gdn Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Just the last few weeks when starting the car - the AC has a bad smell for 10 to 15 seconds. I'm in Dallas, so the AC is on all day if the car is on. The car hasn't been sitting for a few days or anything. You can drive it - go back an hour later and it has the same smell again when you start it. It's a musty smell that clears up, but annoying. Anyone else have similar issues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jared6788 Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Yep I've noticed a musty smell right away but then it goes away or I get used to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo69 Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 turn your fan on high and make sure you have recirculate off then spray liberal amounts of lysol into the intake under the wipers it will go through the vents and hopefully kill the mildew thats in there, also you might want to have your windows open when you do this to avoid having the smell of lysol remain in the car longer than it should. High humidity will make the smell come back eventually though so just repeat the process once you smell it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaggy314 Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 (edited) I won't blame it for you, but I will mention I had a mouse die in my older car. Worst 2 weeks of my life before the smell was gone. Never found the remains, but the smell did go away. Edited August 5, 2013 by shaggy314 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camride Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Mine has just started to do that in the last 2 weeks. It's on the list of things to get looked at when I take my car to the dealer on Wednesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiztedsix Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Same issue for 2 months now. Took it in to the dealer and of course they said they cannot duplicate the issue. I am going to have them "try" again when I take it back for my fuel tank replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdn Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 Well - it sucks others have the problem, but glad to know we aren't the only ones. Hope Ford will recognize, find and fix the issue if possible. If figure there is a problem somewhere that won't be easy to fix. Something that holds water and doesn't drain well from condensation around the AC system. If anyone gets resolution from the problem please post and keep us updated. Don't have any other reason right now to go to the dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankhat Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Seems like I only get this on extremely hot days(about 90's for Seattle). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camride Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 They looked at mine today and said they couldn't see any mildew (though wouldn't confirm if they smelled it or not). They said they ran some disinfectant through just to make sure though, we'll see. He did recommend turning the AC off for the last few minutes while driving the car. I just realized that that might not even work as "turning" the AC off doesn't actually always turn it off. I've turned it off on a hot day and continued to get cool air from the car for a solid 5 minutes before I turned it back on (and felt no difference either time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcats98 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 They looked at mine today and said they couldn't see any mildew (though wouldn't confirm if they smelled it or not). They said they ran some disinfectant through just to make sure though, we'll see. He did recommend turning the AC off for the last few minutes while driving the car. I just realized that that might not even work as "turning" the AC off doesn't actually always turn it off. I've turned it off on a hot day and continued to get cool air from the car for a solid 5 minutes before I turned it back on (and felt no difference either time). Go to the climate screen on MFT, click the AC button AND click one of the vent options. Then you will feel the AC turn off. Pretty ridiculous, but it works. Once you have done that AC wont kick again unless you press AC button or press Auto button. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryVIII Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Yeah I'm getting this too. Something to mention when I take it in for service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris1970 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Is it possible that it's the cabin air filter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fusionTX Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Has anybody had ths issue fixed? My A/C stinks up the car for a few seconds at startup. I have never experienced anything like this in any other car. It seems to be getting worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcats98 Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Guys, this isn't a "fix" issue. Mold grows and you have to kill the mold. My Maxima did it, my buddy is having issues with his 2013 Equinox, my Sonata does it. You have to get at the condenser and clean it. That is the only real "fix".There are things you can to do to reduce it, but once it starts you need kill the mold and clean the condenser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JScullin Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Mine just recently started doing this. We've had cool weather the past couple weeks and just the past 2 days was it in the 90's and I had to use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSPFusion Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Mine is doing it too. We've had a lot of temps in the 90's here of late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fusionTX Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Guys, this isn't a "fix" issue. Mold grows and you have to kill the mold. My Maxima did it, my buddy is having issues with his 2013 Equinox, my Sonata does it. You have to get at the condenser and clean it. That is the only real "fix". There are things you can to do to reduce it, but once it starts you need kill the mold and clean the condenser. Is this something that would be covered under warranty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcats98 Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Is this something that would be covered under warranty? Not likely. You can ask but most likely you are going to hear what you read on this thread and you might get charged depending on the dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) Not likely. You can ask but most likely you are going to hear what you read on this thread and you might get charged depending on the dealer. Of course this has to be something covered under warrantly. I've had my car 4 months and it smells like a wet dog with the a/c on or with only the vent on. There is something wrong with the build on certain cars for this to be happening. I've seen quite a few others with the problem in this car over on the Fusion Hybrid forum. I've never had this problem with any other car. I've had my car in for serivce twice for this. Both times they said they sprayed the mold/mildew solution in the car (I believe it's Fridgi Fresh), only for it to come back the day aftrer I get my car back. It is to the point where I can't have people in my car because I'm too embarrassed by the smell. I can't even take it myself, I have to drive without a/c or with the windows down in the heat. Edited September 16, 2013 by Riggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camride Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Mine is getting pretty bad as well. I even ran the heat on high last night (with the windows down, thankfully it was cool last night) with the AC off to try to clear the smell out. Started the car this morning (with the AC still off) and it's still there. I've only taken it to the dealer once for this issue and they did the same as Riggo, sprayed some "disinfectant" and said they didn't smell anything or see any mold. It's odd to me that this is a common issue. Both my 2001 Audi A4 and my wife's 2004 Corolla have never had this issue, and we never turn the AC off except in the winter. I remember my dad telling me to do the whole "turn the AC off a few minutes before you stop" on older cars, but I assumed this was an issue that had been sorted out with newer cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fusionTX Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I wonder if there is anything we can do to get Ford's attention? Does it help to contact Trina or whoever at Ford? This is worse than any MPG issue as far as I'm concerned. It sours the whole car new car experience. I spent 35,000 on a stink machine. Instead of sparky, I may have to rename stinky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JScullin Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Ecoboost? More like Stinkoboost, amiright fellas! lololololol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhearn Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I have the 2013 Fusion Energi and started having the bad smell at start up issue this week. Something I have noticed about this car, I never see any air conditioning condensate draining onto the pavement. Any other car I have owned there would always be a good sized puddle of liquid from the air conditioning condensate drain. I also noticed a gurgling sound from the center console as though there were a puddle of liquid being agitated somewhere inside. I hope Ford has remembered to drain the excess condensate from the air conditioning system. Otherwise, this is a great car, thoroughly thrilled with the technology and performance. Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8-X Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 That sucks fellas. Never had this problem in any other Ford nor manufacturer vehicle I've owned. So this sounds quite unique to the Fusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdn Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 As the OP of the thread - quick follow up - Had mine in to the dealer today and told them I wanted the problem noted and investigated - they did as I figured and marked the service order "NPF" - no problem found. At least they know I've noted it and asked for a resolution. They have none as of now. I guess as long as everyone will asked to have it looked into when you are in for any kind of service - maybe it will show up some day and get some attention. Since we didn't just start making cars yesterday I would hope and think they'd have better engineering than this. I'm sure it could be a multitude of problems as others have mentioned and maybe even mold, but we are way too advanced for stupidity in engineering like that. The only suggestion from the service advisor was as a few others have mentioned - turn the AC off before stopping the car. I was never sure why - but he said so that the internal vents would open - when the AC is in the off position - they open for "vent" or outside air. Don't know if it might help some or not - that will be a hard habit to createas I've never done that in the 32 years of driving. Keep having it documented - might get someone's attention or at least a design change. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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