AC odor removal and cleaning

[Az_Rael]

Ok, so I am working on treatment #2 based on @jgrgnt method. I am not using any spray, because I don’t have any on hand, just doing a 2nd ozone treatment.

I built the bag over the intake cowl like suggested, and set up my ozone generator on the frunk area.



I then didn’t read any of the other details in his post so set my fan to fresh, 10 fan speed, I turned on all vents and AC on. 10 fan speed was too high, so don’t do that. The ozone generator wasn’t putting out enough airspeed for that. It was a little overwhelmed at 1 fan speed, but didn’t seem too bad. I am just doing 15 minutes this time vs the 30 I did the first time.

 

[Atari2600]

Why not do it for 24 hours?

 

[Az_Rael]

Upgraded my borescope to a nice wireless depstech from Amazon. Got more photos of the innards of the system.

Here is the inside of the blower fan:

You can see some gunk collecting at the fin bases:

Here is the evaporator and filter box bottom:

Here is a closer view of the drainage system:

Here is the blower fan outlet into the filter case:

Here is looking down at the base of the coils between the foam:

Here is the drain:

Another view of the drain:

 

[Az_Rael]

I also borescoped the vents from the interior and did find some foam used in there as well, although less moisture should be up here, so maybe less of an issue.

Why not do it for 24 hours?

Don’t want to damage the seals or plastics. Ozone is very corrosive.

 

[Atari2600]

I notice you have junk from the blower running down as well. I wonder why that is.

 

[Az_Rael]

I notice you have junk from the blower running down as well. I wonder why that is.

I am guessing some water must get in when it rains and the vent is set to fresh air. Doesn’t rain much here (less than 5” a year) so mine is probably dust and other gook that occasionally gets wetted down by a small amount of water. Would be interesting to see the interior of one from Houston or Florida with daily rainstorms.

 

[jgrgnt]

Ok, so I am working on treatment #2 based on @jgrgnt method. I am not using any spray, because I don’t have any on hand, just doing a 2nd ozone treatment.

I built the bag over the intake cowl like suggested, and set up my ozone generator on the frunk area.

View attachment 448820

I then didn’t read any of the other details in his post so set my fan to fresh, 10 fan speed, I turned on all vents and AC on. 10 fan speed was too high, so don’t do that. The ozone generator wasn’t putting out enough airspeed for that. It was a little overwhelmed at 1 fan speed, but didn’t seem too bad. I am just doing 15 minutes this time vs the 30 I did the first time.

Nice setup!

Yup, the ozone generator barely keeps up with the intake vacuum, even at minimum fan speed. But even a 15 minute treatment should help.

 

[Zoglog]

I like how we're having to work all these solutions on brand new cars under 1 year old....

Really feel like suckers

 

[plasmo]

The total was $63. Filters are $17 each, and they only offered one shipping option - fast and expensive. I'm waiting until it cools down here to do the cleaning and filter replacement, but I'll be doing it myself.

How long did Tesla take to ship out the filters to you with your expensive shipping???
I already Paid for my filters (Tesla charged my CC) 10 days ago, and still nothing in the mail.

 

[vickh]

I like how we're having to work all these solutions on brand new cars under 1 year old....

Really feel like suckers

while I agree that filters are consumable, they shouldn't be charging for a design flaw that's causing them to be replaced so early.

 

[Big Dog]

I just talked to Tesla service and she said that they have a new procedure/process for this and it's less than a month since they have been doing it. They will do the evaporator cleaning for $110. They will check the filter and if it needs to be replaced that is an additional ~$80. They also said via text "Additionally, a firmware update will soon run the HVAC blower after the vehicle shut down to dry off condensation from the evaporator."

We will see when they come out on 7/29 to fix the problem!

That's unhealthy. If there are mold spores in teh ac unit there are mold spores in teh filters and more importantly, those won't necessarily be obvious by visual inspection. The filters should be changed out as a health matter.

 

[MacGreiner]

A quick update on mine. I tried the ozone approach. I performed 3 separate 10 mins treatments using the same existing filter and can report now that after a few weeks - the smell seems to have resolved. I am a bit surprised by this as I thought I would need to do the treatments PLUS replace the cabin filters but it seems to just fine not having to replace using this system. YMMV.

 

[model3fan]

Great ozone treatments worked but not practical for most. Have appt Friday but don't know if I'll be able to get off work. Annoying I can't book appt via app except 8-2:30 Mon-Fri. Yes, i asked for mobile but knew it'd be unlikely. Fwiw I haven't had smell in two weeks either but haven't used AC much either. Still want to get cleaned and filters swapped before winter.

 

[vickh]

I just talked to Tesla service and she said that they have a new procedure/process for this and it's less than a month since they have been doing it. They will do the evaporator cleaning for $110. They will check the filter and if it needs to be replaced that is an additional ~$80. They also said via text "Additionally, a firmware update will soon run the HVAC blower after the vehicle shut down to dry off condensation from the evaporator."

We will see when they come out on 7/29 to fix the problem!

Still have smell. Not sure if they did firmware update or if it's even effective??

In the interim I run the HVAC Fan blower and turn off ac as i'm getting close to home. Should it be on recirculate and high speed/10?

 

[Eno Deb]

Still have smell. Not sure if they did firmware update or if it's even effective??

You can check yourself: if you park the car after having used the A/C, the fan will come on about 10-15 minutes later. I'm not exactly sure which firmware version added this, but by now everyone should have it.

In the interim I run the HVAC Fan blower and turn off ac as i'm getting close to home.

That could possibly be counterproductive (since the above may not work if the A/C isn't on when you park, although I haven't tested that yet).

 

[M109Rider]

I like how we're having to work all these solutions on brand new cars under 1 year old....

Really feel like suckers

I’ve had the exact same issue on my BMW since ownership.
Not covered by warranty either.
This is t just a Tesla thing.
Do some research, and you’ll find we aren’t suckers.

 

[M109Rider]

That's unhealthy. If there are mold spores in teh ac unit there are mold spores in teh filters and more importantly, those won't necessarily be obvious by visual inspection. The filters should be changed out as a health matter.

This is likely not mold you smell.
Mold has a different smell. This is likely bacteria you smell.
Even if there was a small amount of mold, the amount of spores you would get from this very small amount is far less than the spores already floating around outside, on your clothes, or in your home.
The only way to tell, is do an air sampling in the car. My bet is you would find no more mold spores in the car than naturally found outside the car.

The health risk to this odour, is likely as risky as the air your breathing outside, or in your own home.

 

[brkaus]

Had mine cleaned and filter replaced this morning. Not sure why, but mobile service in my area seams to be weekends. Works pretty well. He was 30 min early and done in 35 min.

next time I’ll do it myself. But I was lazy.

 

[model3fan]

Still have smell. Not sure if they did firmware update or if it's even effective??

In the interim I run the HVAC Fan blower and turn off ac as i'm getting close to home. Should it be on recirculate and high speed/10?

Am i reading this right you had cleaning and filters replaced and still have smell?

 

[gizmoboy]

We had this done this weekend by mobile service in my wife’s 3 which had developed the rancid vinegar smell.

Charged us $260.

Seems way too much but she was pissed at the smell and my eyes glazed over trying to follow the DIYs on here.