07 escalade AC smells like vinegar or musty

[crownvic31]

My 07 escalade just starting smelling funny when ac is turned on. Once its been running for a min or 2, smell goes away.

Where can i start checking?

 

[Fless]

The evaporator probably needs to be cleaned.

 

[crownvic31]

@Fless
Thank you. On my 07 escalade, where is my evaporator drain located?

 

[Geotrash]

@Fless
Thank you. On my 07 escalade, where is my evaporator drain located?

Just behind the passenger side front tire, above the frame, where the firewall bends toward the rear of the truck.

A/C drain location

Where is the AC drain located on the 2007 GMC Yukon Denali? Pictures would be great. My passenger compartment carpet is getting soaked after a long ride and it is not raining and I have not been through a car wash. Do I have to take off the passenger side fender liner to access the drain? I...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[swathdiver]

My 07 escalade just starting smelling funny when ac is turned on. Once its been running for a min or 2, smell goes away.

Where can i start checking?

Find someone with a bi-directional scan tool and have them activate "Afterblow". This will dry out the evaporator. Have written about in detail on here before.

 

[tom3]

Have read that running the AC on recirculate can cause this odor. Running with outside air helps.

 

[Fless]

Also, a few blocks before you stop the truck, turn the cooling off and keep the HVAC fan running until you're ready to shut down the engine.

 

[crownvic31]

Just a quick update on this.

So I finally got around to trying to drain out any water through the evaporator drain by the front and also by the rear. I removed the L shape rubber boot at front and shoved in a thick piece of zip tie I had laying around. It was about 18" long or so. Did it several times and nothing happened. There has not been any water dripping from that drain for maybe a month. AC blows cold though. Nothing drains from the rear drain either. Where esle should I look or is the zip tie just not that strong or long?

 

[crownvic31]

Took the escalade to the shop today. Re got it on the lift and located the rubber L. Removed it and with the air compressor he managed blow it out. Did it several times. Both front and back no water what so ever. So this means there is no blockage.

I bought the dorman cabin filter retrofit. And will try and get this installed in the next few days. I will also be cleaning the evaporator with the foam spray recommanded by @Fless .

I mean, is this normal for water not drain when AC on?

 

[petethepug]

Adding a Cabin air filter, especially the activated charcoal version will undo the funk after you wash the evap coils off.

Imagine if you ran your home hvac for 13 years without a filter. Now imagine driving your home at 70mph on the highway for 13 years how nasty it’d be.

We’ve been programmed not to think about how the air in our vehicles is designed to be exchanged every 15-30 seconds even with the hvac off. Cabin air filters are good.

I bought the dorman cabin filter retrofit. And will try and get this installed in the next few days. I will also be cleaning the evaporator with the foam spray recommanded by @Fless .

 

[crownvic31]

Adding a Cabin air filter, especially the activated charcoal version will undo the funk after you wash the evap coils off.

Imagine if you ran your home hvac for 13 years without a filter. Now imagine driving your home at 70mph on the highway for 13 years how nasty it’d be.

We’ve been programmed not to think about how the air in our vehicles is designed to be exchanged every 15-30 seconds even with the hvac off. Cabin air filters are good.

@petethepug
Do you have a part # for that cabin filter? Dont think that the dorman one in the retrofit kit is charcoal activated

 

[petethepug]

Here ya go. There's a less expensive version that's "electrostatic" too. If you go through R/A use the 5% discount code. The GM filters have little cut outs along the edges that allow it to bend so when you install & remove the filter it's really easy to slide in. Most of the others do not.

 

[crownvic31]

Ok so i finally received the can of kool it evap cleaner and went to town. 1st error i did was not read the instructions. So i snaked in the little hose all the way in through the evap drain. Yes, i removed the drain boot. Attached the can and sprayed. Can took 3-4 seconds and done. Fluid started dripping immediately through drain hole. I then waited 15 mins and turned on the escalade with fan on lowest setting and let it run for a few mins.

After all was done, i then read the instructions and i believe that i did it wrong as i did not "SHAKE CAN VERY WELL" before use which i beleive did not foam up.

I will buy another can and redo this and see what happens. I can still smell the musty smell but not as bad.