HEY THERE FELLOW DURANGERS!!!

IM NEW TO THE FORUM AND IM HOPING SOMEONE OUT THERE CAN HELP! I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2000 DURANGO 4 X 4 AND ITS BEEN GREAT. THE ONLY PROBLEM IM HAVING NOW IS THAT ALTHOUGH THE A/C RUNS NICE AND COLD IN THE FRONT-IT HAS THIS FOUL SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS(KINDA SMELLS LIKE ANTI FREEZE TO ME)THOUGH THE MECHANICS THAT HAVE COME ACROSS MY TRUCK SAY THEY DONT KNOW WHAT THE SMELL IS. SO, WHEN I RUN THE A/C I GET THIS SMELL AS WELL AS A "FROSTY"(VERY VISIBLE)AIR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS AND IF I DONT HAVE THE A/C OR HEAT GOING(AND IT HAPPENS WITH THE HEAT ALSO, BUT ONLY THE SMELL- NOT THE VISIBLE PART)THERE ARE STILL WHAT LOOKS LIKE VAPORS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS UNTIL THE TRUCK IS OFF FOR A WHILE. IVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE COME ACROSS NO SOLUTION. IM LOOKING TO TRY AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY SOME MECHANIC TO GO THROUGH HOURS OF LABOR TO FIND A PINHOLE LEAK IN A HOSE OR SOMETHING. ANY IDEAS YOU GUYS? ANY HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

 

I would have to say it's water vapor from condensate in the AC box. If it has sweet smell, it's possible it's coolant. If it smells musty, then it's water vapor. If it's water vapor, it's possible you have mold or bacteria growing in the heater core. You can spray it with Lysol through the intake air vent.

 

THANKS FOR THE INFO- WHAT IF THE SMELL IS OF THE COOLANT-LIKE NATURE? ANY IDEAS?

 

Hello
I have the same issue. I bought a 2000 Durango a year ago discovered after I bought it it was blowing antifreeze through air vents and fogging up my windshield. I auto manically figured it was the heater core so had it replaced only to find out that a year prior the heater core had already been replaced. I replaced the heater core only a few months ago and have not really used the heater since replacing the heater core. Recently the weather has been chillier at night so I've turned on the heater only to discover I still have the same issue. With winter coming ....... I need HELP ASAP.

 

Make sure the HVAC drain pipe on the firewall isn't clogged.

 

Thanks will check it

 

Stale water smells brackish/funky. Coolant is disctinct. If you're absolutely sure the smell is coolant, you may have a leak. Pull up the carpeting under the dash and console to check. The heater core is basically a small radiator with the in and out lines protruding from firewall. Are you sure you're not smelling coolant from the engine compartment (leaks)? To check, switch vent from recirc to fresh mode a few times and observe the smell. Recirc would cut off any smells from engine compartment.

 

He didn't mention any smell, just the mist as far as I saw. Unless you're talking about the original post, but that's over 11 years old.