Cooling system stinks up car even in winter

[Easy Rider]

In my experience of driving cars with AC, that's not normal (I've never encountered it), but instead should be considered a design defect.

 

You can consider it whatever you want but I've had it on almost every car I ever owned......that had AC.

 

Buicks, two Caddys, Chevys, two pickup trucks, a Chrysler.......on and on.

If you haven't had it happen, then you haven't been driving very long, haven't kept your cars beyond 4 years or so, or have been extremely lucky.

 

But yes, I think part of the problem is with the design of the catch tray for condensation that runs off of the evaporator; it doesn't drain good enough.

Over long periods of time the addition of a little dirt and grime just makes the water retention worse and the likelyhood of nasty stuff growing much higher.

 

So maybe with the addition of cabin air filters and (hopefully) better design of the catch trays and drains, the problem might not be as prevalent as it used to be.

[Easy Rider]

OK, you guys who live in Texas or the rest of the "desert southwest" might not have the right conditions for it to happen "normally".

 

And I did NOT say that it was a normal occurrence for every car model ever built or in every part of the world.

Design varies, climate varies and driving habits vary too.

 

Some vehicles in some places for some drivers might not have the problem at all........but a LOT do.

When things stay damp for long periods mold and mildew grows naturally. You can't fight mother nature. :)

 

P.S. In places like Florida where the temp stays above 70 and the humidity is above 70 too for much of the year, "stuff" grows on almost everything.

Fences, screens, houses, roofs, gutters, concrete driveways........pretty much EVERYTHING.......including the AC ducts of cars.

 

The point IS that this kind of part defect on the Fusions is VERY unusual and should NOT make everybody think that every moldy smell is caused by a defective part, nor that it can be "fixed" by changing a part either.

Edited June 28, 2014 by Easy Rider

[Texasota]

If you haven't had it happen, then you haven't been driving very long, haven't kept your cars beyond 4 years or so, or have been extremely lucky.

 

Call me extremely lucky then. I've been buying/driving cars (GMs, and Fords) with A/C since 1978 and have not experienced this problem with any of them.

[SteveB_TX]

I owned a Camaro, Datsun 200SX, and a Mustang Turbo while stationed in Panama City FL. None had this issue. Hmmm. Things that make you go :gaah:

[acdii]

I have encountered it a few times while working as a mechanic. It usually happens to cars who have the drain get plugged up for the Evaporator. the fix was to clear the blockage, spray dome AC freshener in the coils, and that would do it.

 

Those who have the smell have ingested a decent amount of mold spores at just the right time to induce this, and once they take hold are hard to get rid of. Those who haven't yet have either used it sparingly, or haven't encountered a large ingestion of mold spores.

[Easy Rider]

 

Call me extremely lucky then. I've been buying/driving cars (GMs, and Fords) with A/C since 1978 and have not experienced this problem with any of them.

 

 

I owned a Camaro, Datsun 200SX, and a Mustang Turbo while stationed in Panama City FL. None had this issue. Hmmm. Things that make you go :gaah:

 

But how LONG did you own those vehicles ??

And were they garaged when not in use ??

Regularly having them get REALLY hot kind of kills off the mold.......and helps dry out the water too.

 

Texas doesn't count unless maybe you are on the coast or the far eastern side. :)

 

The problem usually doesn't crop up until the cars are about 5 years old or more AND they are not parked out in the hot sun often.

It didn't show up in my last Corolla until it was 11 years old and had 120,000 miles on it.

[Texasota]

 

 

 

But how LONG did you own those vehicles ??

And were they garaged when not in use ??

Regularly having them get REALLY hot kind of kills off the mold.......and helps dry out the water too.

 

Texas doesn't count unless maybe you are on the coast or the far eastern side. :)

 

My average is 8 - 10 years of ownership for my cars/trucks. They are always garaged at home and most of their time was spent in southern Minnesota, Texas only in the winter time along the gulf coast, and some time in Nebraska.

[GrayStrider]

17 years (and counting) on our Chevy Silverado, 8 years (and counting) on our Saturn VUE, 9 years on a Saturn SL2, 9 years on a Toyota p/u... never had an odor from the climate system. All were housed outdoors.

[GrySql]

Ford admits the problem exists and stands ready to fix your car.

Ford has created this TSB to alleviate this odor problem in the Fusions Climate System.

If you have the problem, go to your Dealer and get the Climate Control Housing replaced.

I'd suggest working through Ashley, our wizard Ford Rep, to help smooth out the process.

 

Two members here have had the repair done with apparent success (gkinla & cincidaddi).

I will join them as soon as parts are available for my car.

[Easy Rider]

never had an odor from the climate system. All were housed outdoors.

