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Michael J.
Dodge Dakota
9/04/2001
19:26:46
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 Subject: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
My'01 Quad Cab heater blower smells musty for the 1st couple of minutes when I turn it on and then goes away.It's not an anti-freeze smell,just a bad musty odor.Has anyone else had this problem and if so,what causes this?
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kennungesser
Gen III
9/07/2001
17:23:58
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
I'v had this with my a/c , also. I had a post on this awhile back,and it seems to be a common problem. I havent had any ill effects on anything due to this problem.
Kenneth l Nungesser
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Richard Hill
Dodge Dakota
9/08/2001
09:33:46
|  RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
Same smell on my '01 QuadCab. It's from
moisture on the evaporator for the AC that is
causing the smell. So far the dealer has done
nothing but spray deodorant in it. It would be
nice if this fixed it but I don't think it will. Has
anyone had this concern fixed and if they did
what was the cure? I won't "just live with it"as
seems to be the information I've found so far.
It's like having a cute baby with a sh***y
diaper.
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rev.dat.owner
Dodge Dakota
9/14/2001
15:36:36
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
I have the same prob. with my 01' Quad Cab and need a solution. If any of you hear of one, let me know.
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Dan Gruber
Gen III
9/16/2001
10:34:36
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
Probably the best thing to do to avoid the mold/mildew problem in the first place is to simply turn off the A/C but leave the fan on (or at least get out of the recirculate mode) 2-3 minutes before shutting off the truck. This gives the system a few minutes to get some fresh air and dry things out a bit before shutdown. I've practiced this for years in various vehicles and never had a musty smell. But if you do have the smell, you should be able to pick up a spray can of deoderant or disinfectant that you can spray into the inside air intake in the passenger side footwell with the A/C on in recirculate mode. Heck, a can of lysol would probably do it...lysol supposedly kills mold and mildew in showers so it should work in an A/C system.
Dan
2000 CC SLT 4.7 4X4 Auto 3.55 LSD
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lando981
Dodge Dakota
9/25/2001
21:31:08
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
Same here but the funny thing all of yalls rucks are newer than Mine. 97 RC 318 5spd...????????
Why?????? any help dodge knowitalls???? thanks for any help!!!!!!!!
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R/Truck
Dodge Dakota
10/04/2001
11:58:10
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
I have the same problem with my truck and I also noticed that the carpet padding is sometimes wet. I wonder if the A/C is dripping water into the truck and that is causing the smell. Has anyone checked their passenger side carpet? You actually have to pick the carpet up and fill underneath. This may not be noticed by most people I just happened to be installing some speaker wires and felt it. Don't ask me what the cure is, I hope is doesn't continue.
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no mercy
Dodge Dakota
10/18/2001
17:28:11
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
R/Truck check out your heater coil under the dash It maybe leakin. For the rest of ya,spray some lysol into your vents between the windshield and hood, where the fresh air enters the HVAC system on your daks, don't be gental use a lot. It will kill the mold and mildew that is building up in yer system.
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Mike
Dodge Dakota
10/19/2001
12:55:20
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
Before my '00, i had experience with an '89 Dakota. We had teh same problem- moisture on the passenger floorboard. I don't remember the part name, but it's an elbow from the a/c system that was attached to the firewall and kept plugging up so the system couldn't drain. On my 2000, didn't get a/c, unfortunately:-(
HTH someone....kind of on topic
Mike
La Grande, OR
'00 sport, v6, 5 speed
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BMac
Dodge Dakota
10/20/2001
20:33:30
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
That smell is from the a/c system. I smell it in my friends mini van and Toyota because she never has the fan on, the moisture just sits and molds.
I always have my fan on low all the time to keep the air circulating.
I have a '98 V8 CC with a/c and never smell that musty smell.
