Cooling system stinks up car even in winter

[Mattken Moore]

Going into the final third party inspection in 1 hour.... Hoping to finally have a resolution and be done with this whole situation will update when we're done. Also have a news station interested in the story!!

[hermans]

Delete...

You showed great restraint....

[gkinla]

Took my FFH in this morning complaining about the wet drywall smell. I asked the my SA to look into getting some answers for a fix. He came back with Ford lets us do a one time deodorizer procedure. It's a Ozone/Ozium treatment. The smell is gone as of now. Replaced by a rather pleasant smell. It might return in the future. I don't know what to do if it happens again, I'll need to deal with it at that time. The parts department says it's a fairly large cylinder, so it's not a off the shelf can of Ozium. I'll re-post later if and when the smell returns.

 

I posted the RO so you can see the FP number

 

 

Notice they checked the spare and set the pressure to 60 psig.

 

 

[GrySql]

Thanks gkinla, I'll be up to our Dealer in a couple weeks, I better call our Service Writer and warn him about what I need done.

How long did that Ozium service take?

Edited March 18, 2014 by GrySql

[Riggo]

Took my FFH in this morning complaining about the wet drywall smell. I asked the my SA to look into getting some answers for a fix. He came back with Ford lets us do a one time deodorizer procedure. It's a Ozone/Ozium treatment. The smell is gone as of now. Replaced by a rather pleasant smell. It might return in the future. I don't know what to do if it happens again, I'll need to deal with it at that time. The parts department says it's a fairly large cylinder, so it's not a off the shelf can of Ozium. I'll re-post later if and when the smell returns.

 

I posted the RO so you can see the FP number

 

 

Notice they checked the spare and set the pressure to 60 psig.

 

 

 

YN-29 is what they sprayed in my car to get rid of the mold smell (it didn't exactly work all that well as I smelled it again months down the road). Even worse, it created a horrible horrible chemical smell when the heat was on, so much so that I couldn't use the heat. I hope this doesn't create the same result in your car.

I can't believe that this is still the "fix" that they have for this issue.

From what I was told, it's a chemical that's sprayed onto the evaporator coils to stop the growth of mold/mildew. I cross my fingers that your result is not like mine.

Here is the link to the YN29 product.

https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/main/product.asp?product=A/C%20Cooling%20Coil%20Coating&category=A/C%20and%20Engine%20Cooling%20Products

[clummus]

Add my car to the list of those with the stinky problem!!!:((

[clummus]

Add my car to the list of those with the stinky problem!!!:((

[GrySql]

I read Riggo's YN-29 link.

This Motorcraft YN-29 A/C Cooling Coil Coating product is used as a coating on vehicle A/C cooling coils to eliminate musty odor causing conditions for 2-3 years.

One wonders why this is not done during the A/C manufacturing process.

This only comes as a 4 fluid oz container to be used with the special YN-29 Applicator.

 

The Motorcraft YN-29 product description page has a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) link for safe handling.

Applying this water based product is when any safety precautions are taken, eye protection/masks/gloves, etc.

This is a very low level toxic substance (POLYETHYLENE-POLYPROPYLENE GLYCOL), having a very low #1 rating out of a possible high of #10, and should not off-gas anything dangerous when it has dried.

It may smell as it dries though. Having the Dealer run the heater after an application to dry it faster might be a good idea.

A lingering chemical smell is not addressed, it is supposed to smell nice.

 

I looked at the MSDS data for Ozium and it has a similar 'germ killing' main component.

Ozium is basically an gylcolized air sanitizer too, usually in a fragrant aerosol form.

I wonder if Ford has the Ozium manufacturer also make their Cooling Coil Treatment?

 

 

--> Gkinla, have you tried your heater yet?

[gkinla]

Thanks gkinla, I'll be up to our Dealer in a couple weeks, I better call our Service Writer and warn him about what I need done.

How long did that Ozium service take?

 

I was only there 1 hour today, barely enough time to get one of their superb breakfast burritos. Our normal SA was off today and I was directed to his partner. He also did an excellent job. It may or may not have been Ozium, but I was told it was an Ozone treatment and it had an Ozium-type fragrance.

