Strange aroma when interior heating/cooling system activated

[Eric Stewartson]

"Good day!" from Canada.

Late last year I purchased a gently-used 2017 RAM Limited (5.7 Liter "Hemi") with 38,000 kilometers on the odometer. Nice, spacious and comfy truck that drives really well.

However, ever since its purchase., whenever I turn on the heating/cooling system a strange, acrid aroma enters the cabin. This only occurs when the engine is cold, smells like diluted vinegar and only lasts a couple of minutes.

A few days after I got it, I took the "beast" (coming from a Subaru Forester the RAM is a "beast!") to my local RAM dealer and asked for an inspection service along with an oil change. Nothing, other than a suggested replacement of the cabin air filter was noted. Changing the filter did not help.

Any idea(s) as to what might be causing this "bit o' stink?" I don't think there's a leak of anti-freeze in the heater core since the "fragrance" only persists for a short time, but that's just a guess. I'd like to take the "beast" in again for a thorough investigation, but suspect that's going to involve taking a fair bit of the lower dash apart and a BIG bill. Would like to avoid that if I can.

Thanks in advance for your ideas and time.

Cheers,

Eric S.

 

[Ohio5pt7]

Likely what they used to clean it before you bought it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk all grammar errors brought you by fat fingers and auto correct.

 

[Eric Stewartson]

"Ohio5pt7"

Maybe, but I would think that whatever they used would have "faded away"/evaporated after 5 months.

Cheers,

EAS

 

[Dave2018]

I really think that this is the most likely. Antifreeze leaking into the heater box from a loose hose or leaking heater core? Does it leak under the truck a spot like the AC drain hole?

 

[Travelin Ram]

You could disconnect the coolant hoses from the heater core and bypass it for a few days to determine if it’s that or not.

I take it you’ve been monitoring coolant level and added none in all this time? Although it only takes a very tiny amount to make an odor.

 

[RamCares]

"Good day!" from Canada.

Late last year I purchased a gently-used 2017 RAM Limited (5.7 Liter "Hemi") with 38,000 kilometers on the odometer. Nice, spacious and comfy truck that drives really well.

However, ever since its purchase., whenever I turn on the heating/cooling system a strange, acrid aroma enters the cabin. This only occurs when the engine is cold, smells like diluted vinegar and only lasts a couple of minutes.

A few days after I got it, I took the "beast" (coming from a Subaru Forester the RAM is a "beast!") to my local RAM dealer and asked for an inspection service along with an oil change. Nothing, other than a suggested replacement of the cabin air filter was noted. Changing the filter did not help.

Any idea(s) as to what might be causing this "bit o' stink?" I don't think there's a leak of anti-freeze in the heater core since the "fragrance" only persists for a short time, but that's just a guess. I'd like to take the "beast" in again for a thorough investigation, but suspect that's going to involve taking a fair bit of the lower dash apart and a BIG bill. Would like to avoid that if I can.

Thanks in advance for your ideas and time.

Cheers,

Eric S.

Hi @Eric Stewartson - If you continue to work with your dealer to address this, we suggest contacting Canadian Customer Care to have this documented. You may find their contact information by clicking on the following link and scrolling down to the "Canada" tab: https://www.fcagroup.com/en-US/footer/Pages/contacts.aspx.

Mark
RamCares

 

[Eric Stewartson]

Morning:

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my post.

So far, I have not detected any antifreeze leaking from my 1500; no drips on the garage floor or detectable smell outside of the truck. As for checking the coolant level, I've checked it from time to time as part of normal preventative checks and haven't observed any noticeable drop within the overflow tank.

What I will do is take the truck to a dealer and ask them to take a look. If there's a leak somewhere, I'm hoping they'll be able to find and correct it quickly. If not, then I'll have to consider a more extensive examination. This vehicle needs to last a long time now that I'm retired, plus I have no interest in letting a small thing go on to become a big thing. The good news is I have a comprehensive extra maintenance warranty which covers repairs to the main components of the heating system, if that's where the "gremlin" lies.

