My AC stinks!

[sgiangregorio]

The AC in my Tahoe stinks from time to time. Not always, but more often than not, and it did today. It smells for a short while when you first turn it on without using the MAX AC setting (using external air flow into the system). I don't believe it does it on MAX AC. It smells like a pile of wet towels that's been hanging around for a while.

 

I had this problem in my old Chevy Blazer, and they injected some kind of deodorant into the unit that helped, but only for about a week, then it did it again.

 

Is there anything I can do to get rid of the smell? Does it have anything to do with the in cabin filter? Where is the smell coming from, is water trapped in the system somewhere?

 

Thanks all.

[carguru]

The smell comes from mildew forming in the HVAC case. The spray will kill the mildew off, but it will return. It comes from the condensation on the evaporator that forms each time you use the A/C. One the vehicle is off, the condensation does not dry out and the mildew grows. The best way I found to get rid of that smell is to use the stuff you can get at the dealer to kill it (or Lysol sprayed through the air intake duct at the base of the windshield) and try to turn off the A/C about a mile before your destination to dry out the condensation. It has worked for me in all of my vehicles. It just drive my passengers nuts when I shut off the A/C.