outside smell with max AC

[lee808]

I have noticed while using the AC in max mode, I can smell the cars that I'm following (the odors are coming through the vents). The air seems to be flowing out of the proper vents. However, at night I do see a hint of frosting at the base of the windshield.

The AC gets very cold and the volume that blows is exceptional. Could anyone tell me how I can stop having the outside air come through the vents? It's torture following a vehicle that is blowing a ton of smoke.

I've read the o-ring thread and didn't want to do that if that wasn't the cause. Maybe that might be why the bottom of the windshield gets frosted too.

Mahalo!

Lee
03 MM
:help:

[vkirkend]

cabin filter?

[jwibbity]

cabin filter?

I thought our cars didnt have cabin filters

[james79stang]

we don't have cabin filters. in max it is recycle mode and not supposed to draw out-side air so that prob means 1 of the doors is not working properly so yes it might need o ring set.

[lee808]

Thanks James for the reply! I'll try to find out where to get the O-rings and change all four of them.

Aloha bro!

[whitey]

I thought the oring issue was strictly for vent control, not the blend door. If the blend door isnt working right, it could be the blend door actuator, or the blend door is broken itself.

[lee808]

Oh my. I guess I need to ask one more question. What would cause/control the outside air from entering the car? The vent control or the blend door?

Thx...

[whitey]

Blend door. Heres how it all works: if you adjust the temp with the automatic feature, it will open the blend door to compensate for a temperature reduction or increase, UNLESS, the temp is set on 60° or 90°, these are the most extreme temps of the eatc. Example, when you have the temp on 60° and you turn on max a/c, the blend door will completely close. When you have the temp set on 65° and max a/c, the blend door will actually crack open, to mix the cold air of the a/c and the air outside to give you a temp of ~65° coming through the vents. Hitting the defrost button will automatically turn on the a/c because the a/c removes moisture in the air, even if you have the temp up(like in winter time) the a/c is still running (even though the air may feel warm). Hitting any other vent feature will give air without a/c through the selected vent, at the temperature selected. Someone please correct me if im wrong.

[james79stang]

you have 4 solenoid's in controller. so still a possibility a o'ring issue. i have a couple guy's i have had to replace o'rings so they could have heat.

[Marauderjack]

Many years ago a guy named Ralph Nader got the Feds to require ALL auto manufacturers to install forced air into the cabin when the engine is running regardless of the HVAC settings so that "Fresh Air" is always circulated.......it's not a lot but you can turn the system completely "OFF" and still feel a draft on the floor!!:cool:

This supposedly prevented CO poisoning while the car was running!!;)

[Navirauder]

O rings! Problem


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[fastblackmerc]

Try the o-rings first as it's the easiest and cheapest to do.

It's not the blend door. The blend door regulates the temperature of the air based on the setting communicated from the EATC.

[lee808]

Thanks for all the replies. I will go find the proper O-rings and change them out. It may take a while but I will post the results.

[Navirauder]

If you email me your address I can sent you five o ring and save you the headache. All you need is three and electric grease and half hour of your time. Search you tube Navich1@yahoo.com


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[Navirauder]

Sorry 4 o ring


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[RF Overlord]

The blend door has nothing at all to do with admitting outside air. Its sole function is to "blend" the air flow from the AC evaporator and the heater core to maintain temperature. It is also the only electrically-controlled actuator so is not affected by any o-ring issues.

The Air Inlet Door is what controls whether recirculated air or outside air is admitted. In MAX AC, the Air Inlet Door is supposed to admit recirc air only, In NORMAL AC, the Air Inlet Door is set to admit outside air only.

You may have a defective Air Inlet Door actuator, or the o-ring for that vacuum solenoid could be bad...a kinked or broken vacuum line is also possible...it's the white one.

[whitey]

The blend door has nothing at all to do with admitting outside air. Its sole function is to "blend" the air flow from the AC evaporator and the heater core to maintain temperature. It is also the only electrically-controlled actuator so is not affected by any o-ring issues.

