Musty/Humid smell from AC on startup

[mfindigital]

Hi Everyone,

I've seen a couple of threads about this issue through the years, but not a ton of info on fixes aside from pulling your whole dash and replacing the evaporator.

The smell I get is Musty, humid/moldy like and lasts for about 5-10 seconds. Are there any other recommended steps to be taken that don't result in pulling to whole dash to see where the issue originates? I ordered a can of this:
https://www.amazon.com/nextzett-9111...ustomerReviews

and am going to give that a try. The smell is short lived and my ac still blows cold, but the car lived in the south for it's first 5 years so I have concerns. It would have to get much worse for me to consider getting this done at a shop, hoping there are some other, better solutions after all this time.

[MightyMouseTech]

Most likely mold. Make sure not to park your car with a wet evaporator. Turn off your A/C 3 or 4 minutes before parking the car. Leave the blower motor still blowing, and never use recirc.

[mfindigital]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Most likely mold. Make sure not to park your car with a wet evaporator. Turn off your A/C 3 or 4 minutes before parking the car. Leave the blower motor still blowing, and never use recirc.

Are these canisters that supposedly clean out the hvac system of any use? I've never used recirc in the 20 months I've had the car, I'm a very low ac type of guy. Will do on the a/c 3-4 min trick.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

Are these canisters that supposedly clean out the hvac system of any use? I've never used recirc in the 20 months I've had the car, I'm a very low ac type of guy. Will do on the a/c 3-4 min trick.

Yes, they work well. Some car's might need two cans though.


Here is my review from a few years ago.

DIY... How to rid your HVAC of that funky smell...
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=739013

For really bad smells... an ionizer spray or generator(a box that sits inside the car parked over night) or even a professional AC service could be needed. But for under $10 this SOnax spray works pretty well.


Dackel


.

[mfindigital]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Yes, they work well. Some car's might need two cans though.


Here is my review from a few years ago.

DIY... How to rid your HVAC of that funky smell...
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=739013


Dackel


.

Your thread is actually what led me to buy the listed item. Thanks!