Where the air circulates AND in Southern California where they probably get a good "cooking" for many months of the year too.

 

I just realized that part of this discussion might be over semantics; my use of the word "normal" may be confusing some people.

Maybe a better phrase would be "not unusual".

[Easy Rider]

Ford admits the problem exists and stands ready to fix your car.

 

IF and only IF it matches the parameters set forth in the TSB.

 

If it does not, then the "fix" is different and you should not expect them to be tearing the car apart to replace parts.......probably.

[GrySql]

"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."

 

Those parameters seem to be what this entire 400+ post topic thread is about.

Ford has worded it in a simple and straightforward way.

i don't see how that could be confusing to anyone.

[Easy Rider]

 

Those parameters seem to be what this entire 400+ post topic thread is about.

 

I think not.

 

A small but significant number of owners and posts in this thread seem to be referring to ventilation odors in vehicles that do NOT match those parameters.

 

I just think that your flat statement needed a tiny bit of qualification......and I still think that.

Maybe addressing that statement to a specific individual would have been better.

 

Not trying to create a fight; just trying to keep things clear.

Edited June 30, 2014 by Easy Rider

[SteveB_TX]

:lurk: :lurk: :lurk:

[BK Fusion]

Just as another data point, the smell in ours is ALL THE TIME. Using the A/C, not using it, driving with windows down - doesn't matter. Heck you can smell it from 10-15 away with the doors open. It's bad. And we're in the hot, dry valley of Northern California.

 

 

We're supposedly on the "list" for one of the "200 kits being produced" (quotes from service manager). Unfortunately It didn't seem like our concerns were taken seriously until I filled out the service survey email very honestly, and I included some issues with my brand new F150 (bought from the same dealer!) that weren't being taken care of either. Now I get calls from the service manager pretty frequently with updates, and I had a rental when the very small F150 problems were getting addressed.

[GrySql]

I won, I won!! :)

My A/C unit lottery number came up and the Dealer has a nice new one ready and waiting for me.

I am scheduled on July 28th for the work to begin.

I'll also take my little list of TSB's and my trunk squeak along with me for them to look at.

[Texasota]

I won, I won!! :)

My A/C unit lottery number came up and the Dealer has a nice new one ready and waiting for me.

I am scheduled on July 28th for the work to begin.

I'll also take my little list of TSB's and my trunk squeak along with me for them to look at.

GrySql, I hope the A/C unit installation turns out well for you. Good luck.

[GrySql]

Thank you...

[gkinla]

I won, I won!! :)

My A/C unit lottery number came up and the Dealer has a nice new one ready and waiting for me.

I am scheduled on July 28th for the work to begin.

I'll also take my little list of TSB's and my trunk squeak along with me for them to look at.

I guess you'll be the second at our dealership having the A/C changed. I'm hoping you have the same luck as I did. No squeaks or rattles, A/C still smells like a new car.

[Riggo]

I still want to know what exactly they changed. Was the part in question redesigned or coated with something? Apologies if that was already answered and I missed it.

[gkinla]

I still want to know what exactly they changed. Was the part in question redesigned or coated with something? Apologies if that was already answered and I missed it.

Read this post, it shows the part from the Ford Parts Catalogue.

 

I'm sure the assembly had a part or parts that promoted fungus, mold or algae growth. Hopefully the part was redesigned with this in mind.

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/5344-cooling-system-stinks-up-car-even-in-winter/?p=80479

Edited July 18, 2014 by gkinla

[acdii]

I only smelled the musty odor once, and since I rarely use AC, I hope never to have to have this done. That seems like an awful lot of parts that are removed which puts broken parts at a high percentage. Not that I don't trust my dealer to do a good job, but if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

[Easy Rider]

I'm sure the assembly had a part or parts that promoted fungus, mold or algae growth.

 

And given the details of what the reported early failed attempts at a fix were, I'm pretty sure that mold had nothing to do with it.

Some chemical compounds stink worse than mold.

I'm sure that some of the defective components were made with a mistake in the chemical formula that caused odors when wet.........kind of like a dog when it gets wet.

[gkinla]

And given the details of what the reported early failed attempts at a fix were, I'm pretty sure that mold had nothing to do with it.

Some chemical compounds stink worse than mold.

I'm sure that some of the defective components were made with a mistake in the chemical formula that caused odors when wet.........kind of like a dog when it gets wet.

 

 

To me, it smelled like old wet drywall.

Edited July 18, 2014 by gkinla

[Thetriplethreat]

I just bought a new Fusion Hybrid SE about a week ago, and within 2 days of driving it I noticed this smell. Smells moldy/musty after turning the AC off when it's been running for a little while. Seems like all Fords have this problem, the 2013 Escape I traded in for the Fusion had the same problem.