 

Haven't used the heater yet and may not until next October. ;)

Edited March 19, 2014 by gkinla

[Riggo]

Well I'm glad to hear it is not an extremely toxic chemical. I do now wonder if my dealer completely screwed up the application to the point where the smell with the heater on made the heater unusable. I know they ran the heater upwards of 2 1/2 hours after I brought it back to complain of the odor.

[GrySql]

 

1. I was only there 1 hour today, barely enough time to get one of their superb breakfast burritos.

2. Haven't used the heater yet and may not until next October. ;)

1. We have a great Dealer, the free meal in their cafe is over the top service.

2. Our weather has been perfect hasn't it? No A/C or heater for months. My mpg's are UP. :thumbsup:

[FordService]

Hello everyone,

 

Just checking in to remind you guys that I'm here to assist. If you're having this concern, PM me your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info, and I'll pass your information along to your regional customer service manager, who will look into this for you.

 

Ashley

[GrySql]

My Regional Service Manager said he has this problem in his own car, and that he doesn't even drive a Ford product.

He didn't exactly inspire me.

But, thanks for getting me in touch with him Ashley.

[acdii]

A regional manager who doesn't drive a Ford!?! Confidence level going down

[corncobs]

A regional manager who doesn't drive a Ford!?! Confidence level going down

Should be a requirement in this job!

[GrySql]

I can't make this up.

When the call ended I just sat there and looked at my phone for a few seconds.

From his breezy manner I truly believe I was forgotten the moment his phone speed dialed to the next 'problem'.

It's sort of like the DRL's, no rational answer from Ford.

 

My great Dealer will do whatever is possible for Ford to do, probably the same as for Gkinla.

As said many times, this is a widespread problem and until the industry wants to change it, it won't be.

[Mattken Moore]

Well I have the report and the inspector found a defect in a part and workmanship of said part that he believes causes the smell and mold growth to happen and pass into the HVAC system in the vehicle and has stated what needs to be fixed and how. And wait for it Ford engineers are currently working on a repair!!!! :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: .Unknown to when tho :drop:. but thanks to the people that contributed. So all in all I was able to get Fords attention to this matter and hopefully this will be able to be resolved for everyone else in the future. Also the case will be coming available to public through the Canadian CAMVAP organization when the case is closed in 90days time.

Edited March 22, 2014 by Mattken Moore

[Riggo]

That's great news Mattken. I'll be really interested to hear what the part is and the fix they've come up with.

[James Sentman]

My 2014 fusion hybrid is on a truck somewhere on it’s way to me so I dont even have one yet and I can’t offer any specific wisdom about the car yet, but I can relate similar stories from the home HVAC industry and some problems they had that I was in the middle of a few years ago. It was the same problem that is described here, a whole production run of coils were prone to mold growing on them. It turned out to be an actual feature of the metal structure of the metal used for the coils. Many companies coat them in an epoxy like substance at the factory, you can’t actually just spray such a thing on, it has to be dipped, which is why the spray on stuff probably doesn’t work. Spraying a disinfectant will remove the smell temporarily, but the micro structure of the coils just traps enough dirt that the mold WILL regrow. I’m going to predict that the solution to this will be a total replacement of the evaporator coils with some from a new parts manufacturer or a new lot and I predict that ford is going to eat the cost of replacement of a lot of them over the next year.

[Riggo]

My 2014 fusion hybrid is on a truck somewhere on it’s way to me so I dont even have one yet and I can’t offer any specific wisdom about the car yet, but I can relate similar stories from the home HVAC industry and some problems they had that I was in the middle of a few years ago. It was the same problem that is described here, a whole production run of coils were prone to mold growing on them. It turned out to be an actual feature of the metal structure of the metal used for the coils. Many companies coat them in an epoxy like substance at the factory, you can’t actually just spray such a thing on, it has to be dipped, which is why the spray on stuff probably doesn’t work. Spraying a disinfectant will remove the smell temporarily, but the micro structure of the coils just traps enough dirt that the mold WILL regrow. I’m going to predict that the solution to this will be a total replacement of the evaporator coils with some from a new parts manufacturer or a new lot and I predict that ford is going to eat the cost of replacement of a lot of them over the next year.

