When the A/C starts up it blows out a musty smell. How do I clean it?

 

I sprayed Lysol into the screen right below the windshield. Also I sprayed a few sprays into the vents. It has worked well for me so far.

 

Every ac i've ever had in a car smells like that when it first turns on.

 

Dealers use a spray called frigyfresh that kills the bactira that causes the smell. I've used it and it works pretty well. Its commercial use only but I bet you could buy it. If not, get some kind of fog spray that kills bactira. Turn your ac on high with fresh air (nor recirculate) and spray it into your cowl vent.

 

To help prevent the smell, let the engine run with the A/C off for a few minutes next time before shutting down.

 

Here are a few things to check out! This is where mine was coming from:

On the drivers side of the windshield Cowl there is a shallow well that houses your wiper motor and the wiper motor controler. There are three rubber UTTER drains that get clogged up. The leaves, acrons, plant matter and GOOK really can smel bad not to mention that the water that doesnt drain out can cause the wiper motor to fail.

Here are some pictures of the drains:







HERE IS A SHOT OF THE ENTIRE WELL AND UTTERS!!!



WHEN YOU CLEAN OUT THE UDDERS, THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL FIND!!




Man does it STINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

Milk out the crap and flush the well out with a hose. Recheck for debreis.

There is one other thing that can cause a AC smell and that is a clogged AC air box drain. When the AC or Deforst is on, condensation will form on the evaporator. It needs to drain out and the evap coil need to dry off. If the drain is clogged, the condensation can not drain out and stuff will start to grow in the air box!

Here is the rubber drain tube:



The crinped end will clog up with slime. Recommend trimming the crimp off!



Rubber tube on the fire wall drictly behind the passengers side cylinder head. (engine removed for clairity!! :eek: )





Hope that helps

Let me know what you find in the drains and if that helps with the smell!!! :thumbs:

Bill C

 

Great tip, Bill. Thanks for the informative post and disclosive pictures.

 

Thanks!

That's another PM item that I can add to my list.