Cabin air filter issue? Mildew smell occuring

[Ericalan350]

Hey folks,

I recently had my 2013 sport serviced at the dealer (hvac issue). It has been about two weeks and I am noticing a stale or mildew smell. I cannot pinpoint where it is coming from, but I rarely drive the vehicle and baby this thing. I do not eat in the car and I routinely clean it inside and out. I have some leather sented wafers that I put use and smell GREAT but they are no match for this smell. I have 41K on the truck (second owner) and have not replaced the cabin air filter. Any ideas?

[omar302]

Did you check the AC drain hose? Maybe it is clogged & water is leaking to the carpet inside.

 

Check this video from Mac:

 

[Ericalan350]

I will check that today. Thanks!

[Ericalan350]

Out of curiosity is it worth spending the money on a K&N cabin filter? Or is the Motorcraft the way to go?

[omar302]

I believe the only benefit would be that the K&N filter is washable. So you need to calculate how many filters you need to change for the cost of one K&N filter and see if it is worth it for you based on how frequently you might change the filter.

[enigma-2]

Personally I would never consider reusing a filter. The fine pores will retain molds and pollens. I prefer using charcoal filters, regular filters take out the pollen and other small stuff that get through the exterior filter, the charcoal will help on some other pollutants like diesel exhaust, burning leaves (doesn't eliminate the odors, but everything helps as wife has ashma).

I also use a filter enhancer to turn it into a low-micron filter.

For puroses of comparison, you can buy Motorcraft filters for under $14

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LPTGAE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zFlaAbR8V90E4

 

These are the filter I use:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A6NBO2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-HlaAbHNM48M5

Edited November 6, 2017 by enigma-2

[enigma-2]

Forgot to add the product I use on the filter to improve its efficiency. (Use it on my furnace filter as well).

PuraClean Filter Spray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0145I072I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_dtHaAbYFE7QR6

[1004ron]

My car was only a few weeks old and I started to get the damp smell, and realized that it was my extended use of the recirc button - it will auto switch off recirc and I'd turn it back on immediately.

 

I seldom use the recirc now and its all good now.

 

I realize that the chances are slim that this is your issue seeing as it only came up after you'd owned the car for some time.

[enigma-2]

If you follow OMAR302's video link above, you might also consider sanitizing the HVAC housing and kill any remaining mold.

 

Lubegard 96030 Kool-It Evaporator and Heater Foam Cleaner works well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007PHD0S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kDKaAb1X536FN

 

Youtube video on how to use:

[ben senise]

since your location is texas, i would venture to guess that you use your AC fairly often. i think that some cars get condensation in the ducts and that moisture becomes moldy/midewy or just plain stinky when the car is sitting with no air circulating through the ducts.

i even get that a bit here up north of the 49th from time to time and it's usually after i've been using the AC.

what i try to do is turn off the AC and turn up the fan a minute or two before i get where i'm going to give the system a chance to dry out. if i can, i crank the heater and the fan and i have found that this often solves the odor problem.

give it a shot, it's free, and let us know how it goes.

Edited November 8, 2017 by ben senise

[chefduane]

Good point about Texas, also MacT's point about the condensation drain is worth checking out. I blew out mine some months ago and was surprised at the amount of yuck gets trapped in there.

 

I do have a K+N re-usable cabin filter and I really can't say if it works any better that any AutoZone, Motorcarft, or O'Reilly filter. I paid $40 for it and a replaceable filter is, what, $12-$14? So prolly after 4 changes or so it pays for itself. I just like the re-usablility and if you use the correct cleaning solution you get a nice, fresh, smell after cleaning it. I also use an AEM re-usable air filter. I'm just a re-usable filter kinda' guy!

[Ericalan350]

Update.

 

I checked the drain tube from the a/c. I used compressed air to blow out the tube. I saw nothing that would lead me to believe the tube was clogged or an issue. The carpet or sound deading insulation was not damp around the tube at all either. The cabin filter does need to be replaced. However, The smell is not coming from the A/C vents. The smell is most noticeable or strongest when the vehicle has been sitting. I have scanned over the vehicle trying to pin point where its coming from but I have not been successful as of yet.

[Ericalan350]

My car was only a few weeks old and I started to get the damp smell, and realized that it was my extended use of the recirc button - it will auto switch off recirc and I'd turn it back on immediately.

 

I seldom use the recirc now and its all good now.

 

I realize that the chances are slim that this is your issue seeing as it only came up after you'd owned the car for some time.

 

@1004ron

Did you find that the re-circulation was the cause of the "damp" smell?

[1004ron]

 

@1004ron

Did you find that the re-circulation was the cause of the "damp" smell?

I'm pretty sure it was, because it took only a couple of days with it turned off for the smell to go.

 

I did a search on why it auto kicks off recirc mode, and a few sites cited the damp smell as the reason.

 

http://www.fordedgeforum.com/topic/12114-stop-the-recirculate-control-from-automatically-shutting-off/

[omar302]

@Ericalan350

 

Re-reading your original post, what kind of HVAC issue you had?

 

Also, does the smell only come once you first start the A/C or air after the vehicle had been sitting for a while? If yes, then it might be a smell from a leaking evaporator.