[SIZE=3]When it is damp outside there is a really rank smell that comes out of my heating/cooling vents. I think something went moldy or something died. It smells quite similar to an old cabin or a shed........mildewy? ewwwww
Any ideas on what it may be...or how to fix it?
Come on everyone "Name that smell"!!![/SIZE]

 

Does this odor linger for a long time after you start the car or does it go away in a minte or two?
If it's rainy or very damp outside to the point where I need to leave my AC compressor running on the windshield defogger, the next time I start my car I'll get a musty kind of smell coming from the vent.

 

i believe there is a TSB on this....Factotum...verify this!

 

my Rx for you: 1 squash air freshener (air spencer, the BLUE one) QD PRN!!!

 

First of all what's a TSB??
It is a smell tha comes after its damp outside and then lingers for 20-30 min then dies down.
I do have a squash air frensher......infact I am all about the squash air freshner.....come on who else rocks the fragrence of squash in their car!!

 

Anyone can chime in here...I've head of, but not seen, a kit that sqiurts a cleaning foam into the 'box' that surrounds the heater/cooling core. The foam cleaner is supposed to work into the fins of the core, clean the gunk out, dissolve, and then drain out the regular drain tube like normal A/C condensation. Anyone out there with a lead?

 

The Rodimus Prime is correct - there is a TSB and in it there is (AFAIK) a cleaner solution called out. I would be keenly interested in finding an after-market spray-in cleaner...

 

Aye, Mon Capitain. *salutes*

TSB 07-001/03

You can find it here:

http://web2.airmail.net/theman/protegefaq/tsb/

 

if you guys have the air circulating, i think its because of damp carpets and it sucks in the moisture causing sum odor. Best way to get rid of it is to lysol spray the carpets. It should get rid of it.

 

[COLOR=Magenta]Lysol Eh! I have tried that frebreeze crap but that doesn't seem to work. I think I just let snow sit in the car from cold days and finally when summer came around my car thawed out and the stank came![/COLOR]

 

First off, get in the habit of turning off the A/C a few minutes before you park the car. The condensation builds up in the vent and makes a nice breeding ground for the fungus to grow. If you shut off the A/C, but keep the fans running, it'll clear out most of the moisture from the ducting and allow the heat exchanger to warm back up so condensation doesn't build up when the system is idle.

To treat the current condition, if you don't feel like taking it in for service to get the ducting cleaned, find the ventilation system intake (usually in the cowl) and spray some lysol in there. It'll help to have the fans on high and recirc off when doing this.

 

and/or just run the heater on vent/high for a few minutes and cook it off....

(while riding with the windows down/cool day/highway)

 

Exactly, that's what I do, when I remember! Really helps.