HVAC Mildew Smell

[FM305]

Hi, all!

I have a '24 AWD CT (VIN in the low 2K range). I'm in Miami, FL where the temps and humidity are typically both in the 90s. I have noticed over the past several months that the air conditioning emits a mildew-y smell within the first 30 - 60 seconds of coming on (always cooling, never heating), but the smell pretty much disappears after that. The CT used to have visible condensate discharge for the first year or two, though I don't seem to detect it recently. This has led me to suspect that wherever the HVAC condensate drain line may be, it may be clogged. Has anyone encountered this before on the CT? If so, how have you dealt with it? Also, regardless of whether it's related to the cause of this odor issue, does anyone happen to know where the HVAC condensate drain line outlet is on the CT? I didn't find references to it on the Tesla service site.

Thanks!
- Frank

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[UberNoob]

I would start with a hepa filter change and go from there. Tesla offers a service to spray something in the ducts that flushes out contaminants etc. cant remember what it’s called. I had it done on my M3P

 

[Gaximus]

Welcome to Tesla. They all do that, I hadn’t smelled it yet in my truck, but every car they make starts to have that smell. I hoped they had fixed it. In my Model S and 3, there was a foam cleaner that I would use and run it thro the HVac. It would work for about a year.

 

[BlueLightning]

Yes every Tesla does this.

 

[Electric Metal]

Hi, all!

I have a '24 AWD CT (VIN in the low 2K range). I'm in Miami, FL where the temps and humidity are typically both in the 90s. I have noticed over the past several months that the air conditioning emits a mildew-y smell within the first 30 - 60 seconds of coming on (always cooling, never heating), but the smell pretty much disappears after that. The CT used to have visible condensate discharge for the first year or two, though I don't seem to detect it recently. This has led me to suspect that wherever the HVAC condensate drain line may be, it may be clogged. Has anyone encountered this before on the CT? If so, how have you dealt with it? Also, regardless of whether it's related to the cause of this odor issue, does anyone happen to know where the HVAC condensate drain line outlet is on the CT? I didn't find references to it on the Tesla service site.

Thanks!
- Frank

Buy some Ozium and every so often turn on the AC on high and spray the foot wells on the driver and passenger side and let it circulate through the vehicle with the windows up. Cleans and sanitizes the AC System. Smell is gone and the Ozium smell dissipates in a day or two. Been doing this for 30 years.

 

[CapheDa]

We call it the Elon musk scent. Tesla service would come and replace both filters in my Model 3 and spray Koolit(tm) inside the system. It worked for a year or more. I don’t see it on Amazon but I think automotive stores have it because I did the process myself once I watched Tesla do it. Directions are on the bottle.

 

[Seribus]

We call it the Elon musk scent. Tesla service would come and replace both filters in my Model 3 and spray Koolit(tm) inside the system. It worked for a year or more. I don’t see it on Amazon but I think automotive stores have it because I did the process myself once I watched Tesla do it. Directions are on the bottle.

Lol...Elon's Musk

 

[ShockAuto]

I would replace the hepa filter if you haven't yet!

 

[FM305]

We call it the Elon musk scent. Tesla service would come and replace both filters in my Model 3 and spray Koolit(tm) inside the system. It worked for a year or more. I don’t see it on Amazon but I think automotive stores have it because I did the process myself once I watched Tesla do it. Directions are on the bottle.

Thanks! I found the Kool-It product you mentioned (https://www.amazon.com/Lubegard-96030-Evaporator-Heater-Cleaner/dp/B0007PHD0S), but it seems it's meant to be applied via an HVAC drain line outlet. I still don't know where that is on the cybertruck. Will it work if it's just sprayed into the inlet vents in the footwells? The ones under the driver and passenger seats (open to the backseat footwells, basically) are fairly obvious, but are the also inlets in the (front) driver and passenger footwells, too?

Thanks, again, for all the helpful info!

 

[CapheDa]

Thanks! I found the Kool-It product you mentioned (https://www.amazon.com/Lubegard-96030-Evaporator-Heater-Cleaner/dp/B0007PHD0S), but it seems it's meant to be applied via an HVAC drain line outlet. I still don't know where that is on the cybertruck. Will it work if it's just sprayed into the inlet vents in the footwells? The ones under the driver and passenger seats (open to the backseat footwells, basically) are fairly obvious, but are the also inlets in the (front) driver and passenger footwells, too?

Thanks, again, for all the helpful info!

I haven't needed to use it in the Cybertruck yet. On the model 3, the tech sprayed into the same hole the filters were sitting in near the passenger floorboard. Maybe you can figure out which way the air flows through the CT with the filter removed, and spray into the intake hole. The goal is to get to the hit the condenser coils, sanitize them and drip away or evaporate. Someone else suggested the intakes under the two front seats. That might work too.

 

[CyberGus]

The Model 3/Y suffered from "stink" because the filter would get wet. In the Cybertruck, the filter is far away from the HVAC wet side.

https://parts.tesla.com/en-US/catal...emGroups/9a7ce987-039a-4de9-8cdc-6ad896a65ec7

I believe the drain hose is depicted in the lower left, which suggests that it exits near the centerline, just behind the firewall. I suppose a plugged drain could cause water to make its way forward to the filter, so both should be inspected.

I think the drain line is depicted here, in grey?:

In other Tesla models, the drain just dumps onto the top of the front cradle, presumably to protect the end of the hose from getting clogged with debris. You might need to remove the frunk tub to access it.

Not sure about the cleaning procedure; I suppose you could remove the filter and spray into the opening, but I wouldn't do this with the AC running unless you want the chemicals misted across the interior lol.

 

[FM305]

The Model 3/Y suffered from "stink" because the filter would get wet. In the Cybertruck, the filter is far away from the HVAC wet side.

https://parts.tesla.com/en-US/catal...emGroups/9a7ce987-039a-4de9-8cdc-6ad896a65ec7

I believe the drain hose is depicted in the lower left, which suggests that it exits near the centerline, just behind the firewall. I suppose a plugged drain could cause water to make its way forward to the filter, so both should be inspected.

I think the drain line is depicted here, in grey?:

In other Tesla models, the drain just dumps onto the top of the front cradle, presumably to protect the end of the hose from getting clogged with debris. You might need to remove the frunk tub to access it.

Not sure about the cleaning procedure; I suppose you could remove the filter and spray into the opening, but I wouldn't do this with the AC running unless you want the chemicals misted across the interior lol.

I appreciate the info and the image, but can you be more specific about which thing in the image you think may be the drain line and its outlet? I see several things in the image that are grey, and if you were referring to the one horizontal grey hose just left of the middle of the image, neither end appears to be accessible, so I'm uncertain how I might apply the Kool-It cleaner. I went so far as to buy an ozone generator and run it in the cabin (not while I'm in it, just overnight while it sits in my driveway) for an hour at a time with the A/C on recirculate, and then keep the CT A/C running for another hour after the ozone generator cycle ends. It works for about 48 hours, then the stink returns. I have changed out the filter, but it doesn't appear to be emanating from there. I can't seem to find where the evaporator coil is, either, and that seems to be another common culprit of mildew growth on other A/C systems (as it's another place condensation lingers).

Again, I appreciate all the insights and help!

Thanks,
- Frank

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