ac smells

EMPIRE231 · August 16, 2003

when I turn the air on in my truck, it always smells for a little while and then it goes away. also, sometimes i'll be on a little trip and it will smell normal, then out of no-where it starts to smell... ..? do I need to change the cabbin filter? my truck has 33k miles on it and I never changed it. if so, what kind is the best and where can I get it? thanks...

chevyman992002 · August 16, 2003

It's probably the filter. I've never changed mine either, and my a/c smells sometimes. You can get the new filter from www.gmpartsdirect.com here are the part numbers.

52485513 - Standard Cabin Air Filter

12489479 - Charcoal Cabin Air Fliter

Champion201 · August 16, 2003

First replace your cabin filters. Purolator and Fram also make them. I got my Purolator filters at Pep Boys for $10.00 for both of them. If it continues and smells musty there is a TSB out for it, which I had done to my 2002.

MountaineerTom · August 17, 2003

Here's some instructions on how to do the change, if you need them.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/IAR_cabfilter.shtml

greyghost03 · August 17, 2003

Question - My 03 has started to develop this "smell" on startup with the ac on. I think I remember reading somewhere that GM did away with the in-cab filters on the 03. I searched and didn't find the previous thread. I seem to remember some kind of spray to kill the bacteria that causes the smell. Anybody?

Sorry EMPIRE, not trying to hijack your thread as this applies to me too.

kgornek · August 17, 2003

One thing to help the smell is to turn off the air a couple minutes before getting to your destination. That lets the warmer air warm up the vents and to help against condensating. (i.e. smell)

Now this is just a theory, but I do it in my truck and have never had the "smell". Notice you never get it in the winter?

Goodluck!

pacodiablo · August 17, 2003

It could be mold in the system, but if the truck is newer, it is probably the filter.

EMPIRE231 · August 17, 2003

thanks for all the help guys

Markeaux · August 18, 2003

It is most probably NOT the filters. The problem is within the evaporator where condensation builds up and mold grows. As far as I can tell the filters are upstream closer to the air inlet, whereas the stinky evap is further downstream. As the other poster said there is a tsb that can help zap the mold, coat the coils with anti-fungal, and add a timer to turn the fan on/of repeatedly after shutting off the engine (to help dry out the evap). You can also mitigate the problem by shutting off the AC and just use vent a while before shutting off the engine plus don't always use the coldest setting (which cuts down on condensation). But if you live in a continuously high humid environment a lot of these prevention measures won't work well. On dry weekends I try to run only vent a few hours in the morning to try to dry out the system from the week before.

Champion201 - what all did you have done? did the cleaner/anti-fungal treatment leave an ongoing smell? I'm afraid to have that done since some of the chemicals/scents used in same irritate my lungs. Did you get the timer for the blower, too? My warranty is up in a week an would like to get all that done if it works and is tolerable.

Champion201 · August 18, 2003

Mareaux, Yes I had the total treatment done including the blower on a relay that makes the bolwer come on periodically for up to 30 minutes to blow out any moisture that might have built up. I do know that after they completed it I had to put up with a very strong epoxy type smell for a few days before the adhesive completely cured. Yes it was pretty bad but I felt the health hazards from the mold out weighed bad smell of curing epoxy. I just ran with the windows open all the time and the fan on high.