I'll keep this thread updated with what I learn and will contact Canadian Customer Care, per "RamCares" suggestion, to open a case/issue.

Regards,

EAS

 

[Octane]

My system sometimes smells like uncured silicone caulk for several seconds on startup.My Challenger did it too.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Is there anything under the seats, could that smell be *****, maybe some wipes getting buried under somewhere, that smell last a long time, I wouldn't tear the dashboard apart, you'll have rattles al over the place, have they pressurized the cooling system to see if it holds pressure, I feel for you, I've had smells in the past, for now put some of those Vent clips from Febreze or Yankee Candle.

 

[Scott S]

Make sure the drains are clear and that there is not debris in the cowl.

Could be something that got onto the heater core during assembly causing it. The smell may not go totally go away but your ability to detect it fades. When we built out house my wife could smell something acrid whenever the gas fireplace was on. I never really noticed it much after it was on. I eventually called the manufacturer of the unit and they said there was a recall on the glass gasket. They sent me a new one and after I replaced it I realized then how bad it had stunk before.

 

[Wild one]

"Good day!" from Canada.

Late last year I purchased a gently-used 2017 RAM Limited (5.7 Liter "Hemi") with 38,000 kilometers on the odometer. Nice, spacious and comfy truck that drives really well.

However, ever since its purchase., whenever I turn on the heating/cooling system a strange, acrid aroma enters the cabin. This only occurs when the engine is cold, smells like diluted vinegar and only lasts a couple of minutes.

A few days after I got it, I took the "beast" (coming from a Subaru Forester the RAM is a "beast!") to my local RAM dealer and asked for an inspection service along with an oil change. Nothing, other than a suggested replacement of the cabin air filter was noted. Changing the filter did not help.

Any idea(s) as to what might be causing this "bit o' stink?" I don't think there's a leak of anti-freeze in the heater core since the "fragrance" only persists for a short time, but that's just a guess. I'd like to take the "beast" in again for a thorough investigation, but suspect that's going to involve taking a fair bit of the lower dash apart and a BIG bill. Would like to avoid that if I can.

Thanks in advance for your ideas and time.

Cheers,

Eric S.

The heater hoses have been known to react with the 10 year coolant and give off a smell sort of like you're reporting,but usually you can smell them outside the truck at the same time you can smell them inside,and most guys have reported the hoses smelling after the truck is warmed up.Probably not your issue,but it's something to try and check when you do observe the smell.

 

[Eric Stewartson]

The heater hoses have been known to react with the 10 year coolant and give off a smell sort of like you're reporting,but usually you can smell them outside the truck at the same time you can smell them inside,and most guys have reported the hoses smelling after the truck is warmed up.Probably not your issue,but it's something to try and check when you do observe the smell.

A similar thought crossed my mind several weeks ago ... could the hoses be reacting to the anti-freeze + water passing through them, or perhaps the anti-freeze was "off?" Later on I rejected the latter idea since the truck is only 3 years of age this May. That leaves the first idea. Since the heater only gets "fragrant" after starting the truck cold, the hoses idea has some merit to it.

My 2017 will go in for an oil change in late May and I'll talk with a service rep about the problem. I'll ask that the assigned technician check the hoses and connections, and, if it's not too expensive, to replace the engine anti-freeze.

Thanks everybody! I'll report back in a few weeks' time after the service is done.

Cheers,

EAS

 

[Dave2018]

One thing I didn't think about and it puzzled me too on my 2018. At first I wasn't sure but the other day I am. It's a mildewy smell. There are a lot of videos on how to clean the ac system. Now I don't know why but I've never had this issue in my 1998 RAM 1500 Quad. Still don't to this day.



Now I like Scotty, he ain't right about RAM trucks but I think he believes he is. LOL

 

[stbear007]

Probably something used to clean seats with. My 2012 ram was 2 days old and my than 3yr old son vomited on passenger seat. It stank even after cleaning good so I used vinegar to dilute smell and yep everytime wife turned on the heat or cool seats it smelled like vinegar for 3 more years till I traded it in lol. Better smell than vomit tho. The viniger obviously sycked into foam under and stayed there. I did get weaker smell as truck got older but I could still smell It a bit after 3 years.

