Mold smell when I turn 2002 forester airconditioner off

[news]

Anybody have any idea why when I turn the air conditioner off in my Forester
there is a mold smell I can't seem to find? The techs say that there is an
airfilter that may need to be replaced under the glove compartment however
the only thing I see under there is a large rubber gasket (about the size of
the bottom of a cereal box) and when I remove it there is no filter in their
but it does look like air conditioning fins ). Does anybody have any idea
where it could be coming from? vents or something? How do I clean whatever
it is so I don't have to smell it anymore?????

Thanks

 

[Ed P]

Anybody have any idea why when I turn the air conditioner off in my Forester
there is a mold smell I can't seem to find? The techs say that there is an
airfilter that may need to be replaced under the glove compartment however
the only thing I see under there is a large rubber gasket (about the size of
the bottom of a cereal box) and when I remove it there is no filter in their
but it does look like air conditioning fins ). Does anybody have any idea
where it could be coming from? vents or something? How do I clean whatever
it is so I don't have to smell it anymore?????

Thanks

Mold sometimes grows on the A/C evaporator, which is between the
A/C-heater blower motor and the dash vents. I have no idea how prone
the Forester is for this and personally I have never had the problem in
any of my own cars. However, moisture condenses on evaporator during
A/C operation and if it doesn't drain away well you have a situation
that is conducive to mold.

GM even had a procedure back in the '80s for treating the problem --
basically exposing the evaporator and rinsing it down with bleach-like
chemicals. The complaint was often that it smelled like something died
in the car. As I recall, there were even some modification kits
designed to run the blower for a short period after the A/C was turned
OFF to "dry out" the evaporator.

You might check with some Subaru dealers and independent A/C shops and
ask if they are experienced in cleaning or "treating" evaporators for
the problem. The evaporator drain needs to be checked to be sure it is
clear and working.

My Haynes Subaru Legacy (90-98) discusses the problem under the heading
"Eliminating air conditioning odors" in the Chapter on Cooling, heating
& A/C. It even describes a somewhat involved, do-it-yourself approach.
It points out that there are special aerosol disinfectants available for
auto A/C.

Ed P

 

[lophiomys]

even so I didn't encounter this in my fathers forester,
i've seen about this on a tv-docu:
residues of humidity inside the AC system are a good breeding ground
for mold.
they said that you should service your AC regularily
by disassembling and cleaning it with strong desinfectant
that should be done in an authorized garage / by a specialist.
This means more than just changing the AC fluid of an air filter.
hope this helps
lophiomys

 

[mulder]

Mold sometimes grows on the A/C evaporator, which is between the
A/C-heater blower motor and the dash vents. I have no idea how prone
the Forester is for this and personally I have never had the problem in
any of my own cars. However, moisture condenses on evaporator during
A/C operation and if it doesn't drain away well you have a situation
that is conducive to mold.

GM even had a procedure back in the '80s for treating the problem --
basically exposing the evaporator and rinsing it down with bleach-like
chemicals. The complaint was often that it smelled like something died
in the car. As I recall, there were even some modification kits
designed to run the blower for a short period after the A/C was turned
OFF to "dry out" the evaporator.

You might check with some Subaru dealers and independent A/C shops and
ask if they are experienced in cleaning or "treating" evaporators for
the problem. The evaporator drain needs to be checked to be sure it is
clear and working.

My Haynes Subaru Legacy (90-98) discusses the problem under the heading
"Eliminating air conditioning odors" in the Chapter on Cooling, heating
& A/C. It even describes a somewhat involved, do-it-yourself approach.
It points out that there are special aerosol disinfectants available for
auto A/C.

Ed P

I'm not sure about the Forester, but on the Imprezas you have to
remove the glovebox to access the cabin filter. The filter is an
option on the Imprezas, don't know if it was standard on the Forester
or not. If it was dealer installed there should be a sticker on the
doorpost indicating its presence. Your owners manual should show its
location and the procedure for access.
While the filter may be a possible source of odor if not serviced for
a long time, and will also eventually reduce airflow through the vents
if not replaced in a timely manner, the usual source of the
mold/mildew smell is the evaporator core itself.
You can attempt to reduce or eliminate any buildup that has developed
by spraying Lysol or another disinfectant product into the outside air
intake while the vent fan is running. This will draw the disinfectant
through the evaporator and hopefully kill the mold. Multiple
treatments may be needed.
To prevent this from happening in the first place, or to avoid
recurrence, don't keep the AC running right up until you shut the car
down. At least a few blocks before reaching your destination, turn the
compressor off but leave the vent fan running, this will allow the
evaporator to dry out at least partially by the time you park. Also
avoid the use of the recirculate mode unless absolutely necessary, use
the fresh air mode.

 

[Guest]

even so I didn't encounter this in my fathers forester,
i've seen about this on a tv-docu:
residues of humidity inside the AC system are a good breeding ground
for mold.
they said that you should service your AC regularily
by disassembling and cleaning it with strong desinfectant
that should be done in an authorized garage / by a specialist.
This means more than just changing the AC fluid of an air filter.
hope this helps
lophiomys

I've had this from day one with my Chrysler '95 Concord in our damp west
coast winters.
My Chrysler dealer gave (sold) me the solution. A container of
commercial air conditioner mould remover. I've been using it for 9
years. Just requires an application every few months during our damp
weather.

 

[F. Plant]

I've had this from day one with my Chrysler '95 Concord in our damp west
coast winters.
My Chrysler dealer gave (sold) me the solution. A container of
commercial air conditioner mould remover. I've been using it for 9
years. Just requires an application every few months during our damp
weather.

My dealer suggested I run the a/c with temp on hot for a while to stop the
musties. Don't know if it kills it all, but its worth trying.

F. Plant