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Mike01
Dodge Dakota
10/21/2001
18:09:45
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Hey guys, check out this TSB from the Ram. It'll tell you what DC does for this problem. Mike
http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/1997/24_11_97.htm
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paul barrus
Dodge Dakota
12/06/2001
13:01:38
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
I've got a 1997 Ram with the same problem. Mike - LaGrande, OR has my same problem. I silicone caulked the inlet at the firewall to prevent any further water damage. now the padding and carpet needs to be replaced. A local shop says that this is treated like a flood damaged vehicle. cost $800-$1000. Is this a recall/bulletin item from Dodge? and is there any way to have Dodge pay for the repair? thanks
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BB2DAK
Dodge Dakota
12/06/2001
13:42:18
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
Check out this post from the General Dakota Board.
This sound like the problem for the musty smell.
http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/gen/3240.html
2001 Quad Cab SLT+ 4.7L, 5-Spd, 3.55 Lsd
ARE Cap, ArmaCoat Bed-liner, Pilot PILPL119X Fog Lights
Autolite 3923's, IAT Adjuster, K&N Drop-in w/modified intake
http://members.aol.com/bsbets/truck/intake4.jpg
http://www.dodgedakota.net/albums/viewer/101.htm
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ms760
Dodge Dakota
12/21/2001
19:49:27
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
Basically because NipponDenso engineers are some kind of idiots.
Shortly after A/C became common in automobiles some bright young engineer realized that in the process of the A/C cooling the incoming airflow it oftentimes also dehumidified it. And that of course helps prevent and remove condensation from the interior windshield surface. So from that time on, until about the mid-eighties, it became pretty standard to use the A/C, supplemented by lots of heat, whenever the defrost/defog/demist function was activated at least as long as the A/C was functionally effective, usually only above about 50 degrees F.
Then some idiot decided that if a little bit of something was good then a LOT would be excellent!
NOT!!!
If you wish to use the A/C below 50F (when the RH is usually below 50% anyway, with a few regional exceptions)to dehumidify the airflow then the system must become SUPER EFFICIENT.
The A/C evaporator, the device that does ALL the work, cooling and dehumidifying, cannot be chilled below freezing. So that leaves very few ways to increase its efficiency, my 92 LS400 evaporator is extremely dense and complex, over 10,000 square inches of surface area. The longer the air molecules take to move through the evaporator the colder they become, so in order for the system to work the airflow must be very low.
The entire Lexus product line uses the A/C system EXCLUSIVELY to help prevent and remove condensation from the interior surface of the windshield in defrost/defog/demist mode, a system which is entirely NON-FUNCTIONAL for this purpose with outside temperatures near, at, or below freezing.
So if you hear of someone inexplicably leaving the roadbed and being killed on a snowy and cold day driving a Lexus or Toyota think about this. Maybe s/he lost sight of the roadbed because his/her windshield fogged over virtually instantaneously.
And now along comes toxic mold to further muddy up the issue. Prior to the mid-eighties there was no reason to run an A/C below about 50F, so heat was used exclusively heat the windshield and evaporate condensation from its surface and to lower the relative humidity.
Above these (50F) ambient temperatures when the A/C was used what moisture that was condensed onto the evaporator vanes but didn't run out the drain tube would evaporate away fairly quickly and not cause a problem.
Remember that extremely dense and complex A/C evaporator in my 92 LS400? It came from the factory coated with a porous nylon film into which was embedded an ant-microbial substance.
In the summer of 1991 Lexus already knew that their use of the A/C in already cool climates for these purposes was creating an environment, cool, damp, dank, that encouraged mold and mildew growth.
Look around on the internet at just how many products that have been developed in the last ten years or so to combat the "gym sock syndrome", the mold and mildew smell we all now have to live with because some idiot engineer decided to try a new gimmick.
Remove you A/C compressor relay when the ambient temperature fall below an average of 50F. And turn up the system heat when you activate defrost/defog/demist mode. The response you get for removing condensation from the interior surface of the windshield will be one damnsight quicker than the A/C can EVER be, and it will continue to work that way all the way down to sub-freezing levels.
AND you won't have to worry about toxic mold.
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Marshall
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/01/2002
09:16:49
|  RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
Looks like two different problems people are talking about here:
1. Musty A/C smell - common enough problem, especially in very humid areas where people tend to run their A/C on recirc to get the most cooling effect in the cab. Left over condensation in the system is the result, and mold grows in the system, stinking it up. The simple solution (like many have posted) is to make sure to run the system in some mode that will help dry it out before turning the truck off--either a/c with outside air (if you aren't in too humid an environment), or a/c with the heat on (which I think works best, quickest, etc.)
