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Air conditioner air intake?

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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 02:20 PM
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Default Air conditioner air intake?

The air coming out of my air conditioner has a smell to it. I would like to run some air cleaner/mold remover through it. So my question is, where does the air conditioner get the air it uses?

Last edited by Crispyc21; Aug 4, 2014 at 10:21 PM.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 03:36 PM
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A couple of things to check here and maybe resolve your issue the easy way

The HVAC gets it FRESH AIR from the area at the base of the windshield. Remove the wiper arms and then the plastic COWL Cover:

The area on the passengers side of the cowl well is the opening for the air intake:



The well on the drivers side contains three drain udders and if they CLOG, with leaf and trash debri, it can make a HORRIBLE mold mildue smell. Clean out that well and that may take care of the issue.

I have seen mice build nest in the HVAC AC Evaporator area and or in the HVAC Fan. Mice nest STINK real bad. Ask me how I know:




If your HVAC Condensate drain isnt draining properly, it will cause mold to build up on the evaporator cooling coil and the walls of the HVAC air box. Make sure that the drain nipple on the engine fire wall is fraining properly




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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 06:03 PM
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Something you might be interested in. When I bought my Z, after you turned the car off it would wait about 10 minutes then turn the blower motor on full blast for about 5 seconds. Then it would do it again in another 10 minutes. When I installed a new stereo I removed the plastic trim in the passenger foot well. Found out its to blow off the excess water off of the AC coil so it will not smell musky. Bottom line is that it works great.


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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 06:10 PM
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Once I am sure the udders are clean, I will turn exterior fan on HIGH and squirt a couple of shots of Lysol into the cabin air intake (bottom of windshield). It kills the mold and gets rid of the smell.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Paul 75 L82
Something you might be interested in. When I bought my Z, after you turned the car off it would wait about 10 minutes then turn the blower motor on full blast for about 5 seconds. Then it would do it again in another 10 minutes. When I installed a new stereo I removed the plastic trim in the passenger foot well. Found out its to blow off the excess water off of the AC coil so it will not smell musky. Bottom line is that it works great.


Cool! Turns out that's called an afterblow module or "Delayed Blower Control Module Kit." Just ordered one myself
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 06:52 PM
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Well now, I love the things you find when digging through these cars. So I know the drainage udders are clear and/or missing. The dirver’s side is missing so I just have a hole, and the passenger side is clear (I cleaned it a few months back).
So I removed the wipers/plastic COWL Cover and that’s when the discoveries began. I noticed a nice hole in the middle that looks like it was cut out to get to a sensor/plug in the back of the engine (see the first pick).
So then I shined a light in the fresh air intake a noticed some debris back their. I used my screw/tool picker-upper and the ‘debris’ just keep coming and coming and coming. After getting it all out I tried to get a vacuum in there to get any remaining small pieces.

Before I button all this back up. Anything else I can check?

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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 09:55 PM
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Wow looks like I'll be checking mine in the next day or two! Is it just the nuts on the wiper arms and then pop off the plastic cowl? I'd hate to pull on it and break something.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by JBird3
Wow looks like I'll be checking mine in the next day or two! Is it just the nuts on the wiper arms and then pop off the plastic cowl? I'd hate to pull on it and break something.
Yeah it's real easy to take off. Just the nuts to remove the wipers then maybe six plastic push tab type things you just pry off with a small screwdriver.
I could not believe the amount to crap stuck in there.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Curlee

If your HVAC Condensate drain isnt draining properly, it will cause mold to build up on the evaporator cooling coil and the walls of the HVAC air box. Make sure that the drain nipple on the engine fire wall is fraining properly




Where is this drain located? I can't tell by the picture.
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 11:23 PM
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Look on the passengers side of the engine compartment fire wall straight back from the rear of the passengers side cylinder head.. Its tough to get to from above so, you may need to get the car on a lift
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Old Aug 4, 2014 | 11:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Crispyc21
Well now, I love the things you find when digging through these cars. So I know the drainage udders are clear and/or missing. The dirver’s side is missing so I just have a hole, and the passenger side is clear (I cleaned it a few months back).
So I removed the wipers/plastic COWL Cover and that’s when the discoveries began. I noticed a nice hole in the middle that looks like it was cut out to get to a sensor/plug in the back of the engine (see the first pick).
So then I shined a light in the fresh air intake a noticed some debris back their. I used my screw/tool picker-upper and the ‘debris’ just keep coming and coming and coming. After getting it all out I tried to get a vacuum in there to get any remaining small pieces.

Before I button all this back up. Anything else I can check?

Looks like a mouse colony to me.
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