A/C odor

I thought I could live w/the odor when I 1st turn on my A/C but today I just couldn't take it any more. Has any of my fellow Tribby members found out of a way to stop the odor.

I've had my Tribute for 9 mos., and we have very humid, hot weather here in the south.<br><br>I turn the A/C to vent before I turn off the engine, usually a few minutes before shutdown so fresh air is coming out of the vents. I have not had any musty smell at all since I began doing this (not my original idea, it came from another Tribute owner here who suggested it in the first place.)<br><br>Give it a try, and I think you'll be pleasantly suprised. Good luck!

I have alway performed this procedure on other vehicles I have owned, just to get some "Free Air" before I shut down. The problem is two-fold with the Trib: 1) The character of this odor is closer to the fuel smell I experienced before I had that fixed (perhaps residual). 2) The temperatures and humidity of the air after A/C shut-off spike up significantly (temps go up +30 degrees F) within a few minutes. Anyway, it is frustrating. Not much we can do unless Mazda steps up.

I experienced the musty odor a few times after I first got my Tribute, but haven't smelled it for weeks. I am being more careful about trying to let fresh air run through the system before shutting it off. <br><br>The smell, when it occurred, went away after a few minutes and this isn't the only car I've had that produced the smell. So it doesn't worry me.

Tom & Ray, the Click and Clack Bros., suggested Frigi-Fresh the other day on their radio show to help evaporator odors. Available @ <a href=http://www.bgprod.com/autoair.html. target=new>http://www.bgprod.com/autoair.html.</a><br> I just loved my '90 929, because I could turn off the compressor while still recirculating "inside" air for a few miles before I got to destination. This way I could dry out the coil a bit w/o having lots of hot outside air coming thru the vents to make it too hot inside. This model is the only one I've ever come across that had this flexibility. I am seriously considering adding a relay switch to my Tribby in order to disengage the compressor clutch while the A/C is still in the MAX position. I could put the switch where the 4WD button goes (I have 2WD). Any ideas or suggestions on whether or not this will work?

I have made that consideration as well. As to the uniqueness of that 90' 929....I would say it is not. I don't know of a modern vehicle manufacturer other than that of Ford, which does NOT allow full control of the vent system including recirculate and a separate A/C switch. Oh well, guess Mazda missed the boat....again.

The odor is from a small amount of water that the A/C doesn't remove in the vents. The solution is to run just the fan for a few minutes before shutting off the car.

I have not had a A/C odor since last April. I think regular use of the A/C solves the problem. I generally use the MAX setting as the normal setting doesn't do the job in hot, humid Florida except on mild days or at night. I get very good results with my A/C and am satisfied with it.<br><br>David

I was in Missouri and now Arkansas, both very humid and hot. You probably already know this but you should not leave your car parked with the AC in Max position, because Max uses recirculated air from within the car and does not let the car "breathe" if left there. If you shut the car off and move the dial off Max to AC you can hear a vent open.