Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.

Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently spraying
the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to do it twice
weekly.

I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This one
is also garaged full time.

Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
--
Dave C.

c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et

Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

There is a product that is available from most auto suppliers that is made
to clean the coil and sump are under the coil, just follow the directions on
the can. From what I have read this is a common problem virtually in all
auto makers HVAC systems.

--
Coasty
Semper Paratus
(Always Ready)

"Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et> wrote in message
news:4289c5bb.0@paperboy.c4.net...
|I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
| because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
| was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
|
| Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently
spraying
| the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to do it
twice
| weekly.
|
| I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This
one
| is also garaged full time.
|
| Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
| anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
| --
| Dave C.
|
| c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et
|
| Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.
|
|
|

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

There is a product that is available from most auto suppliers that is made
to clean the coil and sump are under the coil, just follow the directions on
the can. From what I have read this is a common problem virtually in all
auto makers HVAC systems.

--
Coasty
Semper Paratus
(Always Ready)

"Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et> wrote in message
news:4289c5bb.0@paperboy.c4.net...
|I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
| because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
| was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
|
| Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently
spraying
| the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to do it
twice
| weekly.
|
| I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This
one
| is also garaged full time.
|
| Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
| anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
| --
| Dave C.
|
| c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et
|
| Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.
|
|
|

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

There is a product that is available from most auto suppliers that is made
to clean the coil and sump are under the coil, just follow the directions on
the can. From what I have read this is a common problem virtually in all
auto makers HVAC systems.

--
Coasty
Semper Paratus
(Always Ready)

"Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et> wrote in message
news:4289c5bb.0@paperboy.c4.net...
|I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
| because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
| was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
|
| Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently
spraying
| the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to do it
twice
| weekly.
|
| I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This
one
| is also garaged full time.
|
| Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
| anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
| --
| Dave C.
|
| c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et
|
| Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.
|
|
|

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

There is a product that is available from most auto suppliers that is made
to clean the coil and sump are under the coil, just follow the directions on
the can. From what I have read this is a common problem virtually in all
auto makers HVAC systems.

--
Coasty
Semper Paratus
(Always Ready)

"Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et> wrote in message
news:4289c5bb.0@paperboy.c4.net...
|I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
| because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
| was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
|
| Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently
spraying
| the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to do it
twice
| weekly.
|
| I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This
one
| is also garaged full time.
|
| Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
| anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
| --
| Dave C.
|
| c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et
|
| Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.
|
|
|

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

"Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et> wrote in message
news:4289c5bb.0@paperboy.c4.net...
>I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
>because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
>was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
>
> Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently
> spraying the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to
> do it twice weekly.
>
> I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This
> one is also garaged full time.
>
> Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
> anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
> --
> Dave C.
>
> c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et
>
> Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.
This is a problem with most all cars that were originally designed to use
R-12 refrigerant (freon) and then converted to non-freon R-134a in
production.

To help these systems cool better manufacturers used more cooling fins on
the evaporators than they did with the older R-12 systems. This provides
more surface area for cooling, but the restricted evaporator cases often
provided less air circulation and thus mold forms more easily on the damp
evaporator fins & coils. Later systems were deigned for better air
circulation and have less of this problem.

All you can really do is to treat the system periodically with AirSept or
any other bactericide as you have been doing. In some cases the evaporator
can becoe completely clogged with dead and growing bacteria. Aside from it
stinking to high heaven, some folks can get a severe respiratory infection
from it, even Legionairres disease in extreme cases. If the system is not
circulating properly ytou need to depressurise the system and pull the
evaproator for a thorough cleaning, or even replacement.

Aa a buddy once said: "We've saved the ozone layer with R-134a so peeople
won't be killed by ultraviloet rays before we can kill them off with A/C
mung."

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

"Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et> wrote in message
news:4289c5bb.0@paperboy.c4.net...
>I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
>because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
>was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
>
> Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently
> spraying the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to
> do it twice weekly.
>
> I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This
> one is also garaged full time.
>
> Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
> anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
> --
> Dave C.
>
> c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et
>
> Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.
This is a problem with most all cars that were originally designed to use
R-12 refrigerant (freon) and then converted to non-freon R-134a in
production.

To help these systems cool better manufacturers used more cooling fins on
the evaporators than they did with the older R-12 systems. This provides
more surface area for cooling, but the restricted evaporator cases often
provided less air circulation and thus mold forms more easily on the damp
evaporator fins & coils. Later systems were deigned for better air
circulation and have less of this problem.

