on it to see if it was seated all the way down?
I can't remember what the flange looks like from underneath, but it seems like you could tell if the "water" was coming exclusively out of the end of the hose or if, maybe, there was seepage where the hose connects to the box.
Just a suggestion.
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From: Iowa
When I was under the truck I could see where the water was dripping from on the bottom of the evaperator box but it was not comming out of a "discharge hose". It was just a hole in the bottom of the box. Is there supposed to be a discharge hose comming out of the box? How far is it supposed to hang down?
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From: NE Texas
Originally Posted by azzy522
When I was under the truck I could see where the water was dripping from on the bottom of the evaperator box but it was not comming out of a "discharge hose". It was just a hole in the bottom of the box. Is there supposed to be a discharge hose comming out of the box? How far is it supposed to hang down?
You just have a hole in the box???? No short nipple or anything? Odd...
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