how do i remove smoke smell from my a/c system?

I just purchased a 98 tacoma and the previous owner smoked like crazy and the smell is over powering to me a non smoker. How do i go about flushing the smoke smell from the a/c / heater system? Also can i clean the headliner without fear of making it sag?

 

More than likely its the interior rather than the ac. They make a foam kit to flush out the ac housing and a spray to use in the ducts.

A good interior cleaning will help more than anything.
I used home made packs of coffee in dryer sheets all over the van I got after i cleaned it. Changed them about once a month. The smell is now gone. Took about a year. It doesn't go easily.
Hand wipe the headliner. Don't soak it. Rub easy.

 

A good detail shop will have an ozone generator. They pump your truck interior with ozone for a specified amount of time and that supposedly removes/kills the smoke smell.

 

The only problem with one of those is the smell it generates of it's own. We have one at the shop and I get sick on that smell it gives off. After the treatment you smell the ozone machine. I guess after a while it goes away but I don't know what smell is worse. I would rather mix up a batch of oderban and spray that around for a while..

 

I'd say easiest and cheapest way to be to roll windows down and drive but living on the East Coast its freezing so I guess that wont work!

 

1) turn heat on high

2) spray febreze into HVAC intake (black plastic with holes under your wipers)

3) drink beer

anything else is just a waste of your money IMO.

 

I know what you mean about the smell of the ozone machine. I had one in my seafood dept. and it worked good at removing the odors but we were happy when it broke down.

 

This works every time for me.

Spray all seats and cloth surfaces with Febreeze.
Take an 8 inch aluminum pie pan and fill it with black charcoal (PLAIN, not wood chip or fast light)
Sprinkle half a box of Arm and Hammer baking soda onto the charcoal.
Place pan on passenger's side floor board
Set A/C system on recirculate and the fan on high.
Let run for 30 minutes.

Removes odors, and leaves no scent at all.

 

My dad used to smoke in my old truck. The coffee bean trick mentioned above works well, but it does take it's time. Shampoo the carpets and use fabric cleaner on the seats. I went through about 2 bottles of febreeze over time too. I have used that vent spray on other vehicles and I don't think it really worked. The febreeze in the HVAC sounds like a good idea, didn't think about that before.

 

I like

 

would changing the cabin filter help out?

 

Wouldn't hurt