What's new
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Musty A/C Smell on Startup.. this happened on my Chevy but a bit different, looking for advice.

idratherplaytennis

New Member
Messages
20
Reaction score
6
Points
3
I tried looking this up but at the same time, I figured I'd check around here too. I've noticed lately that my A/C on startup comes out musty, and this used to happen on my 2011 Chevy Duramax. The fix the Chevy dealer said was don't run recirculate or switch recirc off for a few minutes before stopping my drive. Well, fast forward to now, and I actually keep recirc OFF unless someone is smoking near me in traffic. Still getting the musty smell on start up, however. I wondered if besides checking for a clogged condensate drain line, if there was any tips anyone has come across. I'm somewhere just over 2000 miles on the truck since buying it July 4th. I've read in the past that it could need to have some lysol sprayed somewhere, or to check a cabin filter (which I learned the 2011 Duramax didn't have, however I read somewhere that this truck actually has a cabin filter.. go figure it doesn't work on cigarette smoke from outside.

I just wanted to check in on others' experiences. Last I saw my truck was doing it's normal a/c condensate drip down to the driveway like the duramax was, this is just a new issue for me having not been running the air on recirc this time knowing that was the solution to my chevy.
 
Whenever this happens I swap in a new cabin air filter and it takes the smell away. I've also done the Lysol trick with limited results. They also make carbon filters for the cabin air filter that may help with the cigarette smell.

With that said, this only happens in my wife's Mazda and my 2011 Ram, has not happened with my 2020.
 
I'd second the cabin filter thought. I've experienced the same on my last three Rams and every time I smell it I'm in need of a new cabin filter (4th gen 1500, 4th gen 2500, 4.5 gen 2500).
 
Thinking about it, I was also washing both trucks a bunch when the issue was at the worst. Maybe it had to do with that as well, but I always try to wait to drive it awhile after washing. I’ll check the cabin filter first and see. Maybe I just need to change that more often. Thabks
 
Back
Top