defroster air stinks

[Semper Fi]

is there a filter up front somewhere that can be changed? When I turn on the defroster the Jeep fills with some bad smelling air and the wife starts to bitch about it right away and wants out, That might not be all that bad. I would like to change the fiter if there is one, anybody know?

[KarlVP]

You could add one.

Maybe someone stuffed fish in your dashboard.

Seriously though, does it smell sweet? It may be your heater core leaking. Check to see if there is dampness in your passenger seat footwell.

[casm]

I would like to change the fiter if there is one, anybody know?

There's no filter. I've been toying with fitting one on and off to keep sand out of the air ducts on desert runs.

Having said that, you've likely got bacterial growth in the vents (or someone kindly put a fish in there for you) or the evaporator. Some good pointers on dealing with it can be found here (http://autotechrepair.suite101.com/article.cfm/offensive_a_c_systems).

[Semper Fi]

there isn't any dampness on the floors and the Jeep only smells when you turn on the defroster.

[KarlVP]

Smells how?

Moldy? Like poo? Sweet like antifreeze?

[Semper Fi]

it's a moldy nasty smell, not a sweet antifreeze smell. If I run the defrost for about 20 minutes it seems to not be as bad as when you first start it up.

[Speed_racer]

Use a vac and suck out the drain.

[KarlVP]

Yeah, suck out the drain, then take some paper towels and put them on the defrost vents. Spray some lysol in them all and then turn it on full blast.

Make sure you spray the stuff in all of them. Feet defrost and heater.

[Semper Fi]

where is the drain located at?

[KarlVP]

Of you take the front cowl off, there is a little hole that sometimes gets clogged. Water collects here and tends to grow things.

[Semper Fi]

ok I'll give it a try in the morning thanks for the help

[Blaine B.]

Take some lysol spray and spray into the cowl and all of the airvents.

[dizzymac]

Mice made a home in my duct work....damn does that thing stink. Have tried everything I can think of, but all it does is mask the smell for awhile.
Be careful spraying stuff like Lysol if you have the heater/defroster on, it is flammable, the heater motor does have "brushes" so there is a chance of a spark. If you were to remove your heater motor and look inside you will see a coil with three terminals on it, this coil can get red hot...not a good place for mice to build nest (don't ask) or for Lysol vapor to accumulate(Hmmm...the resulting fireball would surely get rid of the pesky 'lil rodents).

[Blaine B.]

Right, I didn't think about that. I hear they have special cleaners at auto parts stores that aren't flammable....

Let's just say I used lysol without a problem...