New TSB: A/C Cooling Coil Odor (300 and Magnum)

[ResumeSpeed]

TSB#: 21-013-05

Date: Aug 04, 2005

Subject: A/C Cooling Coil Odor

Models: 2005-2006 300 and Magnum (+ many other DCX vehicles 1993-2006)

Overview: This bulletin involves inspecting for leaves and other foreign material, cleaning, and treating the cooling coil and housing.

Symptom/Condition: Some vehicle operators may experience a musty odor from the A/C system, primarily at start up in hot and humid climates. This odor may be the result of microbial growth on the cooling coil. During normal A/C system operation, condensation forms in and around the A/C cooling coil. When airborne pollutants mix with this condensation, bacteria and fungi growth begins and odor results.

Diagnosis: If the operator describes, or the technician experiences a musty odor when operating the A/C system, perform the appropriate Repair Procedure based on the vehicle model.

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Note: This TSB involves extensive procedures too long to list here, the bulletin is 11-pages long. If you need a copy of the bulletin PM me your email address.

[BrilliantBlackHemi]

BG Frigi-Clean is a product used to fix this on many cars. Available at specialty A/C repair shops. I've looked a several chain repair shops, that also do A/C services, but none here carry the product or offer the service. My 300M has this smell and I wanted to get it cleaned. It's a foam that's injected into the system and cleans the evap coil to eliminate the problem.

[Hemi57]

The problem described seems to be a feature of Hondas. My wife's Prelude did this and the dealer had no fix for it over the years we owned the car. When we were in Miami last year we got an Accord rental and that had the smell and even fogged the windows when it was started after standing for a while. A work collegue has a new CRV and he reckons his is bad too. So much for Honda technology.

[joey]

This article in 1997 concluded

Simmons believes a solution will be found to 'sick car syndrome'. "The automobile industry is aware of this," he said, "and they're making moves to improve the materials used to build the A/C systems, to help prevent this."
http://www.anomalous-images.com/news/news041.html

Here we are, 8 years later, and Chrysler still hasn't figured it out.

The problem is considered so bad it was even grounds for the Lemon Law.
http://www.lemonlaw.com/carsick.html

[cmego]

And I was just over for service last week! Happens mostly to me with the a/c in recirc.

[Scarbs]

Could this be the smell that some have smelled on WOT? I noticed an odd smell after I punched it a few times latly.

[marlinspike]

Eric, is the smell like rotten eggs?

Anyways on A/C smell, which seems to be a very common phenomenon over the last 10 years, a way to prevent it is shut off your A/C 30 seconds (or better yet 1 minute) before you park the car.

[Scarbs]

No you mean like a sulfur smell No. Its not that bad. I have to test it again to get a good idea of the smell.

[marlinspike]

Oh, cause I was going to suggest that your cats haven't broken in yet, but nevermind.

[Scarbs]

7500 miles they better have. All thou I have the TSB for exhust done at 7000ish do they replace them? I didnt notice it will restently.