HVAC Musty Smell / Odor

[MidLifeManifustang]

My '24 Convertible has started blasting a mold / musty smell from its air vents. The problem has gotten worse despite my attempts to dry the coil/evaporator by running the fan with no A/C after a drive.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, what worked to fix the problem?

I've had this problem in other cars and the only fix that worked was to inject disinfectant foam like Lubegard Kool-it up the condensation drain pipe to fully immerse the evaporator. I've never gotten any benefit from just spraying Lysol or other mists into the HVAC intake.

Thanks!

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[LouG]

My wife's car started doing that, a cabin filter change sorted it.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

You can look into an aftermarket high quality Hepa cabin air filter….something with charcoal. I’m sure there are many Youtube videos showing you how to install it yourself and save a $100.

 

[Zig]

Does it spend time in the rain? Trying to determine if potential ac condensation drain or door panel water shield or window seal. Recirc usage? But yeah tried cabin filter?

 

[MidLifeManifustang]

Does it spend time in the rain? Trying to determine if potential ac condensation drain or door panel water shield or window seal. Recirc usage? But yeah tried cabin filter?

Unfortunately, I don't have a garage for it yet and though I don't typically drive it in the rain if I have a choice, it gets rained on frequently. My driveway is surrounded by trees that are trying to kill my cars in various ways (sap, leaves, flowers, seeds, broken branches, pooping perch for birds) so I've often vacuumed the HVAC intake grill under the hood and now park my car in the street almost all the time.

When the A/C is running, it's almost always in AUTO mode. To be honest, I haven't paid much attention to whether this mode keeps it in recirc all the time but I'm guessing it does.

Swapping the filter has never fixed the problem on other vehicles for me (presumably because the coil is downstream from the cabin filter). That said, it's an easy thing to try so I'll give it a shot and report back.

 

[Danielz]

You can look into sanitizing it with an ozone generator for cars. I use it in apartments when tenants leave, and the apartments are left with smells and odors. Keep in mind that ozone is toxic if you breathe it, so follow the instructions thoroughly. There are plenty of forums with instructions on how to use them. Among other things, they recommend removing the cabin filter, running the ozone generator, and putting a new filter afterwards. Keep us posted on how things went.

 

[Neggytive]

Is the heater box/AC drain clogged?

When you run the AC do you see condensate water under the car?

If it is blocked or partially blocked you will start getting mold in the box, and that is a bad thing

 

[Zig]

You can look into sanitizing it with an ozone generator for cars. I use it in apartments when tenants leave, and the apartments are left with smells and odors. Keep in mind that ozone is toxic if you breathe it, so follow the instructions thoroughly. There are plenty of forums with instructions on how to use them. Among other things, they recommend removing the cabin filter, running the ozone generator, and putting a new filter afterwards. Keep us posted on how things went.

5% vinegar (plain) misted will combat odor however only works as long as the source has been prevented.

 

[MidLifeManifustang]

Is the heater box/AC drain clogged?

When you run the AC do you see condensate water under the car?

If it is blocked or partially blocked you will start getting mold in the box, and that is a bad thing

Water drips from near the transmission when I run the A/C. Seems to come out closest to the driver’s side. I assume that’s where it should be dripping from?

I just popped in a new cabin filter a few minutes ago but haven’t done a proper sniff test yet. The smell is worst after the car has been parked for a bit. Stay tuned.

 

[SmoothButter]

Mine also smells musty when it starts! Been meaning to look into this/start a thread for a while now! Glad you did.

Mine is stored in the garage, thought it does rain a lot sometimes in NC

 

[LouG]

Unfortunately, I don't have a garage for it yet and though I don't typically drive it in the rain if I have a choice, it gets rained on frequently. My driveway is surrounded by trees that are trying to kill my cars in various ways (sap, leaves, flowers, seeds, broken branches, pooping perch for birds) so I've often vacuumed the HVAC intake grill under the hood and now park my car in the street almost all the time.

When the A/C is running, it's almost always in AUTO mode. To be honest, I haven't paid much attention to whether this mode keeps it in recirc all the time but I'm guessing it does.

Swapping the filter has never fixed the problem on other vehicles for me (presumably because the coil is downstream from the cabin filter). That said, it's an easy thing to try so I'll give it a shot and report back.

Car cover.

 

[Frogdog1]

I read somewhere or it may have been YouTube, to take the cabin filter out, and blow compressed air or the other end of a shop vac through the system and it helps to blow the crap out ahead of the filter. I'll find out soon.

 

[MidLifeManifustang]

Car cover.

I have one and found it’s too much of a PITA to remove and reinstall every time I’m going somewhere. Also, it’s tricky to (un)install it alone while keeping the inside of it from touching the driveway and picking up grit.

 

[LouG]

I have one and found it’s too much of a PITA to remove and reinstall every time I’m going somewhere. Also, it’s tricky to (un)install it alone while keeping the inside of it from touching the driveway and picking up grit.

True. It's toss up between protection and PIA. I've got a cover to take on longer road trips. In some places you don't want people to see your car.

 

[SmoothButter]

Water drips from near the transmission when I run the A/C. Seems to come out closest to the driver’s side. I assume that’s where it should be dripping from?

I just popped in a new cabin filter a few minutes ago but haven’t done a proper sniff test yet. The smell is worst after the car has been parked for a bit. Stay tuned.

Any update?

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