Heater smells like "waste"

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My son's 96 Mitsubishi 3000GT is parked outside. Today the heater has a foul smell. I sprayed a car deodorizer in the air intake but it still smells bad after 20 minutes. Can I get into the system to clean it out? Any suggestions?
 
Could be a small animal got in the plenum area and died there? I am not sure where the intake plenum is on the 3000GT, most cars it's in front of the windscreen. You might want to pull off the plastic grills and have a peek.
 
The best you can do without R&R of the refrigerant and opening the system just so you can separate the plenum from the car is to pull the glove box out and you have clear access to the recirc flap. You could try to snake a vinyl hose through there and spray a can of evaporator core cleaner to clean things up.
 
Make sure of where the smell is coming from.

I spent an entire afternoon one day spraying A/C deoderizer, Lysol, etc. through the HVAC system in the Lumina. It help for a few days, but the smell returned and lingered.

About a week later I opened the trunk and found the source of the stench. My SO left a gallon of milk in the trunk.......for three weeks. It got so bad, the jug burped and sprayed cheese everywhere.

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<-----This doesn't come close to describing my reaction when I opened the trunk.
 
could also be a bacteria problem the heater core. Dont know that I would spend too much time smelling the vent air.

There is a hugh difference between a dead smell and something else. Is it a ole sour mop or dirty sock type smell?
 
When you turn on the heater it smells like the south end of a north bound horse. It stinks! Smell comes thru the vents. I'll try getting to the plenum today. I don't know why he keeps his car so bad. Makes it hard to work on it. I'll keep you posted.
 
Originally Posted By: paulo57509
Make sure of where the smell is coming from.

I spent an entire afternoon one day spraying A/C deoderizer, Lysol, etc. through the HVAC system in the Lumina. It help for a few days, but the smell returned and lingered.

About a week later I opened the trunk and found the source of the stench. My SO left a gallon of milk in the trunk.......for three weeks. It got so bad, the jug burped and sprayed cheese everywhere.

37.gif
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Simpsons reference, April Fools.
 
YOu have to have the vents set to recirculate, and then spray your sauce. Give it a really good spray, and let it sit.
Repeat as necessary.
Often having the AC ON will effect the recirculation mode.
If you spray with normal venting from outside air, all you are doing is spraying the car interior, not the innards of the system.

Also, make sure your drain is open. A straightened out coat hanger from the bottom of the car works.
 
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Thanks for your suggestions. Yesterday I removed the small grills and the cowel from the front of the car where the air enters the vent system. I vacuumed some leaves and debris that was visible and then placed the hose down as far as I could to get any thing else. I then sprayed with lysol. Ran the car for 30 minutes and smell went away. Today my son drove the car 100 miles with the heater on. No smell. What a difference. When we get a warmer day, I'll look for the drain.
Thanks
 
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