Gen 1 cabin air filter location

Get a can of this.

$19 Nu-Calgon 417175 Evap Foam

https://www.amazon.com/Nu-Calgon-4171-75-Rinse-Evaporator-Cleaner/dp/B00DM8KQ3I/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3JDSCFJ1JRVNL&keywords=a%2Fc+coil+cleaner+no+rinse&qid=1578197733&sprefix=a%2Fc+coil+cleaner%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-4

Pull the fan motor and vacuum out as much of the a/c evaporator you can. Then spray the evaporator as per instructions. Reassemble and run the A/C on high with temp selector all the way to hot for 30min.

It helps but it wont get rid of all the smell.

 

Hate to say it but all the spray bombs in the world won’t fix the smell in the long run. Depends on what is in your dash. If you have access to an a/c machine you can remove the evaporator core and clean it fairly easily. I wish our trucks had a cabin air filter. This is what mine looked like at 250k miles. You could replace all the carpet and everything in your interior, but if you skip this step, you’re pissing in the wind.

 

Did you clean or replace?
Either way dramatic difference. I replaced mine for a leak, wasn’t nearly as clogged and I’m not sure I could get to it for cleaning without disassembling.

 

I just cleaned it, and put it back in. Really I had no problems with it, replacing the blower motor I noticed how dirty it was, so I removed it and cleaned it. It’s by far one of the easiest evaporator cores to come out. I’m used to pulling the entire dashboard out on the fords I work on.

 

Another easy thing to do is remove and clean the black stereo bezel. Once it's off you can clean the inside of the middle two vents and also the ducting behind it. Smokers dust is thick and sticky, every bit you can remove will help.

 

I will for sure.I noticed the ducting behind the glove box was not reassembled correctly leaving a crack where the air blew under the dash. The whole area behind the glove box smells like a ash try. Its all gonna get clean, along with the evaporator core. Then the seats, carpet and so on.

Thank you everyone for all the advice!

 

I used Ozium to remove the smoke smell from my truck. I ask pretty much anyone that rides with me if they can smell anything. Answer is always no. 2 years now, I clean the interior real good and respray every 2-3 months. Also clean behind trim panels as I take them off for various projects.

 

Armor All FRESH fx Smoke X Rapid Odor Eliminator, Midnight Air Scent (2 ounces) 18956 - Advance Auto Parts
the best in the world I'd used it on car that had chainsmokers that would smoke with the windows up on a 2006 Toyota Corolla and it cleaned everything you stick it inside of the vehicle you activate it and it starts spraying while the vehicle is running and the air conditioner is on high and it takes about 10 minutes and you will be amazed it neutralizes all the smells.

 

Ozone generator works great, but ya gotta use them right. The chlorine packets that you wet also work very well. Everything else just masks the smell.

ETA: These do wonders, almost as good as ozone:

$13 STAR BRITE Auto Odor Eliminator, Fast Release Vapor System Eliminates Car Odors in 4-6 Hours (19970)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J4GHLFI

 

Try some BG frigifresh you turn on the ac on hi and recirculating and have all the doors open spray in the vents from outside the truck its really strong.