2. DIFFERENT problem - excessive condensation entering the cab on the passenger side near the firewall. I just noticed this in my 1996 Ram today (which is how I found this discussion list), and there is a LOT of water soaking my carpet on the passenger side. So much so that some mold has started to grow under the rubber floor mat on that side.
It seems like a couple people have encountered this and perhaps fixed it, but I can't find a clear, specific solution outlined on the web. Is the problem caused by poor condensation drainage, and the solution some kind of hose extension or replacement of a clogged/poor flowing outlet? Or is the condensation coming from the surface of various parts down near the a/c ducts that are getting too cool and building up too much condensation, dripping onto the floor (I have seen this before in my Cherokee and other cars, but it was only a tiny bit of condensation and very small drips--what I see is a large buildup soaking my carpet).
Any tips on this second problem would be a big help...
thanks,
Marshall
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Bob Ross
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/03/2002
02:34:40
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
I noticed that smell too in my 00 CC R/T, Like a mildew type smell. I assumed it was from condenasation sitting up inside the hoses after the truck sits all night. Anyway supposidly what HotRod magizine says to do is when you get about a mile or 2 from your destination let the vents run on high, or let it run for a few minutes before shutting of the truck, like Mr.Gruber said, and that should help clear out some of the condensation thats formed from the A/C running.
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Urhistory
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/07/2002
23:48:14
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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I have a '02 cc that I got in early Nov. About 2 weeks ago I was running speaker wire under my carpet, and guess what I found? A nice puddle of water. My padding was completely soaked. I took it to the dealership and they thought that the a/c drain was cloged, and they uncloged it. They also ordered me a new carpet. Well it seems like I still have a leak some where and since they have not got the carpet yet, it is going back next week. Good thing my truck is under warranty.
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Urhistory
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/20/2002
21:51:43
|  RE: Musty smell from blower
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*****I think I found the problem to the wet carpet*****
When I took it to the dealer, he said The dakotas were made the ac drains through the firewall WITHOUT a hose. Well he put a hose on it and for about a week and a half it has not leaked, but puddles are now forming on the ground like they should be. I will keep checking my carpet, but I believe it is fixed.
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ms760
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/15/2002
19:17:43
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Message:
Two issues, clarifications.
When the A/C is operating the evaporator surfaces are kept very near, but not quite, at freezing. During operation the evaporator surfaces become coated with moisture condensed form the incoming airflow.
So, when the A/C is first shut down there will be a very thin coating of condensate left on the evaporator, as much as 10,000 sq inches of cooling surface, in many cases.
When the A/C compressor is first shut down there may be enough liquid refrigerant in the system to continue cooling the evaporator for up to another 10 to 20 minutes. Once the liquid refrigerant is exhausted the evaporator surface temperature will begin to rise, but it must rise to something very close to the incoming, or ambient, air temperature before the thin film of moisture will begin to evaporate.
In a temperate climate, average overnight temperatures above 55F, if almost ANY level of moisture is left on the evporator core during the night, night after night, then a lively colony of mold and bacteria will begin to grow and thrive on those moist surfaces.
It very likely takes an hour after shutting down the A/C before any significant level of evaporation starts occuring from modern day A/C evaporator surfaces.
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Gus
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/23/2002
18:37:42
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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go to this website. The have a product called Frigi-Clean to especifically remove Odors, bacteria, mold, spores, fungi, road grime, nicotine oils and debris accumulate in your car's air conditioning evaporator.
http://www.bgprod.com/autoair.html
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/24/2002
16:05:24
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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I know a quick spray from a compressor down there will knock it all out. My drainage seems to also fall onto my y-pipe if I've been running in high heat and getting those pipes really warm, the water turns to steem when it hits it, so I have this like sizzling sound after long highway drives in the hot sun. Not a problem, but kinda cool
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scott
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2002
22:18:58
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Yes , it is a problem. I`ll bet $$ that your pass. side floor under the carpet is soaked!