 

[Eric Stewartson]

One thing I didn't think about and it puzzled me too on my 2018. At first I wasn't sure but the other day I am. It's a mildewy smell. There are a lot of videos on how to clean the ac system. Now I don't know why but I've never had this issue in my 1998 RAM 1500 Quad. Still don't to this day.



Now I like Scotty, he ain't right about RAM trucks but I think he believes he is. LOL

"Dave2018":

Well your explanation makes a whole lot of sense, so yours is the explanation I'm going with. Thanks!

I viewed all of the videos attached in your message plus a couple of others on "YouTube." One chap fully explained how to thoroughly clean the core via a 2-part process which requires installing an access plug in the blower motor housing (you spray a foam cleaner directly into this chamber). Can you or anyone else tell/show me where the blower fan housing is located and do I have to remove 1/2 the dashboard to get to it? I certainly hope I don't!

Also, where is the evaporator drain hose located underneath the truck?

Once the product arrives (about a week or so), I'll apply it and see what happens. I'm pretty confident this is the problem.

Cheers and thanks again!

EAS

 

[Dave2018]

The best way to find the drain is to run the ac and when you observe water pooling under the passenger side, crawl under with a flashlight and trace the water back to the drain opening.

Good luck!

Also, there is another method of removing smells that I'm going to try if my current method isn't successful.

 

[Addicted2fishing]

"Good day!" from Canada.

Late last year I purchased a gently-used 2017 RAM Limited (5.7 Liter "Hemi") with 38,000 kilometers on the odometer. Nice, spacious and comfy truck that drives really well.

However, ever since its purchase., whenever I turn on the heating/cooling system a strange, acrid aroma enters the cabin. This only occurs when the engine is cold, smells like diluted vinegar and only lasts a couple of minutes.

A few days after I got it, I took the "beast" (coming from a Subaru Forester the RAM is a "beast!") to my local RAM dealer and asked for an inspection service along with an oil change. Nothing, other than a suggested replacement of the cabin air filter was noted. Changing the filter did not help.

Any idea(s) as to what might be causing this "bit o' stink?" I don't think there's a leak of anti-freeze in the heater core since the "fragrance" only persists for a short time, but that's just a guess. I'd like to take the "beast" in again for a thorough investigation, but suspect that's going to involve taking a fair bit of the lower dash apart and a BIG bill. Would like to avoid that if I can.

Thanks in advance for your ideas and time.

Cheers,

Eric S.

If it was anti freeze it should have like a sweet smell to it. Unless that’s changed...

Get yourself a can of aerosol Lysol (if you can get one) and get your truck Up to operating temps. Open your hood and look at the bottom plastic trim. You’ll see slots. That’s the air going into your system.

Turn heat all the way and and crank it to full. Spray some Lysol in there. Few seconds at a time for 2-3 times.

Cycle through t air conditioning and do it again a couple times. Let the truck run and full blast for about 5 minutes. Roll windows down a bit after the truck is off to air it out. A few times driving in it roll windows down and have it I’ll blast to keep airing it out.

That should get rid of the musty smells


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dave2018]

I also found another potential source for the smell. I'm thinking this might have been my problem all along. It's nothing inside the truck, but... if you look down the opening between the bed and the rear cab window. The gap between the body panels, I found a large stuck pile of leaves! I think they were in front of the driver's side body vent in the back wall of the cab behind the seat. I got a long tube blow nozzle on my air compressor line, and blew them out of there. It can become trapped there because the bed is weather stripped against the body of the cab and there is a long blocking plate on top of the frame at the bottom edge. So the leaves don't have any place to blow free on their own.

I just cleared this out today and gave it a quick rinse with the hose. I'll monitor the smell and see if it comes back. I'm thinking that it won't. I've never found any wet carpets in the rear or in the front of the cab.

UPDATE: I think that was it. Here is a youtube video of a guy that had it just a little worse than I did. But it shows the leaves and junk that can collect between the bed and the back of the cab that contirbuted to the smell I was getting.