Cleaning AC Evaporator Plug

I went mudding a couple weeks ago in my '12 Tacoma. However, due to the Virginia 70 degree weather today (in February?), I noticed the A/C has a damp, musky, and 'mud' scent to it- the same scent as the super muddy water I went through back in late December.

Long story short, I believe the AC evaporator plug is clogged. I've read to blow compressed air into the plug, or even using a coat hanger wire to try to unclog it.

However, I feel like using either of those methods would just push the clog further back into the system, not allowing it to come out. Does anyone have suggestions on how to remove this possible clog in the A/C evaporator drain?

 

Sub'd

 

Not positive about this but I checked mine out quick.

If you remove the passenger side carpet, just peel it back you will see a black tube that runs to the floor and attaches to nipple type thing that exits the truck. This black tube is where the evaporator water drains out of. Pretty sure you can disconnect the nipple from the black hose and then remove the clog.

Let me know how that works.

 

Mine has this too. I wonder if I could take off the drain tube, shove another tube up inside the evap casing and funnel some bleach in there to wash out the mustiness.

 

I'm going to look at it more over the weekend- wondering if using a shop-vac attached to a small tubing to run into the drain plug may help. I'm sure it's hard to get to the evap box itself?

 

Also, if the smell by chance isn't coming from the Evap box/drain hose, where else could it be coming from? My A/C was perfectly fine until I went mudding that one day.

Both engine and cabin air filters still look brand new. The heating system does not produce this musky smell either. It is only when the A/C is on. Is there another place where mud could be lingering or clogging something?

 

My guess evap

 

Bump

Any other suggestions on how to clean evaporator box, or where the smell could be coming from?

 

If you got a lot of mud on your hood and windshield, maybe there is still mud in the fresh air intake. Pull the plastic cowl and have a look.

 

+1, smell would not come from the evaporator drain tube. Try inside air versus outside and see if the smell changes. While you are thinking about cleaning the drain tube go ahead and extend to drip under the frame instead of on top.

 

While I didn't get much mud on the hood or windshield, I will still check it all out. Most of the mud went into the engine fan which sprayed it all over the engine bay.

Also, to extend the drip tube, what size hose is needed? Seems like 1/2 or 3/4

Edit: The inside of the cowl and the fresh air intake filter still looks brand new. No sign or scent of the mud inside- unless if the mud is where the truck actually pulls in air... through the wheel well? Or is it somewhere else

 

It pulls in air through the cowl. It is at base of the windshield. I think the hose to extend drain is 3/4. There may be a sticky. If not there are posts on it.