Damp dirt smell w/ AC on

01 2.7 bought used so don't know history on it. 204,000 mi. When the AC is kicked on I get an odor smells like tilled up dirt, like driving by a field that has just been disked up. The smell seems to go away after it has been on awhile. I didn't know if there might be a filter that I might have access to that needed to be cleaned or what could be causing this. It doesn't do this with the heat.

 

You evaporator is probably clogged up with mud. Not sure how to get to it on an 01. Sorry

 

X2 just poke something through it and clean the dirt out, if you look into your passenger wheel well close to the cab youll see a rubber nipple like thing sticking out where its supposed to drain the water out. Mine was clogged and I had the same problem

 

I don't have a problem like the OP, my A/C works fine.
BUT, what is weird, is that I don't get condensate dripping to the ground, no bad smells, and I cannot find that damn drip tube. Carpet doesn't get wet.
Where could all that moisture be going?

 

The evap box drain is located on the passenger-side firewall about halfway down.

In this pic it's the black rubber nipple thing (supposedly there's a 90* aluminum tubing that goes in there, but mine's missing). Just get a coat hanger or something and poke it in there... should unclog and drain your evap box.

 

^^^not this location

^^^this location. look down from the engine bay not through the wheel well

 

Mine was easier ot reach through the wheel well.. same location

 

probably is. not sure what else would be dripping water

 

hey guys this is me just from home. on the condensation drain mine runs water out when the a/c is on. I will give it a try though. Otherwise I guess I will just have to live with it. Like I said before it just does it for a short time then I don't smell it anymore. I either get used to it or it stops Thanks for all your help!

 

Another trick you can do is remove the cowl and spray a mixture and essential lavender oil into the vents.

Lavender is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial (and anti-viral) so it kills mold and bacteria. Plus it smells divine... and it's calming.

Calgon... take him away!

 

If I did all that my wife would want to be driving my truck all the time. I've got access to anti-bacterial and anti- fungal chemicals where I work.They won't have quite the pretty smell. I hope I can just clean out my drip tube but like I said before it flows pretty good from there.

 

I know bg makes a kit that cleans and disinfects your ac system.

 

To each their own.

I wouldn't want to inhale whatever those chemicals are.

 

I'm guessing the truck has spent lots of time on our semo dirt roads. Your evap core is full of dirt and when that dirt gets wet from condensation it smells like mud. I occasionally pull my fan motor out and use compressed air to try and blow some of it out. Not sure how good it does but I sure stir up a lot of dust when I do it.

 

Bg makes a good product called frigy fresh. It's really strong stuff so u spray it through the cowl with the ac on high and recirculating. Open both doors and let it clear out as is very strong. In Colorado we don't get to much mildew buildup but I use it yearly. I have never had that issue whileusing the bg product. Hope that helps.

 

This x2. I've used it as well, really freshens up the vent system.

 

interesting, I never realized that could get plugged up, always figured it was just the dust in my vents. after thinking about it my truck doesnt pee when the AC is on either... time to clean that sucker out!

 

Good stuff. We use it all the time.

 

I spray Lysol in the cowl works for a while.