I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota with 70k miles on it. I have noticed for quite some time that the vents have a horrible odor that smells like dirty socks/musty. I'm sure this has been posted on how to fix it because I believe it's a pretty common issue. I already used expensive spray in my A/C system which fixed it for about a week but the smell always comes back. Does anyone know how to correct this issue, or point me to a post on here where I can find the fix?

Thanks,
Robert

 

Napa sells a spray deodorant/mold killer called AC Pro Power Clean and Flush, it's sort of like Lysol for the AC. It comes in a spray can with a clear plastic tube and you put the tube end into the AC drain on the firewall and squirt it up in there till it starts running back out the tube. Then you let the truck sit with the engine running and the AC on full blast for 30 minutes. This stuff foams up inside the HVAC housing and cleans all the fungus, mold and crap off the evaporator tubing and eats the crud out of the inside of the HVAC housing. The AC smells a lot better afterwards.

You can also use BG Frigi-Fresh, but it smells like cheap perfume and it has to be introduced into the AC system with an AC recharge machine and you have to find a shop that carries it. Not all shops that use the BG products carry Frigi-Fresh.

The Napa product works well and costs about $20.00 a can, But one can would probably do 2 cars' AC systems easily. I also spray regular Lysol down my cowl intake vents every so often to help keep the AC fresh. I just turn it to fresh air intake, AC on full blast and spray into the cowl intake vents pretty liberally. It helps to keep the system clean and smells good too.

Jimmy

 

I sprayed an entire can of Lysol last night and the rest today and left the A/C on for like 45 minutes turned on heat and it still stinks really bad. I have the v6, do you happen to know where the tube is that I need to clear out? I looked around the passenger side by the firewall but I don't see it, not that I really know what I'm looking for in the first place.

 

It's a black hard plastic tube, about a half inch in diameter that sticks out a few inches from the firewall on the passenger's side in the engine compartment. Look straight down below the receiver-drier on the passenger's side and you will see it. If you still can't find it, run the engine with the AC on for a few minutes then get under the truck and look for the water coming out of the drain tube.

Jimmy

 

Ok so I've been looking for a long time for this drian hose. Finally today I put the truck up and I still can't find any hoses. I let the truck idle for 30 minutes with the A/C on and it's not dripping anywhere onto the ground .....does anyone have a picture or something at least pointing to where the hose should be located at? The only forum I found that had pictures cost $30 to join...!

 

If it's not dripping, it's clogged.
Get your arm in the engine compartment,
Reach under the Dryer. (where you really can't see).
Feel around on the firewall. It's there.
DON'T start pokin it with a stick like you would a small
step-child! Go in there extremely easy with a pipe-cleaner.
The water should star to flow. Don't waste your time trying
to get rid of the oder until you get the water out.
I've used that stuff from Napa after my truck interior burnt
and it works very well.

 

I read somewhere that you can mix a little bleach with some water and use that to kill mold and mildew.I cant remember the proportions though.