All you can really do is to treat the system periodically with AirSept or
any other bactericide as you have been doing. In some cases the evaporator
can becoe completely clogged with dead and growing bacteria. Aside from it
stinking to high heaven, some folks can get a severe respiratory infection
from it, even Legionairres disease in extreme cases. If the system is not
circulating properly ytou need to depressurise the system and pull the
evaproator for a thorough cleaning, or even replacement.

Aa a buddy once said: "We've saved the ozone layer with R-134a so peeople
won't be killed by ultraviloet rays before we can kill them off with A/C
mung."

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

"Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et> wrote in message
news:4289c5bb.0@paperboy.c4.net...
>I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
>because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
>was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
>
> Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently
> spraying the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to
> do it twice weekly.
>
> I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This
> one is also garaged full time.
>
> Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
> anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
> --
> Dave C.
>
> c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et
>
> Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.
This is a problem with most all cars that were originally designed to use
R-12 refrigerant (freon) and then converted to non-freon R-134a in
production.

To help these systems cool better manufacturers used more cooling fins on
the evaporators than they did with the older R-12 systems. This provides
more surface area for cooling, but the restricted evaporator cases often
provided less air circulation and thus mold forms more easily on the damp
evaporator fins & coils. Later systems were deigned for better air
circulation and have less of this problem.

All you can really do is to treat the system periodically with AirSept or
any other bactericide as you have been doing. In some cases the evaporator
can becoe completely clogged with dead and growing bacteria. Aside from it
stinking to high heaven, some folks can get a severe respiratory infection
from it, even Legionairres disease in extreme cases. If the system is not
circulating properly ytou need to depressurise the system and pull the
evaproator for a thorough cleaning, or even replacement.

Aa a buddy once said: "We've saved the ozone layer with R-134a so peeople
won't be killed by ultraviloet rays before we can kill them off with A/C
mung."

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

"Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et> wrote in message
news:4289c5bb.0@paperboy.c4.net...
>I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
>because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
>was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
>
> Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently
> spraying the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to
> do it twice weekly.
>
> I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This
> one is also garaged full time.
>
> Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
> anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?
> --
> Dave C.
>
> c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et
>
> Remove the five 9's (leave the 4) for email.
This is a problem with most all cars that were originally designed to use
R-12 refrigerant (freon) and then converted to non-freon R-134a in
production.

To help these systems cool better manufacturers used more cooling fins on
the evaporators than they did with the older R-12 systems. This provides
more surface area for cooling, but the restricted evaporator cases often
provided less air circulation and thus mold forms more easily on the damp
evaporator fins & coils. Later systems were deigned for better air
circulation and have less of this problem.

All you can really do is to treat the system periodically with AirSept or
any other bactericide as you have been doing. In some cases the evaporator
can becoe completely clogged with dead and growing bacteria. Aside from it
stinking to high heaven, some folks can get a severe respiratory infection
from it, even Legionairres disease in extreme cases. If the system is not
circulating properly ytou need to depressurise the system and pull the
evaproator for a thorough cleaning, or even replacement.

Aa a buddy once said: "We've saved the ozone layer with R-134a so peeople
won't be killed by ultraviloet rays before we can kill them off with A/C
mung."

Re: Odor from 1996 AC evaporator
 

On Mon, 16 May 2005 18:20:19 -0400, "Dave C." <c9ar9dar9elli@9c4.n9et>
wrote:

>I had a 1996 Laredo and in 1998, the evaporator was replaced on warrantee
>because of a foul odor due to mold accumulating on the evaporator coils (I
>was told). It was always kept in the garage and not outdoors.
>
>Around 2002, the odor returned, and I kept it at bay by frequently spraying
>the inlet with a bacteriostat with only some success. Needed to do it twice
>weekly.
>
>I have a 2001 Laredo now and it is OK so far with no odor problem. This one
>is also garaged full time.
>
>Can anyone give me any information as to how this happens and if I can do
>anything to prevent it from happening to the 2001?

Every once in a while I turn the A/C on and crank the fan up on high
and spray Lysol into the outside intake for about 6 seconds. I then
turn everything off and leave the car sit with the windows open for
about 20 minutes to air out.

Stay out of the car during this time because breathing that much Lysol
isn't very good for you.

Next I run everything on high again for another 20 minutes or so to
help flush the rest of the Lysol out (again with the windows open) and
again I usually sit in a lawn chair and have an iced tea so I'm not
breathing that stuff.

Generally speaking I do this about once a month during the
spring/summer and so far (knock on wood) I've never had the HVAC
grunge. Of course ymmv.


Drifter
"I've been here, I've been there..."