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TJ
Dodge Dakota
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7/26/2007
13:31:33
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 Subject: A/C Smell....
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I have a 01 Dakota that has a mildew smell when I have the A/C on. I thought possibly it was the in cabin filter but I'm unable to locate the filter short of removing dash pieces. If its in the a/c core (which it seems to indicate as it only smells when the A/C is on?) then what would I need/could I do to eliminate the odor? I thought maybe about misting some bleach water near the intake (cowl?) then replacing the filter where ever it is. Any suggestions or help? Thanks!
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mpb
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2007
00:24:32
| RE: A/C Smell....
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not sure if this helps, but on my 2000 club can there is no cab filter. i replaced my evaporator myself earlier this year, so at that time i had an opportunity to rinse out the entire hvac unit with ammonia. that totally eliminated the mildew smell.
now, from time to time i'll put an air freshener in between the passenger side kick panel and the cab air intake hvac valve opener (cylindrical device with a green vacuum hose leading out of the bottom--just look underneath and to the right of the glove box) located underneath the dash. then if you have the recirculation turned on (max a/c), it will suck up air from around that air freshener. it works really well.
if anything you can try misting some bleach water in that area, but not very much of that bleach is going to get past the evaporator.
really it sounds like your hvac unit is flooding due to the crappy evap drain tube on that generation dakota. you can install an extension tube (ask the dealership about it) so that it drains more efficiently. the dealership has it, and there is also a ford elbow bypass hose that fits perfectly around the tube outlet--guy at the dealer told me about. works great on my truck but i forget the part number--4007 or 0407 possibly.
hope some of this helps...
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TJ
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2007
09:14:37
| RE: A/C Smell....
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Thanks for the info! Pardon my ignorance, but how does extending the drain tube prevent the hvac from flooding? I don't know much about the hvac system (obviously). Anybody know where there is a good diagram about how automotive A/C system works...I know the basics about the compressor and how it cools, but never seen the entire system or proper names of the components. Thanks.
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Lee
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2007
11:39:20
| RE: A/C Smell....
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One thing I always do is leave the climate control set to FRESH AIR VENT whenever I park the truck. This leaves the vent open, allowing the ducting to dry out. If you leave it in the OFF or MAX AC position, the outside air vent will be closed, which leads to the condition you described. Also, try to run the AC in the fresh air mode as much as possible. Only use MAX AC long enough to get things cooled down.
Lee
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2007
02:45:07
|  RE: A/C Smell....
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Lee has the easy fix. Read his post, works on my 2001 QC Dak.
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TJ
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2007
11:27:13
| RE: A/C Smell....
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Thanks! Most definetly will try! Where is the air intake from outside? Is it in the cowl vent area?
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Jeremy Barnes
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2007
15:50:44
| RE: A/C Smell....
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I am new here but trust me I'm not new to dakotas (I have a custom 98 and a beautiful cherry of a 97) I also have been doing A/C repairs for about 8 years. The simplest cheapest fix is to go the the dollar store and buy a can of lysol spray. Then start up the truck and turn the ac to full(make sure you dont have the setting to recycle the cab air. You want the setting that draws in new air from outside air. Then lift the hood and on the passanger side around the cowl panel you will see the grille to the evap (I think on the dakota, it has been 2 years since I did mine.) Then you want to spray like crazy in that area. You really don't want to sit in the cab because this could be compared to spraying in a enclosed area. Other than to make sure it is transfering the odor of the can through the vents. The lysol will kill the mildew and get rid of the "wet feet" smell. If you go to the A/C shop they will charge any wher from 79.95 to 123.95 to do basically the same concept, but they will tap into and maybe contaminate your system. The original poster was correct by saying his A/C smelled liked mildew. that is exactly what it is . Mildew/mold in the evap. from the moisture This is the process I do all the time for free(other than lysol expense) for our customers at our collision center.
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TJ
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2007
19:51:34
| RE: A/C Smell....
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Thanks everybody for the help, I appreciate it! Nothing like taking a beautiful lady out to dinner in a nice cool air conditioned truck but making her question your foot hygiene...lol. I tried Lee's suggestion about leaving the A/C open overnight to allow it to dry and to circ in fresh air, and to limit the use of Max A/C, its definitly made a huge different. I'll try the Lysol method too next time I make it to the store. Hopefully the car won't then wreak of lysol...lol. Thanks again everybody!
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