Smelly air vents

[sileighty83]

Hey everyone, I have a slight issue with my air vent stench and hope that some people can shed some light on this for me.

I've owned two 240sx's so far and both have had this weird odor, like a musty old forest w/ mold or something like that haha.:D It is really strong when it rains and the rain goes into my outer air ducts. I was wondering if others have encountered this and have any tips to help make my car smell clean again.

thank you.

[S14DB]

It's mold growing on the evaporator core. When you run AC never turn it off and let hot outside air to circulate though. Some people think they are saving gas by turning it off before they get to their destination and letting outside air flow through. This just allows the bacteria and mold a warm wet place to grow.

The best way is to soak the Evaporator and the Heat Exchanger in CLR to get it all out. But you have to take the whole HVAC system out and remove them from the box.

Easier solution is a cleaning foam you can get at the auto parts store. You drill a ~1/8" hole in the air box holding the Evaporator. Install a valve from the kit. Then hook up the hose on the can to it and pump the box full of foam. After it's finished working it drips out the stock drain.

[sileighty83]

but I dont have A/C and my air box doesn't have an evaporator...I dont think?

[S14DB]

Do you still have the 2 silver lines coming out of your firewall?

[chuy]

Use Lysol

And because I have to have 10

[sileighty83]

Do you still have the 2 silver lines coming out of your firewall?
^^
I'll check it out and let you know. thanks!




Use Lysol

And because I have to have 10

^^
Hmmm supposed to kill 99.9% might work? :D

[ANVIL]

one of the dealerships i used to work at used to have a machine to clean out all the mold from your heater system. sorta like a smoke machine they leave in your car for like 30 min or hr i forget that kills all the mold and leaves everything smelling nice. worked everytime. im sure someone local to you has something like that.

[sileighty83]

sweet I'll have to ask around. I'm sure a dealership would cost me a fortune though. thank you!

[sliEighty]

lysol is supposed to work ive heard that one before... its worth a shot.

[DMaxUSA]

Try this out:

1Z einszett German Car Care Products - Air Conditioner Cleaner, Odor Remover (http://www.1z-usa.com/AC_Cleaner.html)

[ErocKs13]

when i worked at a GM dealership, whenever we would get a car that was rained in or whatever. it would have that moldy smell like you are talking about. the best and easiest solution i would reccommend trying is using something called "Frigifresh" i know they have it at gm dealerships but you spray it inside your vents and the long vent at the very top of the dash and it kills all the mold and bacteria. it worked really well. you might wanna try to find some. its in a small aresol can made by BG i believe. hope this helps

[S14DB]

^^
I'll check it out and let you know. thanks!

^^
Hmmm supposed to kill 99.9% might work? :DLysol would leave a residue.
You can mix a cup of bleach with a gallon of water and pour it in the vents below the windsheld wipers. Just don't do it at the same time as the foam. Won't be as effective as the foam. But will get rid of any mold in the air intake.

Try this out:

1Z einszett German Car Care Products - Air Conditioner Cleaner, Odor Remover (http://www.1z-usa.com/AC_Cleaner.html)

Yeah, That's the stuff I used.

[NISMOTUNEDZ]

Stop hot boxin in it..

[Rnz520]

check for dead rodents, or snakes.

[aoiken3]

i wonder if these odor cleaners would also get rid of the beehive that somehow got there in my friend's toyota camry.

[soreballz]

All the Toyota techs I know use Ozium.

[silpena]

clean all dirt, leaves, dead stuff under the windshield wipers. Its a common problem for cars that sit under trees alot. Stuff falls in the air intake and bacateria and molds grow.

[sileighty83]

clean all dirt, leaves, dead stuff under the windshield wipers. Its a common problem for cars that sit under trees alot. Stuff falls in the air intake and bacateria and molds grow.

^
it's clean a as a mofo but met with my Mechanic friend and got some good advice.

1. pull out the blower motor (I have no A/C nor did I before)

2. Shoot a recockulous amount of special cleaning foam stuff while the blower is on.

I hope this works, and after it We came up with an Idea to make a cabin air filter type thing for the black inlet box next to the blower. like custom fit a filter into the side of the box so passing air will be filtered. I might do a write up if all goes well. thanks for everyones imput and help!:bow:

[DMaxUSA]

You should really try out that product that I mentioned earlier.

1Z einszett German Car Care Products - Air Conditioner Cleaner, Odor Remover (http://www.1z-usa.com/AC_Cleaner.html)

It is an expanding water-based foam, so it will reach all the crevices of your air ventilation system. Since, its water-based, it will not leave a residue behind. It was originally designed for European cars where the evaporator box is a pain to access for cleaning. But with this cleaner, its a piece of cake. Works really well!

[sileighty83]

I think I will thanks =)

[alkemyst]

Lysol would leave a residue.
You can mix a cup of bleach with a gallon of water and pour it in the vents below the windsheld wipers. Just don't do it at the same time as the foam. Won't be as effective as the foam. But will get rid of any mold in the air intake.



Yeah, That's the stuff I used.

Be absolutely sure you have no leaks into the interior if you try to pour bleach into anything.

[voodoo_child]

when i worked at a GM dealership, whenever we would get a car that was rained in or whatever. it would have that moldy smell like you are talking about. the best and easiest solution i would reccommend trying is using something called "Frigifresh" i know they have it at gm dealerships but you spray it inside your vents and the long vent at the very top of the dash and it kills all the mold and bacteria. it worked really well. you might wanna try to find some. its in a small aresol can made by BG i believe. hope this helps

frigifresh works well i used on some vehicles i worked on with the same problem. make sure there's nothing dead inside, best thing to do is take it all apart just to make sure. its your car so better to make sure and do it right.