Smell from the AC

[SummerWind]

I have a 2020 sahara and the AC ***stinks*** of mold when I turn it on. I’ve got bad allergies to mold and mildew and I’m struggling here. Does anybody else have this problem? Or better, does anybody know what I can do to get rid of the disgusting smell And stop it from happening? I don’t even have 4,000 miles on it. Thanks!

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[Rhinebeck01]

@SummerWind

This issue can surface lets say with any vehicle, new or used... the JL is no different.

Do a Google search and you will find many posting that they have/had this issue and they did X to deal with it.. There are lots of things you can do to remedy the issue.... or to try to remedy.

Just know that Mold / Mildew and similar, thrive/flourish, NEED.... warm, dark and moist places to thrive/survive.

With that said, here is something that I do to curtail/stop, mold/mildew and resulting odors.....

Even when I'm in Florida and it is say 99 degrees outside, I routinely run the heat, full blast, in defrost mode for at least 30 mins. every 2-3 days. Doing this keeps things much dryer in the air passages and air cabin filter. Getting rid of moisture curtails mold / mildew growth.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@SummerWind

Also... DO change your Cabin Air Filter:

Buy one of the one's below. Very easy to do for anyone.

Mopar Cabin Air Filter: Part# 68301863AA
PurolatorONE Cabin Air Filter: C21423
Premium Guard Cabin Filter: PC99454
STP Cabin air Filter: CAF1846P
FRAM Cabin air Filter CF10728

 

[zrickety]

Cabin filter...if they get old or wet, they will smell like dirty socks.

 

[SummerWind]

Cabin filter...if they get old or wet, they will smell like dirty socks.

Yep, that’s about what it smells like. I’m going to change it, but I imagine with only 3800 miles on my Jeep, it can’t be that old or dirty. I’ll run the heat too. I’ve got to get rid of that smell, it’s bad!

 

[JeepSmash]

Make sure nothing crawled under the hood and died. That’ll smell.

 

[am1978]

If you don’t like it, COVID will kill olfactory response for 1-3 days. Kidding.

 

[mwilk012]

Have a shop clean your evaporator core and air box out with a cleaner like BG Frigi-Clean, pull the blower motor and check for mold.

 

[Mad Hatter]

If you have a 2020 this would certainly be a warranty issue, IMHO. Perhaps the drain got clogged, leading to moisture retention, a wet filter, etc. In a vehicle long ago with a similar problem my dealer unclogged the drain and sprayed some sort of cleaner into the vents that cleaned the fins and other internals. Never had another problem with odor again.

I would take it to your dealer instead of trying to pull the guts out yourself and/or taking it to a shop that doesn't know or that cannot do warranty work.

P.S.: Have you taken your Wrangler off-road and covered it underneath with mud? That might be a source of a clogged drain--and a point of contention with your dealer as to whose fault the clog is.

Good Luck!

 

[jludave]

https://www.amazon.com/Armor-All-FR...ds=car+air+vent+cleaner&qid=1598539523&sr=8-5

 

[mwilk012]

If you have a 2020 this would certainly be a warranty issue, IMHO. Perhaps the drain got clogged, leading to moisture retention, a wet filter, etc. In a vehicle long ago with a similar problem my dealer unclogged the drain and sprayed some sort of cleaner into the vents that cleaned the fins and other internals. Never had another problem with odor again.

I would take it to your dealer instead of trying to pull the guts out yourself and/or taking it to a shop that doesn't know or that cannot do warranty work.

P.S.: Have you taken your Wrangler off-road and covered it underneath with mud? That might be a source of a clogged drain--and a point of contention with your dealer as to whose fault the clog is.

Good Luck!

To be clear, I was describing the work that should be done by a qualified technician.

https://www.amazon.com/Armor-All-FR...ds=car+air+vent+cleaner&qid=1598539523&sr=8-5

This will never, ever reach the areas that need to be cleaned. This is air freshener.

 

[Jelllo]

I had this smell coming from the A/C. It was/is mold in the evaporator area. What I did to fix it was put A/C on coldest, not max. You want it to draw in outside air. Blower on highest setting and from the outside vent by the wipers spray Lysol disinfectant. I used half a can, but after a couple days the smell was back so I then sprayed a full can of it. The smell seems to be gone for now. I changed the cabin air filter, but it was fine.

 

[Sparty]

Here's what I've done on my TJ, VW GTI, Truck, etc and it's always worked:

Run your AC however, and as long as you want. 30secs-1min before you turn off your car (pulling into your driveway coming home for example), turn off the AC and just run your vent blower (top and bottom) on one of the higher settings. The goal is to dry out the ducts, or at least get them to a point where they won't condensate.

Nothing to do with the JL - it's just simple science and can happen really on any vehicle.

 

[Getmadboy]

Here's what I've done on my TJ, VW GTI, Truck, etc and it's always worked:

Run your AC however, and as long as you want. 30secs-1min before you turn off your car (pulling into your driveway coming home for example), turn off the AC and just run your vent blower (top and bottom) on one of the higher settings. The goal is to dry out the ducts, or at least get them to a point where they won't condensate.

Nothing to do with the JL - it's just simple science and can happen really on any vehicle.

Yup. The cause is the cold ducts will create moisture on them (think condensation on a glass of cold water) which could provide an environment for mold/mildew to grow. I’ve found that if I only keep the ducts open to draw in outside air, I never have this issue. I only circulate the cabin air if I drive through an area with cows or a dusty construction zone, etc.

 

[CarolynVJ]

Oh, if you have an allergy, it can end badly for your lungs. Most likely, your compressor does not work together with the radiator, and you need an urgent replacement of the compressor and dry cleaning of the radiator. I have already encountered this, but only my air conditioner stank at home, not in the car. And this is even worse because it was large and blew out a large amount of air. And imagine, all this air with mold remained in my lungs. I was wondering why I'm constantly coughing, although I'm not sick. After this situation, I went to the hospital and checked my lungs. It's good that I turned out to have completely healthy lungs...
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