Smelly AC

[captainhero]

Hi
My AC system gets quite a bit smelly after driving, turning the car off for a while and restarting the car. Smells of feet/wet dog. Delightful.
To be fair this happens to many other cars but this is quite a lot more potent in the ranger.

Is there anything to clean up ? any maintenance to do ? i dont believe the ranger come with a cabin air filter. What else should i be looking at ?

Thanks

 

[Denisefwd93]

What year / age? Is your truck? Could be anything from dead critters like a mouse leaves mold and mildew. If it's been running a very long time on a partial refrigerant charge you could be getting buildup of mold and mildew also.

 

[adsm08]

Probably wet moldy crap in the evap core. There are a number of products on the market meant to clean them.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Cleaning out the cowl may help immensely.

 

[91stranger]

I would change the cabin air filter. Google says you have one. I've never owned a ranger newer than 1999 so I couldn't tell you for sure. I would at least check for a filter before assuming you don't have one. Open glove box, pinch tabs to open all the way and you should see the cabin filter. I would look around for critter droppings or anything else that could leave a smell. You can also try sticking some charcoal in the glove box area or in the truck to help get rid of the odor. The longer you leave it the better it will work. Aftermarket sprays only work temporarily unless you buy quality.

 

[captainhero]

Probably wet moldy crap in the evap core. There are a number of products on the market meant to clean them.

I think that's what it is. It' not extreme enough to be a dead mouse haha. I had no idea such products existed. I just ordered some ! i will also check if there's stuff in the cowl.
Thanks !

 

[Denisefwd93]

Critters usually mummify in environments like that instead of rotting. You have airbags I think which make the cabin size of working on the HVAC very difficult getting to the evaporator on the engine side is near impossible unless you remove the whole assembly! You could drill a hole in the case and inject cleaner foam, or remove the blower motor and squirrel cage, that should be easy access to the side of the evaporator that gets clogged with junk.

 

[adsm08]

I would change the cabin air filter. Google says you have one. I've never owned a ranger newer than 1999 so I couldn't tell you for sure. I would at least check for a filter before assuming you don't have one. Open glove box, pinch tabs to open all the way and you should see the cabin filter. I would look around for critter droppings or anything else that could leave a smell. You can also try sticking some charcoal in the glove box area or in the truck to help get rid of the odor. The longer you leave it the better it will work. Aftermarket sprays only work temporarily unless you buy quality.

Google is a liar. The Rangers never got one.

 

[Dirtman]

Ozone machines do wonders for mold and mildew in the hvac system. You can get small ones fairly cheap. Seal up the truck and run the ozone for several hours, turning the ac and heat on once in a while. And while the ac runs, spray lysol down into the cowl.

 

[Curious Hound]

It's probly chowdah. Good luck to you.

 

[Snoranger]

Ozone machines do wonders for mold and mildew in the hvac system. You can get small ones fairly cheap. Seal up the truck and run the ozone for several hours, turning the ac and heat on once in a while. And while the ac runs, spray lysol down into the cowl.

Then spill soup in the vents a week later.

 

[JerryC]

After you get it cleaned up make a habit of turning the AC off , leaving the fan on high and switch to fresh air. Let it run a bit to dry out the evaporator before you turn the truck off.
Otherwise water sits on the evaporator and keeps humidity in the ducting providing a good place for mold and mildew.

 

[captainhero]

Got a cleaner spray that's supposed to be shot up via the drain tube ... only problem I couldnt find a drain tube ! i saw water dripping i think directly from the core onto some heat shielding and then onto the fender liner ... is there no drain tube in the rangers ? or did i lose mine ?

 

[Dirtman]

There is no tube, just a nipple on the bottom of the hvac box.

 

[Ozuye10]

Where is the cowl? I have a 2004 XL