air conditioner smell

[aimee_in_TN]

Hi all.

I have an '02 touring edition cruiser. I have had the car 13 months. I have noticed that if I use the a/c a musty water smell takes over the car. I don't have it on recirculate it happens with the fresh air vent open. I asked at my dealer and they acted like I was stupid and said that it was normal. I was just wondering does any one else have this smelly problem. If so please let me know.

Thanks
Aimee

[airevac19]

Mine has done that as well. I used to live out in farm country in NC and i just chalked it up to that. I've since moved away from the farm area i was living at and i still get it sometimes.

[milPT]

jI have an 02', it does the same thing. I live in hawaii I think its because of the high humidity. Either way, its been like that in all the other cars that I have had as well. Not all the time, just sometimes.

[CREWZIN]

This was discussed to some length awhile back. I think milPT hit it with the humidity which leaves a mildew kind of smell. One owner said he gave all the vents a good shot of "Fabreeze" and it took the smell off...for how long I'm not sure but it's a cheap fix and might be worth a try.

[airevac19]

has anyone had any problems with the febreeze either staining the plastic or harming the air vents?

[Stone-PT]

A good idea, although hard to remember at first is to switch your ac fan off and switch the fan to the high speed in heater setting. I try to do this as I'm approaching my destination. In seconds the moisture will begin to evaporate fron the fins on the evaporator. The smell is due to this moisture being allowed to sit and "ferment". I do it now by habit in all our vehicles. As a matter of fact I think my 2001 owners manual even makes a reference to this very technique, I'll have to check it out in the morning. A cabin filter would help as well.[8D]

[quicksilverdon]

This is NOT a PT-specific problem. The latest issue of Popular Mechanics discusses this as common to cars - they recommend shutting A/C off and running fan on high before shutting car off as a preventitive. I've also read fabric softener sheets behind vents masks the smell, too.

[Cal Cruzer]

First thing you have to do is make sure that you have no blockage in any drainage tubes that are supposed to route water out of the HVAC systems. Then you can purchase a bottle of duct cleaner (for lack of remembering what it is acutally called) that will spray into the ducting and kill any fungus and odors that lurch there. Though I have not done this operation on my PT I did have to do it on my last mustang. It takes a few days for it to work completely but it does work. I bought a bottle from Ford that didn't really work so I bought one from Auto Zone that did the job.

[aimee_in_TN]

Thanks all!!! I am glad to know that I'm not the only one. Will try everything that was suggested. I have to do something because that smell gives me a headache every time I use the A/C. Will let you know what works best.

[umaxman]

I have had that problem with other cars, not with my PT yet! I got a can of "Fresh air" made by WYNN'S (air conditioning and heating system odour treatment)Suppose to kill all the nasty things that grow in your system[:0]Worked really good for me.