Heater Smell?
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Heater Smell?
Hoping someone can help me out. I have a 2003 F350. I keep experiencing a periodic "musty" like smell whenever I have the heater on. I have researched this on this forum and feedback reports that the AC is typically to blame (evaporator needing to dry out). What is weird though is that I haven't used the AC at all given that is is winter, so not sure if that would be the culprit. When I mentioned it to my dealer, they stated they couldn't research unless I could demonstrate it to them, which is tough to do given its nature to occur only periodically and unpredicablly. Appreciate any advice or suggestions here. Thanks.
Postmaster
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From: OK
Heater Smell?
The AC compressor runs in all but 3 dial positions so it is very possible that the musty smell you have is from that system.
Ford offers a bottle of "disinfectant" but I don't know if you can buy it from the parts dept or if it is only for technician use. A friend of mine gave me a bottle. Not sure which smells worse- the mildew or the chemical.
Ford offers a bottle of "disinfectant" but I don't know if you can buy it from the parts dept or if it is only for technician use. A friend of mine gave me a bottle. Not sure which smells worse- the mildew or the chemical.
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Heater Smell?
Thanks for the advice. Am curious if this is an emerging problem with late model vehicles, or at least Fords. I had a similar problem with a 2000 Lincoln LS too. They finally added a kit that kept the evaporator running for a specified amount of time after I turned the motor off to help dry out the AC evaporator. I don't recall every having this kind of problem with any older vehicle. So am wondering if it is due to government mandated design or chemical in use. As always, opinions welcomed
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Junior User
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Heater Smell?
Thanks for the advice. Am curious if this is an emerging problem with late model vehicles, or at least Fords. I had a similar problem with a 2000 Lincoln LS too. They finally added a kit that kept the evaporator running for a specified amount of time after I turned the motor off to help dry out the AC evaporator. I don't recall every having this kind of problem with any older vehicle. So am wondering if it is due to government mandated design or chemical in use. As always, opinions welcomed
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Junior User
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Heater Smell?
Thanks for the advice. Am curious if this is an emerging problem with late model vehicles, or at least Fords. I had a similar problem with a 2000 Lincoln LS too. They finally added a kit that kept the evaporator running for a specified amount of time after I turned the motor off to help dry out the AC evaporator. I don't recall every having this kind of problem with any older vehicle. So am wondering if it is due to government mandated design or chemical in use. As always, opinions welcomed
Posting Guru
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Heater Smell?
I"ve had a similar problem before in a 1990 Camaro -- I used some Lysol disinfectant in the vents. Worked well. My mother had a problem with her 1998 Mercedes Benz ML-320. The dealer told her the same thing I already knew -- spray it with Lysol (she wasn't happy hearing that response for a $50,000 vehicle still under warrantee).
Sit. Stay.
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Heater Smell?
Originally posted by mlc5967
Hoping someone can help me out. I have a 2003 F350. I keep experiencing a periodic "musty" like smell whenever I have the heater on. .
Hoping someone can help me out. I have a 2003 F350. I keep experiencing a periodic "musty" like smell whenever I have the heater on. .
It is recommended that you leave them in an "open" position rather than in the off position.
I cannot imagine the "musty" smell coming from the AC but maybe from a (possibly) small leak in the heater core?
Lysol works wonders but so does cold air! Try leaving your vents open when you park.
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Heater Smell?
I leave them in the open position. I'll plan on speaking to my dealer again to see if they can check for a leak in the heater core. I can handle the idea of using a disinfectant spray if the problem is truly one of mold. But I would like to make sure that it is not a problem due to some leak as you and others have suggested. So will follow up on that one. Thanks.
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From: Long Island
Heater Smell?
Mine used to smell also.To help gas mileage, I put a switch in to shut off the a/c when I have the bi-level and defroster on. No more stink with the a/c anymore also. I know that ford has the a/c come on all the time to prolong the life of the a/c components but hey if in fails it's under warrenty and the increase in power and fuel economy is well worth it.
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