HVAC Stink
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
HVAC Stink
How do you keep from getting a stale, musty, or other malodorous situation in the air ducting? My '84 F150 never had a problem, but my '95 has air conditioning (which I suspect is the culprit) and today it actually was a bit chilly this morning so I turned on the heat and it had a bad odor. I switched to cold air and it was the same. But the air con only seems to be stale in the spring when you first run it. What I want to avoid is getting an odor that won't go away.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
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From: Enjoying the real world.
HVAC Stink
I run the vents for the last mile of the trip after having the A/C on in order to evaporate any condensed wated in the system. Also, I also run the vents on low about 50% of the time when not using the heat/ac to evaporate any water in the system. Seems to work.
Ken Payne
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Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
HVAC Stink
That explains it. I normally kept my '84 (no air) on defrost with the fan off, but with the '95 the wife often rides in it and since she can't stand how other people's exhaust will come in the vents, we have been keeping either off or on max-air. Strange, the Aerostar has been run this way for 5 years and never had a problem and the only difference is it is parked in the garage most of the time. Seems the mnfr made these with drain holes, but perhaps that is not enough.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 1
HVAC Stink
If you are up to it, you could remove the blower motor for an access hole to the evaperator, and, using a water hose/nozzle, flush away any built up "algae" that is present. I use a little wheel cleaner like "quick silver" to foam away the stuff that is really stuck. Before you start though, find your drain hole and be prepared to unclog it from underneath as you wash away the debris that is present. While you have the blower out, it is a perfect time to use an odor neutralizer that is sold at most parts stores for the A/C system,if you can find it, but isn't totally needed.
Phillip
Phillip
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
HVAC Stink
Thanks for the additional tip. As it turns out, it wasn't too bad this time and the odor went away after running the blower for a while. I think a few oil smokers and other old beaters that got in front of me helped de-odorize it when their foul exhaust fumes got sucked through it (obviously the wife was not in the truck at the time). May not hurt to clean it out periodically and keep the drain clear.
