Air Conditioner in Silverado has a tear gas effect

[Carrie Tondola]

My husband drives a 2016 Chevy Silverado and when the weather got warm and we started using the air conditioner it makes our eyes water and throat feel tight, like someones been chopping onions in there or something. We have to keep the windows rolled down in order to drive and not have this reaction. We took it to the dealer but they couldn't find anything. There isn't a smell or anything, just that tear gas effect. We completely cleaned the truck and changed the filters. The dealer turned on the after blower feature but it doesn't seem to be helping. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

[Daryl LBZ]

Moved to the K2 section for a better chance at a solution.

[BIGDOGx]

Just thinking out loud here but does this happen with everyone who sits in the truck?

 

Maybe it could be a cleaning product that was used or even detergent that might have an allergy type effect when in confined sealed spaces.

[Craig777]

If the AC is blowing right at my eyes, it happens to me on occasions. No resolution though. I think it is allergy related.

[pm26]

I would replace the cabin filter first. It is possible that someone contaminated the cabin filter while installing it at the factory (spilled some liquid on it?). I actually had a mouse build its nest on top of my 2013 Sonic cabin filter and this caused smelly air being blown in through the A/C vents. Even after I removed the nest from the top of filter the smell was still there because the filer was soaked with some fluid. After I replaced the filter and cleaned the housing, everything was normal again.

[geswek]

Curious--do you have this effect when you have recirculating air on? The AC automatically defaults to pulling outside air in to cool instead of recirculating the inside.

 

Would help you narrow down if it's an external allergen or something inside.

 

 

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[dave07]

I would also check the intake for the system as well. If you pop the hood, its under the windshield wipers. It could be something in there. Better yet pop off the cowl and get in there to look.

[glcbn]

Is it brand new? Was it undercoated? Just throwing this out there because mine was like that for a while. Took some time but the smell eventually went away.