we just bought a ford winstar and it has a foul odor when you first turn the air unit on, any idea what causes it or what i can do to fix it
Jul 15, 2006 at 12:41 PM
Ford Windstar AC Foul Odor
DRAPER123
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Check to see if the evaporator drain is clogged. If the water is not allowed to drain, it can mold and have a bad smell. There is a filter like pad that goes in front of the evaporator that can get bad smells in them.
I know they make odor neutralizers to be sprayed in the inlet that may cancel the odor.
Good luck
I know they make odor neutralizers to be sprayed in the inlet that may cancel the odor.
Good luck
Jul 15, 2006 at 1:10 PM
It's probably mildew in the evap core, not uncommon.. if you can, check the drain hoses, make sure they're clear and hooked up, I'm not sure how they run in the Windstar, they're usually under the carpet towards the firewalll behind the glovebox, again on your vehicle, I'm not sure,, also you could look underneath the vehicle on a hot muggy day, water should be coming out of the hoses, don't confuse with the water dripping off the a\c plumbing under the hood... there is a procedure to spray some type of disinfectant up into the evap core, may involve removing the blower motor, not 100% sure how to do it on yopur car,, call the dealer, they can give you a heads-up on the whole deal.. sorry there mikey, you're post wasn't up when I first looked.
Jul 15, 2006 at 1:13 PM
Suggested Repair
Check that the evaporator drain hoses are clear, connected, and dripping water under the vehicle when the A/C runs. Inspect or replace the pad in front of the evaporator, and treat mildew on the evaporator core with an odor neutralizer or disinfectant spray, possibly after removing the blower motor. A dealer can confirm the Windstar procedure.
Conversation Summary
The owner of a Ford Windstar reported a foul odor when the air conditioning was first turned on. Experts said a clogged evaporator drain can trap water and cause mold, and that mildew on the evaporator core or a dirty filter pad is a common cause. They recommended confirming the drain hoses are clear and dripping, then using a disinfectant or odor neutralizer, and contacting a dealer for the exact spray procedure.