Cooling system stinks up car even in winter

[Toz]

Really hope the Ford finds a fix for this soon. It sounds like it is affecting a large portion of forum members.

 

It's kind of funny though, the forum threads about this problem sound just like the "crackling noise" issues from this spring(lots of complaints/ dealer visits/no fixes), and Ford did finally get a fix out for that. Seems to take 4 to 6 months for these issues to reach critical mass and get fixed. Hang in there everyone, and don't let the problem slip through the cracks this winter, only to have it resurface next spring/summer.

Edited October 24, 2013 by Toz

[hybridbear]

UPDATE ROUND 2: Well, I have had the car since last Friday and today the smell is back. So I guess the spraying of epoxy on the evaporator didn't work.

I'm not sure what to do at this point. I don't blame the service department as they seem to be trying whatever they can and do what the FSE tells them.

At this point I'm wondering if I need to look into lemon law procedures.

Does anyone know who I should contact at Ford corporate to try to figure out this problem? I really do love this car and this smell just ruins the entire experience of it.

So sorry to hear that :(

 

A Blue Oval Forum user who had their gas Fusion repurchased by Ford says:

 

It starts at the (866)631-3788 customer relations number with your district rep good luck, you have to be polite but persistent.

 

You can also look in the Owner's Manual. Check out the Customer Assistance section which starts on pg 226. It says that for repurchase you must submit a dispute through the BBB Autoline program. The OM contains instructions of how to submit this claim. The BBB will then provide a mediator to solve the issue. The fact that the dealer has tried numerous times to unsuccessfully repair this smell and since Ford engineering has been unable to help them it sounds like it might be time for the BBB claim process. Also, since this isn't an issue with all FFHs it seems that there is an unsolved defect with yours. I don't know what the options are with mediation by the BBB. Perhaps in a situation like this you wouldn't get a different car but perhaps Ford might give you an extended warranty at no cost or something. Perhaps this claim process will also get this issue on their radar so that they will fix it for you and everyone else. If other owners with this issue also file a claim through the BBB Autoline program it might help get Ford's attention.

[Riggo]

It was pretty cold last night and the smell wasn't there today. This is the most frustrating part about it all. I fear when and if I do get a Ford rep to look at my car the smell won't be present at that time.

[Toz]

I have to wonder if you could get one of those flex-tube cameras down the vents far enough to actual see any mold build up. It would seem that it might be visible some where in the system. That would be all the proof that you would need for Ford, I would think.

[GrySql]

I have to wonder if you could get one of those flex-tube cameras down the vents far enough to actual see any mold build up. It would seem that it might be visible some where in the system. That would be all the proof that you would need for Ford, I would think.

One wonders why we need to do, or think we need to do, something like this so our FFH's perform correctly.

 

I believe I know why Ford is not willing to have a Ford Rep on this Forum.

They don't want to embarrass themselves with a lack of answers.

[Riggo]

That would be nice but I have no idea where to get one or how much it would cost for someone to do that.

[Toz]

One wonders why we need to do, or think we need to do, something like this so our FFH's perform correctly.

 

I believe I know why Ford is not willing to have a Ford Rep on this Forum.

They don't want to embarrass themselves with a lack of answers.

No we shouldn't have to do anything like this to get issues fixed, but it does seem to be the pattern. Get enough owners with proof of a problem, Ford finally admits there IS a problem, TSB and fix issued about 4-6 weeks later.

I am really curious how many Fusion owners are having this issue. I live in a relative low humidity area and I have never had an issue like this with any of my vehicles. I run the AC right up until I turn the car/truck off in the garage. And that is all I would expect to have to do with my Fusion. Any fix that requires me to have to monkey with turning on and off my AC to prevent water on the coils is just silly.

[fusionTX]

It was pretty cold last night and the smell wasn't there today. This is the most frustrating part about it all. I fear when and if I do get a Ford rep to look at my car the smell won't be present at that time.

The smell is always there when using fresh air (no A/C, no recirculate)

[MD_Fusion_Lover]

Hybridbear --- Thanks for providing the information about the BBB. Who'd have thought to read the owner's manual for something like this?!?!?! ;) I submitted my case information on-line last night and my formal documentation by mail today.

 

I have been dealing with this problem since early September and my car has been at the dealership since 9 October with no firm return date in sight. Again, the dealership and the Ford Customer Relationship folks have been helpful, but the defect and SMELL continued up until this 4th Service appointment.

 

I would encourage everyone/anyone with this problem to start formally documenting it with Ford, their local consumer protection entity, as well as the BBB if a resolution is not being found by the Ford Engineers. I had hoped Riggo's repair would have solved this horrible problem, but it appears it did not. :(

 

Will post updates....if I ever have updates.

[MD_Fusion_Lover]

Ugh.....more: http://www.fordfusionclub.com/showthread.php?t=538842

[Riggo]

The smell is always there when using fresh air (no A/C, no recirculate)

 

Mine isn't always there when using the fresh are and no a/c and no recirculate for some reason.

 

On another note, the epoxy they sprayed on the evaporator now smells like bad b.o. when the heat is on. Great.

[aaronj1159]

 

Mine isn't always there when using the fresh are and no a/c and no recirculate for some reason.

 

 

Same here. I drove about 40 miles the other day with just fresh air and it wasn't there. However when turning fresh air on after recently having the AC on, it is there. Also it's never there when the heat is on.

[Riggo]

Same here. I drove about 40 miles the other day with just fresh air and it wasn't there. However when turning fresh air on after recently having the AC on, it is there. Also it's never there when the heat is on.

 

Yep, that's pretty much how mine is. Except now when my heat is on I get this bad chemical smell from the epoxy they sprayed on the evaporator.