The Air Inlet Door is what controls whether recirculated air or outside air is admitted. In MAX AC, the Air Inlet Door is supposed to admit recirc air only, In NORMAL AC, the Air Inlet Door is set to admit outside air only.

You may have a defective Air Inlet Door actuator, or the o-ring for that vacuum solenoid could be bad...a kinked or broken vacuum line is also possible...it's the white one.

I stand corrected! Sorry to the OP for any confusion.

[lee808]

The blend door has nothing at all to do with admitting outside air. Its sole function is to "blend" the air flow from the AC evaporator and the heater core to maintain temperature. It is also the only electrically-controlled actuator so is not affected by any o-ring issues.

The Air Inlet Door is what controls whether recirculated air or outside air is admitted. In MAX AC, the Air Inlet Door is supposed to admit recirc air only, In NORMAL AC, the Air Inlet Door is set to admit outside air only.

You may have a defective Air Inlet Door actuator, or the o-ring for that vacuum solenoid could be bad...a kinked or broken vacuum line is also possible...it's the white one.

RFO: thanks for writing this piece. Until tonight, I've only used max AC. I decided to try all the settings on the AC system. Seems like I only have air blowing from the dash vents. If I try defrost or normal AC or vent settings, there are no changes in where the air comes out.

Therefore, I now understand that the outside smell from cars is solely controlled by the Air Inlet Door. And it could be it's actuator, o-ring for that vacuum solenoid or a broken/kinked vacuum line (the white one).

However, I guess I also have a problem with air not being distributed properly when switching from Max AC or Normal AC or Defrost, correct? Would you be so kind and give me some advice as to what that could be? Even better, what would you recommend as to which problem to fix first?
I appreciate all those who have posted their thoughts about my problem. I hate thinking about taking this to the dealer. :help: :confused:

[boatmangc]

Do the O rings, there are several posts here about it.
Also several members can and will do it for you. Try Fastblackmerc

It is very simple to do. I did mine in a hotel room during a road trip where I managed to drive far enough north that I actually need heat and had none.

[fastblackmerc]

RFO: thanks for writing this piece. Until tonight, I've only used max AC. I decided to try all the settings on the AC system. Seems like I only have air blowing from the dash vents. If I try defrost or normal AC or vent settings, there are no changes in where the air comes out.

Therefore, I now understand that the outside smell from cars is solely controlled by the Air Inlet Door. And it could be it's actuator, o-ring for that vacuum solenoid or a broken/kinked vacuum line (the white one).

However, I guess I also have a problem with air not being distributed properly when switching from Max AC or Normal AC or Defrost, correct? Would you be so kind and give me some advice as to what that could be? Even better, what would you recommend as to which problem to fix first?
I appreciate all those who have posted their thoughts about my problem. I hate thinking about taking this to the dealer. :help: :confused:
It's either the o-rings or it could be the electronics inside the EATC. Do the o-rings first as it's the cheapest, easiest thing to do. I can help with that if needed.

[RF Overlord]

However, I guess I also have a problem with air not being distributed properly when switching from Max AC or Normal AC or Defrost, correct? Would you be so kind and give me some advice as to what that could be? If everything is stuck on vent, first verify you have vacuum to the EATC. Pull the head unit and you'll see a rubber connector with the multi-coloured vacuum lines. Disconnect it and confirm you have vacuum at the black line. If so, then as fastblackmerc said you could have bad o-rings or an issue with the head unit itself. If no vacuum at the black line, check the vacuum reservoir (square black box) on top of the driver's side fender well. When you pull the (only) line from it, you should have vacuum. If not, then trace the line from there to the engine and see where it's kinked or disconnected.

[lee808]

thank you guys for the advice. It's busy season at the golf course so I have to wait for my next days off. But I will keep you all posted. Aloha...
Lee

[lee808]

hi everyone
thanks to all that commented on my problem with my AC. I just finished changing the O-rings and the EATC functions properly. Replacing the O-rings was simplified by those who already had this issue and took the time to add their input about how to do the job. Special thanks to Navirauder for the generosity. :cool::cool::cool:
Aloha! -Lee :coolman: