AC Smells
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 597
Likes: 9
From: near Newburypot MA
AC Smells
My AC smells yucky when I first turn it on for a couple of minutes ...
then it is fine thereafter. Can I clean or rinse or put some freshener somewhere ... ?
02 vert TR MN6 15,000 miles
then it is fine thereafter. Can I clean or rinse or put some freshener somewhere ... ?
02 vert TR MN6 15,000 miles
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
There is a TSB on this stinky AC on start-up deal. It talks about mold and such and I believe GMs fix is to drill a hole in a certain part of the plenum and spray some GM magic stink eliminator part number !*^(%^&#@$^% Repeat if necessary. Also check the udder (AC condensate drain) located on the passengers side firewall, low.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
Cosmic Charlie,
Saw the same TSB as mentioned earlier, so if the problem is bad, might need to do that.
Otherwise, you could try spraying Fabreeze or something similiar into the cowel vent (base of driver side windshield) while AC on and fan on high.
What we do is always turn off AC, but leave fan on, a few minutes before getting to our destination/home. This way the evaporator has a chance to warm up and dry off, to hopefully reduce any chance of smells/mold/mildew from growing.
Saw the same TSB as mentioned earlier, so if the problem is bad, might need to do that.
Otherwise, you could try spraying Fabreeze or something similiar into the cowel vent (base of driver side windshield) while AC on and fan on high.
What we do is always turn off AC, but leave fan on, a few minutes before getting to our destination/home. This way the evaporator has a chance to warm up and dry off, to hopefully reduce any chance of smells/mold/mildew from growing.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Do a search and/or check at your local auto parts store for products designed specifically for this smell problem in HVACs. Then, as others have stated, clean out your udders and drain tube as well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Erie County, Pennsylvania
Not All Chevy Dealers Are The Same....
....I spoke with two Chevy dealers about my similar problem. One, immediately told me he HAD to rip the interior out to look for THE leak. His "estimate" for "looking" was $400.00 ! Another dealer told me it was "probably" the condensor...his estimate was $1100.00 !
Finally....I stopped at a small Chevy dealer in Conneaut, Ohio....Service Manager explained that sometimes you get a mold build up from whatever. Not a leak said he. Anyhow....he scammed a spray can of FRIDGI-FRESH from his HVAC mechanic....had me open the hood, start the car, turn on the air full blast and sprayed the FRIDGI-FRESH into the cowl. It's been more than two months now....no odors.
DG
Finally....I stopped at a small Chevy dealer in Conneaut, Ohio....Service Manager explained that sometimes you get a mold build up from whatever. Not a leak said he. Anyhow....he scammed a spray can of FRIDGI-FRESH from his HVAC mechanic....had me open the hood, start the car, turn on the air full blast and sprayed the FRIDGI-FRESH into the cowl. It's been more than two months now....no odors.
DG
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 39
From: Central NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'08-'10
There are numerous products out there for this issue. It's caused by mildew in the evaporator core box. They make cans of foam that you spray into the vent tube which then expands and cleans the fins and box. Then it melts and drains back out. That's the idea at least. There are also sprays that you can direct into the cowl opening as mentioned. Good luck. 
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton, FL
This is what I do and it works great. South Florida is the perfect breeding ground for mold, so I spray 1X/week in summer. I don't like the fruity/flowery smell of Fabreeze, so I use Ozium.
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