Edited October 29, 2013 by Riggo

[bhhess]

Hi,

 

I live on the northeast edge of phoenix Arizona, Will be driving to UTAH this weekend - so i MAY experience using heat for the first time.

 

I will tell you, I use AC...All the time.

 

This week and last; weather was cool - been using NO AC...- but cannot use outside air...coz.

 

Get in the Car - turn it on - Smell. Turn ON In Car Circulation - smell goes away instantly. (why in car circ does not stay on when i turned car off with it on, i do not know)

 

I have read posts - AC off (appears off for a while - drove 40 miles) Outside air on - no smell (I cannot take 10 minutes of that smell - have not tried prolonged exposures w/ AC off)

 

I have also read posts - from a guy who before he gets to his destination - he turns off AC -and runs the blower full (to dry up any condensation) - also has no issues.

 

Personally - with AC on (or off) - no smell w/ In car circ. This is not consistent w/ posts i have read.

 

I have no experience w/ heat - although its hard to believe you would have this problem with heat...Do you?

 

It still appears to me to be a mold issue though some external air vent. I think heat would kill it - be manufactured or just lovely phoenix oven air.

 

I'll try the heat when in Utah. Let you know how it goes.

 

 

 

 

[Toz]

has anybody checked that "dang hard to get to" cabin air filter? It's a paper filter. Could it be getting moldy?

[MD_Fusion_Lover]

My cabin air filter was checked during the THIRD service appointment to try to isolate the problem.

 

Apparently there were no problems found with it and the smell returned and continued to exist.

[fusionTX]

For the past two weeks it has been cool enough in Houston to bypass the A/C. I have been driving with windows and moonroof open for the two weeks and also with the fresh air on with a high fan speed on the climate control. The fresh air from climate control is definitely not fresh smelling, but it has improved. This morning it was raining so I just had the moonroof on tilt and the fresh air on. I can still detect the foul smell, just not as strong as before. I was hoping having the fresh air on with a high fan speed would help or fix the problem. I think it has helped, but it has not yet fixed the problem.

[Riggo]

For the past two weeks it has been cool enough in Houston to bypass the A/C. I have been driving with windows and moonroof open for the two weeks and also with the fresh air on with a high fan speed on the climate control. The fresh air from climate control is definitely not fresh smelling, but it has improved. This morning it was raining so I just had the moonroof on tilt and the fresh air on. I can still detect the foul smell, just not as strong as before. I was hoping having the fresh air on with a high fan speed would help or fix the problem. I think it has helped, but it has not yet fixed the problem.

 

I wouldn't bet on it fixing the problem. There is some larger issue. It may go away for a while but it always comes back.

Edited October 31, 2013 by Riggo

[fusionTX]

I finally took my car in yesterday for the stinky air thing. The night before I could smell the nasty air as i was driving home from work . Unfortunately, the weather cooled overnight, and it was 45 degrees when i took the car in. I could not really smell anything on the way to dealerslhip.

 

Regardless, they took the car in. They say they checked the A/C unit and all was well. The report states there was an odor on startup. Not sure if they really smelled it, but glad they put it in there. In the end all they did was deodorize the car. Smells like roses now :)

Of course, that is not a fix and I don't expect it to last.

[Riggo]

I finally took my car in yesterday for the stinky air thing. The night before I could smell the nasty air as i was driving home from work . Unfortunately, the weather cooled overnight, and it was 45 degrees when i took the car in. I could not really smell anything on the way to dealerslhip.

 

Regardless, they took the car in. They say they checked the A/C unit and all was well. The report states there was an odor on startup. Not sure if they really smelled it, but glad they put it in there. In the end all they did was deodorize the car. Smells like roses now :)

Of course, that is not a fix and I don't expect it to last.

 

Yep, I had the deodorizer put in the first two times I brought it in. It lasted a few days tops and then the smell was back. This was in the middle of spring/summer though so you might not have your smell return so fast.

[Riggo]

So the part number of the spray they used on my evaporator is Motorcraft YN29. I'm worried now that it's toxic air that I was breathing in since there is a strong chemical smell when the air is on.

I know they said the epoxy hardens after it's cured, but if I smell it, doesn't that mean I'm breathing it in?

 

On another note, I haven't used the heat or any hvac for that matter for a while now, I'm worried it's not safe. But the result of not using the heat is me freezing to death on days/nights when it's below 38F or so. Even with the seat heaters on my feet are still freezing. I was actually thinking about plugging a tiny space heater into the outlet below the back seat hvac vents to heat the car. That's probably a bad idea though, right? Would this most likely blow some electronics in the car?

[murphy]

The outlet in the back seat has a maximum load of 150 watts. Any space heater I have ever used was over 1000 watts.

[Riggo]

The outlet in the back seat has a maximum load of 150 watts. Any space heater I have ever used was over 1000 watts.

Well, I guess that answers that question.

[jsolan]

I had a slight smell in the summer with A/C, not as bad as most have reported here though.

In the winter, the smell really only comes through if I use "auto", which seems to default to the defrosters. I normally use the vents and floor vents and haven't experienced any smell with the heater.

 

I don't know if that helps anyone, but I figured I'd throw out any information I can provide.

[bhhess]

I get the smell to a GREAT Degree w/ AC on / re-Circulate off. I get the smell to a significant lessor degree w/ Heat on and Re-Circulate off.

I have not had the dealer to anything.

I find if i keep re-circulate ON, I do not have a problem. IF I start the car and re-circulate is off - i'll get a 'smell' reminder - and i'll turn re-circulate back on...and the smell is gone.

 

 

During the summer - i did try the advise given about - 3 minutes from home - turning AC off - turning up blower - I have done that, and next time i turn on the car the smell is not quite as bad....but there still. (so i turn Re-circulate on, problem solved for me).