Hey guys,
I own a 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue (3.8) with 130,000 miles.
Beginning last summer, the A/C began to emit a musty-type smell. This smell is only noticeable when the A/C is in recirculation mode. The smell is bad enough, though, that I pretty much no longer use the A/C.
The drain plug is not clogged (the dealer inspected it). I have also changed the cabin air filter.
I've used two cans of over-the-counter A/C deodorizer from Autozone to no avail. I've also tried using Lysol, which did nothing.
I took the car to a GM dealer. The mechanic supposedly cleaned and deodorized the A/C Evaporator. The procedure took 1 hour and cost $130. I have a suspicion that the mechanic probably used some over-the-counter spray similar to what I already used. In any case, the smell remains.
Two independent mechanics have told me that the evaporator will probably have to be removed and cleaned...at a cost of approx. $500 to $600. And one of the mechanics told me that since it's such an ordeal to get at the evaporator, I should replace it, at an additional cost of $300.
Any ideas as to what I can do besides removing the evaporator? Are there any cleaners or procedures that any of you have used besides what I have already mentioned? Is there any way of spraying cleaner onto the evaporator directly without having to remove it? Is is possible, for example, to remove the blower box and shove some sort of tube down there or something so I can spray cleaner directly onto the evaporator?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Jason
I own a 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue (3.8) with 130,000 miles.
Beginning last summer, the A/C began to emit a musty-type smell. This smell is only noticeable when the A/C is in recirculation mode. The smell is bad enough, though, that I pretty much no longer use the A/C.
The drain plug is not clogged (the dealer inspected it). I have also changed the cabin air filter.
I've used two cans of over-the-counter A/C deodorizer from Autozone to no avail. I've also tried using Lysol, which did nothing.
I took the car to a GM dealer. The mechanic supposedly cleaned and deodorized the A/C Evaporator. The procedure took 1 hour and cost $130. I have a suspicion that the mechanic probably used some over-the-counter spray similar to what I already used. In any case, the smell remains.
Two independent mechanics have told me that the evaporator will probably have to be removed and cleaned...at a cost of approx. $500 to $600. And one of the mechanics told me that since it's such an ordeal to get at the evaporator, I should replace it, at an additional cost of $300.
Any ideas as to what I can do besides removing the evaporator? Are there any cleaners or procedures that any of you have used besides what I have already mentioned? Is there any way of spraying cleaner onto the evaporator directly without having to remove it? Is is possible, for example, to remove the blower box and shove some sort of tube down there or something so I can spray cleaner directly onto the evaporator?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Jason