Strange Interrior Odor

[JTCrow]

- I have just recently noticed a strange interrior odor inside the cab of my 2003. It's more of a wet-mildew smell that I cannot seem to get rid of. I've checked for leaks along the doors and firewall and have found none.



Any suggestions of what this might be?... . I'm tired of using Fabreeze to mask the odor!



Thanks!

 

[RRees]

Turn on your heater for a few minutes (10 minutes), after the engine temp is up. The smell may be coming from your vents. Had to do that on my 99 V10.



If that doesn't work. Don't let my father in law pee in your truck anymore.

 

[GCroyle]

2 comments, is the drip hose open from the AC unit? my Concorde has a smell in the AC unit if you run on recirculation too much and don't keep it flushed out, kinda like old sneakers. The sweet smell makes me think heater core leaking coolant. Maybe put some coolant on a rag and compare the smell.

 

[Grizzly]

Sometime a plastic bag wrapped around the catalytic converter can produce a stench smell.

 

[twmcneilly]

I'll bet if you pull back the capet under the driver side, or maybe the passenger side you will find damp carpet pad and even rusty floor pan. My '96 experienced it and so did my '98. Actually the '98 was covered under vehicle warranty and they replaced the entire carpet and pad. They also removed and replaced the rear window to improve the seal. I never saw any moisture around the windows, or any sign of water other than the puddle on the floor, but it was clearly leaking in around the gaskets. Good luck.

 

[CIverson]

I noticed a funny smell in mine the other day while driving on a trip, it reminded me of almost a chemical smell that you might find driving by a paper plant on a bad day. I noticed it about 20 min. into the trip. Then about 2. 5hrs into the trip my Blower wouldn't blow out the vents at all, and it started getting HOT in the cab.



I dealt with it for awhile and stopped at a truckstop to get out and check it out. I turned the fan on high and the heat all the way up with the truck not running, and noticed all kinds of water coming from the a/c drain on the firewall. Let it do that for a few minutes, and my blower started to blow out the vents again. I guess it got frozen up in there.



I'm guessing it was probably mildew from sitting and me running it on recirc all the time.

 

[Grizzly]

- I have just recently noticed a strange interrior odor inside the cab of my 2003. It's more of a wet-mildew smell that I cannot seem to get rid of. I've checked for leaks along the doors and firewall and have found none.

Any suggestions of what this might be?... . I'm tired of using Fabreeze to mask the odor!

Thanks!

What did the smell turn out to be?

 

[bighammer]

I'm sorry but I have an image of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon (Grumpy Old Men) in my head. Check for dead fish in backseat. :-laf

 

[champspa]

It's a growth in your ac unit evaporator it's common in high humidity areas . there is a chemical made for it sold at ac and refrigeration dealers. a little bleach and water mixture may kill the growth . I've seen it in homes and cars .

 

[wcjp]

There's a thread going in the 2nd Gen forum about this. It involves removing the blower motor and cleaning.







https://www.turbodieselregister.com...something-do-clean-out-your-blower-motor.html

 

[LesStallings]

I noticed a funny smell in mine the other day while driving on a trip, it reminded me of almost a chemical smell that you might find driving by a paper plant on a bad day. I noticed it about 20 min. into the trip. Then about 2. 5hrs into the trip my Blower wouldn't blow out the vents at all, and it started getting HOT in the cab.



I dealt with it for awhile and stopped at a truckstop to get out and check it out. I turned the fan on high and the heat all the way up with the truck not running, and noticed all kinds of water coming from the a/c drain on the firewall. Let it do that for a few minutes, and my blower started to blow out the vents again. I guess it got frozen up in there.



I'm guessing it was probably mildew from sitting and me running it on recirc all the time.

Your evaporator froze up, blocking air flow. Check your R134a charge level. It will freeze up when the charge is low. Until then, when the air flow is decreasing, turn the snowflake button off for a few minutes. You will notice that the air flow gradually increases as the ice melts (it will smell a bit) and gradualy the air flow will return to normal. Push the AC button back on and all should be well until it freezes up again.

 

[JTCrow]

What did the smell turn out to be?

I believe that my evaporator froze up... ... Turned off the A/C button for about 20 minutes and noticed that the smell was gone... . Guess I should not run the A/C on circulation all of the time!

 

[CIverson]

Your evaporator froze up, blocking air flow. Check your R134a charge level. It will freeze up when the charge is low. Until then, when the air flow is decreasing, turn the snowflake button off for a few minutes. You will notice that the air flow gradually increases as the ice melts (it will smell a bit) and gradualy the air flow will return to normal. Push the AC button back on and all should be well until it freezes up again.

I will have to check the charge level. The only other time it has happened was last year during a very hot day, just like this last time.