a/c stinks!

[cgd7777777]

I have an '07 Chevy Tahoe and the a/c smells horrible when it first comes on a musty vinegary smell
Any tips on anything to clean, hoses or drains to unclog
or any filters?
I sprayed Lysol on the outside where it sucks fresh air in while running and it didn't help much

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: a/c stinks!

I have an '07 Chevy Tahoe and the a/c smells horrible when it first comes on a musty vinegary smell
Any tips on anything to clean, hoses or drains to unclog
or any filters?
I sprayed Lysol on the outside where it sucks fresh air in while running and it didn't help much

Well, I'm from Illinois, but right now I wish I could say I'm from Texas.
Read any "news" on us lately.

Since it's probably still warm down there, turn your a/c on and make sure water is coming out your evaporator drain. You should see water coming out about even with the firewall on the passenger side or middle of the vehicle. Mold/mildew, etc. growing in the hvac system is a common problem, especially in high humidity area's. GM dealer's sell a spray for this problem. Ask them for advice. Your vehicle also has a cabin air filter. Change it.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: a/c stinks!

I have found the spray at auto parts stores too.
Put the AC on high and have it on recirculate.
The air intake where you spray is under the passenger side dash.
You will see it suck the spray up.
Ditto on checking that it drains too..And changing the cabin air filter.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: a/c stinks!

Check to see if you have a cabin air filter and replace that too. I have in the past opened up cabin air filters and pumped febreeze in with the ac on recirculate. It's probably a mold or standing water in the system.

Evaporator drain and the vent drains need to be clean.

 

[JB]

Re: a/c stinks!

A/C filters and blowers are favorite places for mice to build nests. It gets really bad when your blower had killed one of the little buggers and it starts to decay.


Over the past 10 years I had three mouse nests removed, including one mouse carcass.. . .PHEW!!.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: a/c stinks!

A/C filters and blowers are favorite places for mice to build nests. It gets really bad when your blower had killed one of the little buggers and it starts to decay.


Over the past 10 years I had three mouse nests removed, including one mouse carcass.. . .PHEW!!.

I know that was super smelly!....yuck!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: a/c stinks!

..including one mouse carcass.. . .PHEW!!.

Me too, in my 99 Montana. Luckily mine didn't stink.

Changing the Cabin Air Filter is the first place to start.

 

[cgd7777777]

Re: a/c stinks!

I'm gonna check that tommrow thanks
i hope no dead animals but we are missing a cat! lol

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: a/c stinks!

A/C filters and blowers are favorite places for mice to build nests. It gets really bad when your blower had killed one of the little buggers and it starts to decay.


Over the past 10 years I had three mouse nests removed, including one mouse carcass.. . .PHEW!!.

When I was Toyota I was the poor bugger that had to remove the mouse and his leftovers from the heater/ac system. What a nasty job.

 

[jacknbella]

Re: a/c stinks!

In the off-hwy vehicle market, I've seen similar issues with brand new evaporator and condenser coils. Some OEM's will ask coil manufacturers to comply with special cleanliness specifications which forces them to burn-off cleaning solvents or something similar and if the process is cut short, the solvent may "coat" itself to the cooling fins and thus, the A/C system will "smell"... Hopefully though, it's just a dirty filter or dead rodent...

 

[NHGuy]

Re: a/c stinks!

I just read your original post. It's darn near definite that the drain in your evaporator box is clogged. Clean the drain to get the chamber to stay dry. If it's too much of a pain in the derriere to dissassemble and clean get a can of Lysol, that does a good job. Just get the a/c system going and shoot some cleaner in there. You can decide based on results whether to leave it sitting for a bit or to just run it through. You don't have to use special a/c cleaners although they usually work well. I like the stuff from BG products or Wynns. I've used them both. The BG is basically aerosol propelled baking soda.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: a/c stinks!

A/C filters and blowers are favorite places for mice to build nests. It gets really bad when your blower had killed one of the little buggers and it starts to decay.


Over the past 10 years I had three mouse nests removed, including one mouse carcass.. . .PHEW!!.

My daughter had a 'possum crawl up into hers from the outside, and die - talk about smell. It was a Toyota Solara.