Smell from a/c vents
Hey guys, how are you doing? I have been experiencing this horrible smell from my aircondition vents. It happens when I let my iO sit for a while, then I turn on the blowers. Any advice on some checks I can do myself? It just smells like some really dirty socks are trapped somewhere in my vents...
My iO is imported new from
Fordem, thank you for your response! You always amaze me with just how much you know about these vehicles. I will check out the hose soon, or can I just replace it entirely? My iO is imported new from Diamond Motors in Trinidad. Availability of parts is horrendous at best. The only way to get parts are brand new through special order from the dealer...Diamond Mototrs or PT Auto.
No - That's definitely not it.
I may have misled you somewhat - on closer inspection it seems the evapoator on an iO is not behind or below the glove box, which is the normal place on most cars - it's actually centered behind the dash, and I couldn't find a drain hose on mine - I might have to get underneath to locate it, but that's not going to happen in mid morning or a work day.
Open the glove box and squeeze the sides inward so you can remove it - behind there you will see the blower (your picture shows the bottom of the blower) and the air intake - turn the ignition on and alternately press & release the recirculate button and you'll see the intake selector flap moving - leave it set to recirculate and turn the blower on and spray the Lysol into the intake.
My vehicle has a rectangular door, a little less than 2" x 4" just below the intake which can be removed to make it easier to spray Lysol into it.
Syndicate
My guess would be mildew.
You possibly have a clogged evaporator housing drain, which will allow water condensing on the evaporator to pool in the evaporator housing, and the mositure, along with the warmth of the caribbean has allowed mildew to form.
Find the evaporator drain hose - it will be a short 2~3" stub of rubber hose, protruding through the floor near the passenger footwell - and run a length of stiff wire through it to clear any blockages, and follow that up with liberal applications of lysol disenfecting aerosol spray through the a/c system - turn the blowers on full and spray the lysol into the air intake - it's preferable that you do this with the system set on recirculate and the lysol sprayed into the cabin intake, which should be behind the glove box.
Do this on a couple of evenings when you park the car and before locking it for the night and that should take care of the problem.