Stinking A/C

[yorkshireman]

Over here in England Explorers are pretty scarce due to low mpg/high fuel prices so technical info is non-existant.
I've had my Explorer ('99 XLT UKspec) 2 years and the A/C has started to stink!!! No information on how to change pollen filters, no-one knows where it is or if it has one at all!!! HELP
Will changing this filter make my truck smell any better?
Where is it?
How do I do it?
THANKS

 

[mridings]

I tried this and it worked

I think if the A/C has mold, it should be pulled and cleaned for health reasons... But for smells, I found this trick somewhere and it removed all smoke smells from my former truck.
Take a plate of ammonia, place it on the passenger side floor. Use a plate or large cooking sheet to give plent of surface area for the ammonia. Close up the car, and run the A/C on A/C max or recirculate for about 20 minutes. Then leave the plate in the car overnight. The next morning, just give the car a good airing to remove the ammonia smell, and obnoxious odors are gone. I was amazed, because even though my car was squeaky clean, you could smell smoke if you use the heating system. This trick took all those smells away. ( It's too bad I bothered, because the guy I sold my truck to is a heavy smoker, and he wouldnt have noticed or cared one way or the other!) I gues its an old used car salesman's trick

 

[yorkshireman]

The A/C smells mouldy. How do I "pull" it for cleaning?
Sorry for being a dunce but there are no technical books available here.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Depending on your trim level, some Ex's did come with a cabin air filter. Run a search for Cabin Air Filter and see if anything pops up on this site.

 

[RiverRat]

Ford used to use a "disodorizer" to help with the smell. It was applied through the blower motor resistor hole.

The best advice I can give is to run the vent for five minutes before you shut off the engine if you were using a/c so moisture won't accumulate.

Also, check that the drain hole for the evaporator housing is not blocked.

 

[unclemeat]

An easy fix is to get a can of lysol, or anti-microbial disinfecting spray, open the windows, turn AC on max and recirculation mode. Spray the lysol into the center vent on top of the dash. You may want to be driving slowly. Spray for 20 to 30 seconds. It wil usually last 2 to 3 months. You can also use a commercially prepared disinfectent/deoderant.

 

[98EBV8]

What I do is start up the truck, turn on the climate control if not already. Spray a deodorizer directly to the vents under the front wipers outside. Then, drive away.