Hi all. New to the forum, have owned my '04 for just at one year now. I'm gonna replace the cabin air filter (no idea how old current one is) and am using a carbon-impregnated one for odor removal, but is there also maybe a drain for the condensation that happens when using the A/C, and maybe that drain is clogged and letting some moisture become rancid in the heater box? It's pretty stinky, like vinegar or maybe peroxide-smelling, especially when you first turn on the fan. But it doesn't ever go away completely. Thanks for your help, experience, and suggestions!

 

i bet i have the same smell... i go through air fresheners faster then anything. its like a strong vinegarish armpit smell. my car only has 7700 miles so its barely been driven but its had this smell from the start. When the A/C is turned on and u get that warm air drawn in at first.. i have to cover my nose. I have no help.. i am in the same boat sir. i hope the cabin air filter fixes this.

 

When I replaced my cabin air filter it took about a month for the vinegar smell to go away.
And when you park your car, after using the air conditioner, press the recirc button (the one under the AC button, can't remember what it says exactly and im about 500mi away from the car right now) it'll remove condensation and help dry out the system so future odor doesn't build up. Sorry, not very technical terms.

 

Thanks for the advice on the recirculation button, Wedge. I understand your "non-technical" terms! The recirculation gives me fog though (heavy "fog") for a few seconds and it's a real bad idea to flip on the air (if it hasn't already been on and cleared itself) while you're tooling around town. Oops! I can't see!! I'm just surprised the design allows that much moisture to hang around in the air box(es). I know you've seen cars on hot days at traffic lights dripping below the firewall as the condensate is removed by the AC. Oh, well, Jamerian seems to be saying, based on his low, low mileage XF that it's more of a design flaw than a "I got a leaf jammed in my drain tube" thing. Jamerian, your description is spot on, too! Thanks y'all for the replies. Maybe our next poster will give us a solution (to the drain issue) if there is one. Seeya!

 

Oh, and P.S. The new cabin air filter, after running the blower and cycling through all the different positions (hot, warm, cold and floor, passenger, defrost et cetera) did clear up the vast majority of the stink after about 10-15 minutes. I get a tiny whiff every once in a while, so I'll see how long the carbon lasts in the filter and go from there. It's a million dollars at AutoZone, O'Reilly, and so on and about $12 or so at RockAuto on-line for a carbon Bosch/Mann. Couldn't be any easier to replace/install either, unless you get someone else to do it! J, I'd recommend one, just be sure to get the carbon version (to adsorb the stank). And yes "adsorb", nor absorb, it the correct term. Haha!! There's your chemistry or whatever lesson for the day.

 

He was talking about turning the REST function on after your parked, After removing the key press the 'rest' button once (the little red light lights) then you'll hear the fan running. It'll turn off by itself after the timer expires. This circulation helps remove moisture from the plenum, it might help remove some of the 'stank'

 

I know the smell, hopefully changing the filter this weekend..

possible to do it without a hex set?

 

Are you aware of the melted crayons odor that has been attributed to protective coatings?

 

Wow, here we go y'all!! Thanks. GGhost, thanks for that ah-ha moment. I didn't realize she'd run her fan on a timer for X seconds/minutes. I will do that. Awesome!! Rayth, no tools needed other than a phillips screw driver to get the panel under the glovebox out of the way. There are only two screws holding the back (closest to the passenger's knees, so by "back" I mean the rear of the car) part of the panel, then the front (near where the panel meets to carpet) has two tabs that fit in notches. Once it's out of the way the cabin filter cover has two of those sliding latches like you see on your fuse box under the hood. The only "trick" I had putting that cover back on was seeing well enough to realize I wasn't getting it straight/square the first couple tries. Then I got a flashlight and voila! One end of the cover has a shark-fin shaped tab with a (what's the opposite of groove?) that fits in a groove in the filter housing and that lines it up real nice and easy. Re-slide the two latches and slap the panel back and you're done. If you're forcing the sliding latches, you ain't got the cover lined up correctly. Mine had a blob of leaves and small sticks and cr** that fell out, and the old filter had a MB part number so it may have been OEM, but it was certainly old. Arejohn, no, why do you ask? My smell really was a vinegar-y stagnant-water type smell, on top of the "fog" thing made my mind point to moisture. What are you getting at? I like all the advice/help/experience I can get, hence the forum, yes? Thanks again y'all!!

 

Update - after several weeks now my "stank" has yet to return. In fact, it's cleared up 100%, so color me (and my nose) happy. Thanks forum folks, and I recommend you change your cabin air filter if you are experiencing even a little foul odor. Seeya!

 

i cant wait to change it now. i had a date and she mentioned the smell.. i should have packed an air freshener.

 

When I purchased my Crossfire four years ago from a Chrysler dealership I made a point of replacing all filters (air, fuel etc.) including all fluids (oil, coolant, brake). When asking about the Cabin Filter, the parts guy couldn't find a part number...he then cross referenced on another computer...and said "nope, your car doesn't have a cabin filter...let me run your VIN to double check". He then reported that no Cabin Filter is listed for my make and model....I believed him! Four years later I am now replacing the Cabin Filter with what is likely the original! Purchased a Fram from my local supplier. Fram has partnered with Fresh Breeze;
FRAMŽ Fresh BreezeŽ Cabin Air Filter | Air Filters | Products | FRAMŽ

If you haven't replaced the filter before...this is helpful.

 

Where can i buy these filters? online anywhere?

EDIT: nevermind. i have to tell myself to stop being lazy.

 

one source :
http://www.amazon.com/ATP-RA-27-Carb...&vehicleType=5