It`s from the water coming out of the drain pipe. Instead of dripping straight down , it runs back inside the truck , from the outside of the tube. It doesn`t mean anything is clogged. It is a Dodge F`up. My `02 did the same thing , until I fixed it. I have some friends that work at the local Dodge dealer , and they told me all about it(after I figured it out on my own).
They fix a couple a week , sometimes more.
Once I fixed mine , it no longer leakes in the cab and that annoying sound of water on my hot exhaust pipe is gone.
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Gentleman
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
07:38:02
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Scott how about a description of how you fixed yours, mine is wet also.
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scott
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
12:57:01
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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I took off the alum. heat shield , it`s right above the pass. side exhaust. Then I took some dum dum (kind of like silly putty, it`s made for sealing you can get it at your local auto-paint distributer) rolled it out into a pencil sized piece and wrapped it around where the a/c tube sticks out through the firewall. Then I put a small 90 Degree rubber turndown on the tube and replaced the heatshield.
So far ..so good
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Gentleman
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
14:20:22
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Thanks
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Gentleman
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
20:08:37
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Just got the Dak back said the soaking wet carpet was due to a leak from the rear glass and not the ac, will see, still think it was/is ac because getting musty smell when blower is on.
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scott
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
20:23:05
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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I`ve been told the rear 3rd brake light is also a common leak area. The water ends up on the front floorboard under the carpet , making it hard to diagnose(sp?).
Take it off and apply some silicon sealer around the seal and put it back in. You should then have fixed that problem , even if it`s not one yet.
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/31/2002
20:57:48
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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CONDENSATION ON FLOOR BOARD - PAY ATTENTION
The condensation on the right floor board is from the AC when you drive fast with the AC on (my 02 4.7 gets it at 85+ mph). The problem is the fast air flow under the hood blows the water back into the drain and into the evaporator unit. Dodge (under warranty) installed a drain tube on mine (eliminated on 00+ models) attached at the drain nipple to allow the water to drain. Problem is - the cheap rubber tube melts from the heat of the exhaust manifold (1" away). I have given up on Dodge.
SOLUTION: Go to a rubber hose company, buy 12" silicone hose 3/4" (used for turbos) and a 90 degree metal pulmbing elbow from Home Depot. Connect the elbow to the Drain nipple with a short piece of hose. Connect another short piece of hose to the bottom of the elbow and aim it (you have to experiment to keep it from hitting the exhaust - another engineering defect). This will fix the problem. Hope it helps - $10 materials and 10 minutes time.
Good Luck to those of you that also heard the dealer tell them "we don't have any other records of this problem"
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BigRedDakV8
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/29/2002
02:57:42
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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Alright here is the solution to your problem. Before you crank up your Dakota, make sure the AC vent selection switch is on outside air and not recirculating. The service manager at my local Chrysler dealership told me to do this. So far it has worked. I guess the reason for it is air inside the AC system is trapped and gets musty over time. Kind of annoying I know, but probably one of those things we just have to live with.
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R/TBlues
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/01/2002
22:34:05
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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I had the same problem with wet carpet on the passenger side. I have a 01 Dak. The dealer told me my cooling coil under the dash was freezing over. They said this was a symptom of low refrigerant. They recharged my AC and sure enough all my wet carpet problems went away. I already knew the thing needed recharging, but it didn't register in my mind that that would cause it to freeze over and leak water on the floor. I should have known this because my dad's AC in his house does the same thing every other year. The cooling coil freezes over and the ice melts and runs out on the floor (central cooling unit). It freezes over so bad that air won't blow through it. All they ever do is recharge it and the water/freeze up problem goes away.
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94 Dakota
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/13/2002
08:42:19
| RE: Musty smell from blower
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I had the problem of the musty smell with my 94 Dakota. I took a cup of amonia, mixed with a cup of water and poured it down the vent on the outside of the winshield and let the blower run. let it go like that for a few minutes. Roll down your window and drive the amonia smell will fade along with the musty smell i haven't had a problem for a year.
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