Air Vent Smells Like a Sock!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 347
Likes: 4
From: Woodstown NJ
Air Vent Smells Like a Sock!!
I purchased a 2001 Coupe on the 19th of this month. As with any old car it is going to have its quircks. I noticed that when I do not have the fan on I hear a hissing sound for the left side of the car and the car starts to smell like an old gym sock. If I turn on the fan or the A/C the smell and the noise goes away. Any ideas on what this could be.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Please provide some more details as to the location of the hissing sound. Have you pulled the codes yet? Is the smell a sulphur type smell or moisture? Left side of the car from the inside or outside looking in? Have you checked the coolant level? Any abnormal indications on the analog gauges or digital readout on the DIC? Is the HVAC system running normally? Plugged udders?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 347
Likes: 4
From: Woodstown NJ
All of the codes that the computer shows are historic and none of them deal with the a/c. The hissing sound is on the inside of the car. I can hear it when I am sitting in the drivers seat and cannot determine if it is coming from above the gauge cluster or from the door vent. The gauges all seem fine. The oil pressure is around 40 psi and the coolant seems to be between 205 and 220. The smell is like an old gym sock or a wet bathing suit that has been left in the washing machine. Plugged udders?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Maybe it's mold growing in the AC vents. Try this- open the windows/doors/hatch/remove the top and turn the air to max power and outside air. Then, take a can of lysol and empty it into the various air intakes in the cowl. This will kill any bacteria in the air vents.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I'm thinking that you have a vacuum line leak under the dash, but I don't remember any vacuum lines under the left side of the dash. Its possible that the sound is working its way over there but thats remote. The udder is the drain for the HVAC. It drains into the engine compartment via a rubber drain line. Search here in the forum as there are several good pictures of its location at the firewall, slightly to the passenger side and its an "L" shaped tube. They get plugged up from dust/debris over time therefore trapping water in the HVAC. The hissing sound still hase me concerned....I would stake out the center dash console, then the knee bolster but making sure everything is still connected, then turn on the key and see if I could locate this sound.
Now on the inside of the engine compartment on the driver's side, the vacuum assist brake booster is right there...have you listened for this sound with the hood open?
Now on the inside of the engine compartment on the driver's side, the vacuum assist brake booster is right there...have you listened for this sound with the hood open?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 347
Likes: 4
From: Woodstown NJ
I will listen to make sure it is not the brake booster before I leave work. the only reason I don't think it is coming from the brake booster is that the noise stops the moment that I turn the fan on. Even if I turn the fan on to the lowest setting all of the noise stops.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
If this is done is the Lysol smell ever gone?
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I have an older Yukon that might benifit from this treatment...
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
The lysol smell does remain for a few days yes. But it will dissipate. Faster if you drive around with the windows down alot, or park in the garage with the windows down. I've done this on a few of my cars I've owned over the years.
