Ac odor when first turns on...Phil help....

[Trigganometry]

I dealt with mold in the past in other cars. Being in the NE is a combination of factors. First it likes dark to really get going, add some moisture and keep adding for it to flourish. Once you have active spores it’s hard to get rid of but not impossible.
If you park in a shaded or cool spot or closed garages that are moist it only makes it worse. While being treated heat and fresh air are the best. I had one of these portable steam cleaners. Pulled vents and filter and shot the heck out of everything. Then let it sit in the sun. Sprayed disinfectant and then closed it up. Smelled like Lysol for a week but mold never came back. Even one spore left can start the whole thing over again.

Sponsored

 

[Ranger3]

So you are saying it's mold? It smells like silicone for 3 seconds and goes away....I can't see that it's mold....IF IT IS..it's something Ford did when they did the heater door and blend door. I wonder if it keeps happening can I get it as a lemon? That's obviously last resort

 

[Ranger3]

I dealt with mold in the past in other cars. Being in the NE is a combination of factors. First it likes dark to really get going, add some moisture and keep adding for it to flourish. Once you have active spores it’s hard to get rid of but not impossible.
If you park in a shaded or cool spot or closed garages that are moist it only makes it worse. While being treated heat and fresh air are the best. I had one of these portable steam cleaners. Pulled vents and filter and shot the heck out of everything. Then let it sit in the sun. Sprayed disinfectant and then closed it up. Smelled like Lysol for a week but mold never came back. Even one spore left can start the whole thing over again.

So what is your suggestion? I'm sure they are going to pull dash apart....where should I shoot Lysol in? They told me if it was mold it would show up on the cabin filter...? Is that true?

 

[Trigganometry]

So what is your suggestion? I'm sure they are going to pull dash apart....where should I shoot Lysol in? They told me if it was mold it would show up on the cabin filter...? Is that true?

Mold can or cannot show up in cabin filter. Depends on how bad the total spot(s) are. Others here have said their mats are wet from leaking windshield gaskets. So you may think HVAC and it’s really somewhere else. It will take some detective work on your part to zero in on the source and then eradication is next step. Spraying Lysol by itself could do something but highly unlikely if internal. So first is confirming that it is your HVAC that is the problem

 

[Ranger3]

It's confirmed cause there's no wet mats no moisture on windshields in am. That is for sure. I never had this until they worked on heater ox and blender door

 

[Trigganometry]

It's confirmed cause there's no wet mats no moisture on windshields in am. That is for sure. I never had this until they worked on heater ox and blender door

Ok, if they replaced the unit could just be fresh molded plastic out gassing. Possibly the sealants used putting it in. It’s not factory so wouldn’t surprise me if excess was applied and because of it more cure time. Like a lot more. Getting it in the sun and heating it up would help with that. Keep windows cracked so you can vent smell. Ya, you could spray frabreeze, Ozium on the filter to help when your in the car. Mold has a distinct smell and is also a sinus and eye irritant. Different smells of chemical band mold.

 

[Ranger3]

Ok, if they replaced the unit could just be fresh molded plastic out gassing. Possibly the sealants used putting it in. It’s not factory so wouldn’t surprise me if excess was applied and because of it more cure time. Like a lot more. Getting it in the sun and heating it up would help with that. Keep windows cracked so you can vent smell. Ya, you could spray frabreeze, Ozium on the filter to help when your in the car. Mold has a distinct smell and is also a sinus and eye irritant. Different smells of chemical band mold.

Very true that's why I'm pretty sure it's not mold....but people have said on here it could be....it smells like a silicone. Not mold or musty. My friend said it today cause he smelled it. The dealer didn't see any evidence of water or moisture. So i made another appointment where I assume they will take it further to find the root cause. May take dash apart again which I'm not looking forward too.

 

[NotBudule]

Did you try the heater on full blast to see if it would help cure it ? Assuming it is sealant ? A very wise man suggested that early on i believe ...

 

[Ranger3]

If this was winter time and you were blasting heat instead of cold , it would probably be gone by now ...

How long do u suggest? I did it for about 15 min twice today....my truck is kept in my driveway outside

 

[NotBudule]

as long as possible, drive it that way if you can stand it... IF it is indeed uncured sealant I would imagine that cold damp AC air would prolong it ... on a somewhat related issue. just this morning when I moved wifeys Nissan Murano outside to clean it ,nasty smell (2019) so I go looking for the cabin air , it's a major pain down under dash and was filthy , while it was out I opened the hood and had the AC on blast and just kept misting OdorBan in the intake vents until the car was filled with it, same approach should work with mold ,but sealant would need heat and airflow ideally ...imo...

 

[Ranger3]

as long as possible, drive it that way if you can stand it... IF it is indeed uncured sealant I would imagine that cold damp AC air would prolong it ... on a somewhat related issue. just this morning when I moved wifeys Nissan Murano outside to clean it ,nasty smell (2019) so I go looking for the cabin air , it's a major pain down under dash and was filthy , while it was out I opened the hood and had the AC on blast and just kept misting OdorBan in the intake vents until the car was filled with it, same approach should work with mold ,but sealant would need heat and airflow ideally ...imo...

I have a stupid question where is the intake vents? On a ranger? Can u send me a photo? And what should I spray?

 

[NotBudule]

it should be the cowl area at bottom of windshield, wipers come out of there also , I sprayed odorban, but lysol or mold be gone or whatever ?... I did it with the cabin filter out so the spray would fog the ductwork instead of stopping at the filter...

 

[NotBudule]

A little back story ! Way back in the day before all the car smell good products, we would put "fragrance " In our windshield washer fluid, when you wash the windshield, the smell good (or smell VERY BAD if your pranking somebody) fluid runs down windshield into cowl area and vents bring it inside ? !

 

[Ranger3]

Ok thanks for the advice....I will keep u updated....when I spray it in I should run the ac? Outside air?

 

[NotBudule]

Ok thanks for the advice....I will keep u updated....when I spray it in I should run the ac? Outside air?

I did it max on then off ,

Sponsored