Weird smell when A/C is turned on

[yugrus]

Afterblow has really a lot of presentation online and in GM service manuals. What I've found though that in my '14 Tahoe it doesn't perform as they say. It's a full blast more than 10 minutes after I shut the truck down. Than there's another jolt in about 10 minutes. And yet another one down the road, but I couldn't time that one...

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[chilleblanco36]

Check afterblow option if it's enabled. This might not be an error after all.

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It will not allow me to see if the option is enabled. Lol


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[yugrus]

It will not allow me to see if the option is enabled. Lol


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That's weird. I'd think that Snap-On scanner would do a better job than my old (perhaps, Chinese) Maxidas that only goes to 2013...

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[Tim907356]

I can see a Dorito stuck in my duct.

 

[2591tdj]

Wrongo bucko. Look at my signature and see my Tahoe info. It is a 2002 and mine has a cabin air filter from the factory. What is the next excuse or assumption you want to use?

Next time look before you leap.

That’s interesting. My 2005 Z71 Tahoe has every factory option yet it does not have a cabin air filter. I wish it did. I was unaware that I could add one myself.

 

[OR VietVet]

I can see a Dorito stuck in my duct.

What option package is that? I like Frito's so I will have to see what option package that is as well. If there is no other option I can get used to that Nacho Cheese smell.

 

[Gravatar]

I don't know why but the older generation had it, the newer generation 2007-2014, even the Denali's didn't include it. Not sure if the latest generation brought it back, ridiculous for such nice high end vehicles not to include it. I cut the box (not hard it is outlined for it) and used a foaming AC cleaner. I used it a few times until crap quit coming out of the fins, then I installed the new cabin filter kit.

 

[gooffeyguy]

I've read that they did away with the cabin air filter because owners would neglect to change it and as it clogged up and reduced airflow it would cause other problems, like with the blower motor or evaporator freezing up

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[OR VietVet]

Makes sense that would be why they did away with it. Some people just don't care about things till they break. Maintenance? What the hell is that? DUH!

Maybe the cases are still outlined for them to be cut out and install a cabin air filter just so the true believers can add it on.

 

[Steve Waddington]

If you search the older posts, from about a year or so ago, we had a discussion or two about cabin air filters. They had them up to and including 2002. The 2003 was the first year without, and I believe GM just thought they were no longer necessary. However, they did not change the configuration of the under dash covers and panels, and the outline is still there to cut out and install a filter. Perhaps in 2003 they were going to make it a dealer add? Whatever. You can get a filter kit from amazon, with the door and screw, so all you have to do is make the cut, clean everything out, spray whatever anti fungal, anti virus, antiseptic type spray, add the filter and close it tightly with your new door. Now you can change your filter anytime you want to. A highly recommended and worthwhile add, IMO.
I think I described the process in my older post. Use the search feature to find it.

 

[reecej]

Dorman retro-fit kit 259-201 or 259-200 if you don't want the carbon option. You can find it on Amazon and lots of youtube videos.

 

[OR VietVet]

@reecej, welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Thanks for the info.


We recommend that you put all your rig(s) info in your signature so we all don’t have to guess at year, make, model, engine size, trans, rear axle locker…….etc. While you may have posted pertinent info in your first post, you may forget to do it again and the info is needed by us anyway. Makes it way easier on all members that attempt to help, to have that info right up front. It is also recommended that you take a pic of your RPO codes, on the inside cover of the glove box, and post that image in your signature. All this info will greatly help those that will try to help with a problem.


If there is any other info, like upgrades, mods or recent mechanical/maintenance work done, that would be helpful in any post as well. Too many times a question is asked by the poster and after about 10 responses we find out that the poster has done recent work to attempt to fix the problem or work that was done that SEEMS not related to the problem.

 

[R Black]

I can’t describe it, but when I turn my A/C on a weird smell comes out. First thought was to change the canine filter, but soon found out there isn’t one.

Any idea of what this could be? It doesn’t smell like road kill or anything. Maybe like a cleaning agent of some type or wet type smell. Idk. Thanks in advance.


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Assume you meant cabin not canine filter (?)
Short of ripping ductwork and dash apart to clean it you can turn the A/C on full blast on a non-recirc. setting and direct a fog of Lysol disinfectant spray in there. Do that several times and then a couple days later do it again. Open all the doors when doing this to evac any lingering Lysol.

The smell is probably mold. Relatively harmless. It forms when the A/C evaporator stays wet in humid weather. You could also try turning off the A/C when you get home after driving and blow some ambient air through it for ten minutes, every once in a while to dry the condensor and help prevent the mold from coming back.

I think there are some good videos on Youtube on how to remedy this.

 

[chilleblanco36]

Thanks for the info guys. I’ll try the Lysol solution first. I assume this should be sprayed outside the cabin where fresh air comes in around the windshield somewhere, correct?


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[Fless]

There are many, many evaporator cleaner products, like this one. I've never tried any but I'd do something like this before the Lysol.

https://d2y5sgsy8bbmb8.cloudfront.n...rm-Generic-480p-16-9-1409173089793-rpcbe5.mp4

 

[Fless]

The smell is probably mold. Relatively harmless. It forms when the A/C evaporator stays wet in humid weather. You could also try turning off the A/C when you get home after driving and blow some ambient air through it for ten minutes, every once in a while to dry the condensor and help prevent the mold from coming back.

^^^^ This, once you get it cleaned. A block or two from home turn off the A/C and let the fan blow the system dry.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Then have the dealer (or someone with a Tech2) enable the afterblow function on the HVAC system

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[Sam Harris]

Then have the dealer (or someone with a Tech2) enable the afterblow function on the HVAC system

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I don’t imagine the afterblow can be enabled on an NBS... thankfully, I live in a very dry state. [emoji106][emoji16]

 

[chilleblanco36]

I don’t imagine the afterblow can be enabled on an NBS... thankfully, I live in a very dry state. [emoji106][emoji16]

You might be right. It would not allow me to. It did allow me to turn on the temperature read out that displays on the HVAC controller


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[Linderov]

Wrongo bucko. Look at my signature and see my Tahoe info. It is a 2002 and mine has a cabin air filter from the factory. What is the next excuse or assumption you want to use?

Next time look before you leap.

IMO there is no rhyme nor reason to OEM inclusion of these cabin air filters. I also have an '02 Tahoe with a filter. ?? On a related note, we have a 2006 300C that had no filter, so we bought a used one from, I think, a Challenger, which fit right in. Youda thunk a luxury sport sedan would have one, but no.