bad cabin filter already?!?!

[white13express]

so anyone experience their cabin filter go bad in 3 months??? i bought the truck new on the 4th the july, it now has 11.500 miles on it and the cabin smells so bad when i turn on the AC. is it more than just a problem with filter? just started doin it today.

 

[Hornet]

Nope,are you sure it's the filter.
I just changed mine out,and was surprised at how dusty/dirty it was for only being in for 4 months,but it still smelled okay

 

[white13express]

Well I'm only assuming it the cabin filter because it only smells when the AC is on. It's the standard "you have a dirty filter" smell. I'm just shocked out at how soon it got to that point.

 

[JohnnyDollar]

This is probably a dumb question, but when did you install the cabin air filter?
and what filter did you use?

 

[WhiteExpress]

You can buy filters with active charcoal in them, they last a touch longer smell wise.
Unfortunately, these filters always seem to get wet (humidity) and go bad.

It's a great idea on one side, but troublesome on others. Also, the higher (if you use setting 3 or 4 on the fan speed frequently) the use the quicker they fill up. Filtering moar air.

 

[Arth]

Why not just pull it and check? Only takes 10 seconds to pull that thing out and take a sniff.

I personally went and bought one of the fram filters. It is supposed to help limit outside odors.

 

[philinkansas]

I thought the 4th gens did not have a cabin air filter? If so, is it just behind/below the globe box?

 

[WhiteExpress]

You can buy a filter door for an Avenger (and air filter) and cut out the opening on the factory air box.

You are correct, they STOCK do not have Cabin Air Filters.

 

[JohnnyDollar]

You can buy a filter door for an Avenger (and air filter) and cut out the opening on the factory air box.

You are correct, they STOCK do not have Cabin Air Filters.

and that was why I asked what I did,
I am not sure the OP has installed a cabin air filter.

 

[Arth]

and that was why I asked what I did,
I am not sure the OP has installed a cabin air filter.

Oh hold the phone you might be right. Actually this makes me wonder if this is another case of that foul smelling coolant or something I have been reading about in the 2013's due to the hoses or something.

 

[Burla]

If it is sour or dirty sock smelling it is too much moisture in your ducts. They sell air conditioner treatments that are aerosols and you spray them generously in your vent from the outside on top of hood vent, and turn on air conditioner before you spray it.

Here is the stuff I use from autozone.

 

[white13express]

Yea I guess I should've mentioned that my truck is completely stock. It's a sweaty sock/jock strap smell but it's been extremely dry out here lately. Only 10% humidity the past couple of days so I don't know where the extra moisture would come from.

 

[white13express]

Oh hold the phone you might be right. Actually this makes me wonder if this is another case of that foul smelling coolant or something I have been reading about in the 2013's due to the hoses or something.

You've been reading about faulty coolant hoses on the '13? Dude what else can I have go wrong with this truck????

 

[kenwitter]

Oh hold the phone you might be right. Actually this makes me wonder if this is another case of that foul smelling coolant or something I have been reading about in the 2013's due to the hoses or something.

Yup. I think that's it. It started on mine at about 3,000km, then I got the Sentra ******** and got the rental which was at 3,100km. Started smelling before too long as well. However I haven't smelled it since I got my truck back.

 

[JohnnyDollar]

Yea I guess I should've mentioned that my truck is completely stock. It's a sweaty sock/jock strap smell but it's been extremely dry out here lately. Only 10% humidity the past couple of days so I don't know where the extra moisture would come from.

I kind of thought from your previous posts that your truck was stock.
So, like the rest of us, you don't have a cabin air filter until you install one.

You've been reading about faulty coolant hoses on the '13? Dude what else can I have go wrong with this truck????

I had not read about this myself, but a quick Google search confirms.

People refer to a really foul smell and a bad batch of radiator hoses that the dealer has to replace.
If you remove the radiator cap and the anti-freeze smells bad, that seems to be an indicator.

 

[white13express]

I'll have to check that when I get home.

 

[WhiteExpress]

Fowl Smelling Coolant? KFC Coolant!
That's crazy. I fail to see how coolant, even if it smelled like poo should ever be introduced into the passenger cabin. It is supposed to be a sealed core.

 

[Casper]

so anyone experience their cabin filter go bad in 3 months??? i bought the truck new on the 4th the july, it now has 11.500 miles on it and the cabin smells so bad when i turn on the AC. is it more than just a problem with filter? just started doin it today.

Unless the 13 is changed from 09-12, you don't have a cabin air filter. It's a mod covered in the DIY section for 4th Gens, but RAM went cheap and didn't install filters from the factory.

 

[JohnnyDollar]

Fowl Smelling Coolant? KFC Coolant!
That's crazy. I fail to see how coolant, even if it smelled like poo should ever be introduced into the passenger cabin. It is supposed to be a sealed core.

I would think the same thing (sealed)
However, apparently there is an issue on some 2013's and the solution is replacement of the rubber hoses.

 

[Hornet]

Apparently if it's the hoses that are defective.
The hose smell is sucked into the cabin through the external vents,at least that's what i've gathered from reading about the hose issue.
I haven't smelled anything on my 13,but from everything i've read,if the hoses are bad they emit a very distintive foul odor.