 

I fear we will never know if this is the problem or not. It seems to make sense though. Ford doesn't seem to even acknowledge there is a problem that exists with this issue.

[James Sentman]

 

I fear we will never know if this is the problem or not. It seems to make sense though. Ford doesn't seem to even acknowledge there is a problem that exists with this issue.

I think they will have to as we start turning in cars as lemons for how often they need the condensers disinfected. It’s just going to take them some time to find a supplier that doesn’t have bad piping or to work with their current supplier to make sure their next batch is free from the problem. A coating at the factory would also likely solve the problem. Mine arrives in 2 weeks, I’m going to be paying special attention to this problem.

[Riggo]

Well hopefully if that's it, and there is a TSB issued, they won't have to completely tear out the dash to do it.

[fusionTX]

This was posted in other Fusion forum. Hallelujah !

 

TSB 14-0099

FORD:

2013-2014 Fusion

LINCOLN:

2013-2014 MKZ

ISSUE

Some 2013-2014 Fusion and MKZ vehicles built on or before 2/24/2014 may exhibit a musty or organic-type odor from the

front vents when air conditioning (A/C) is activated.

ACTION

Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Replace the Climate Control Housing. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 412-00.

a. Transfer the components from the old housing to the new housing as needed.

PART NUMBER PART NAME

EG9Z-19B555-C Climate Control Housing - Manual Air Conditioning

EG9Z-19B555-D Climate Control Housing - Dual Zone Auto Temp Control

W714878-S439 Steering Column Shaft-To-Steering Column Pinch Bolt

OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME

140099A 2013-2014 Fusion: Replace The Climate Control Housing (Do Not Use

With Any Other Labor Operations)

6.0 Hrs.

140099A 2013-2014 Fusion Hybrid: Replace The Climate Control Housing (Do

Not Use With Any Other Labor Operations)

6.6 Hrs.

140099A 2013-2014 Fusion Hybrid Plug In: Replace The Climate Control

Housing (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor Operations)

6.8 Hrs.

140099A 2013-2014 MKZ: Replace The Climate Control Housing (Do Not Use

With Any Other Labor Operations)

7.4 Hrs.

140099A 2013-2014 MKZ Hybrid: Replace The Climate Control Housing (Do Not

Use With Any Other Labor Operations)

7.7 Hrs.

WARRANTY STATUS:

Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage

Warranty/ESP coverage limits/policies/prior approvals are not altered by a TSB. Warranty/ESP coverage limits are

determined by the identified causal part and verified using the OASIS part coverage tool.

DEALER CODING

BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE

19B555 42

MUSTY ODOR FROM A/C VENT ON INITIAL START UP - BUILT ON OR

BEFORE 2/24/2014 TSB 14-0099

NOTE: The information contained in Technical Service Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge, tools, and equipment to do the job

properly and safely. It informs these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or provides information that could assist in proper vehicle service.The

procedures should not be performed by "do-it-yourselfers". Do not assume that a condition described affects your car or truck. Contact a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury dealership

to determine whether the bulletin applies to your vehicle. Warranty Policy and Extended Service Plan documentation determine Warranty and/or Extended Service Plan

coverage unless stated otherwise in the TSB article.The information in this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was current at the time of printing. Ford Motor Company reserves

the right to supercede this information with updates.The most recent information is available through Ford Motor Company's on-line technical resources.

Copyright © 2014 Ford Motor Company Online Publication Date May 5, 2014 PAGE1

[GrySql]

Great news.

There is 6.6 hours of labor for the FFH in that TSB.

Which means the parts will have to be pre-ordered and in stock, plus the car will be in the shop for at least one day.

[Riggo]

I don't see this anywhere online, maybe it's too early for it to show up. This is GREAT news if true!