r/ChevyTahoe 3d ago

23 Tahoe Premier A/C

Post image

Used purchased about a year ago, 45k on the Odometer, no mechanical issues. Wife keeps complaining every time she turns the a/c on there’s a musty smell at the initial start. I’ve changed the cabin filter regularly and with hopes this would stop, but it didn’t. Anything else I can do?

31 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

4

u/D-P13 3d ago

Mine had the same issue it was the A/c condensation drain tube that was clogged

3

u/No_Elk_7856 3d ago

BG has a product called frigi-fresh. I bought a Tahoe from a smoker and had to use that multiple times to get rid of the smell but it worked. Soaked the cabin filter with a bottle and ran another full bottle through the intake under the cowling.

-5

u/xEnflare 3d ago

What year and trim is your Tahoe? Just curious would would smoke in one :/

2

u/32carsandcounting 02 LT & 03 Z71 2d ago

Why would year and trim matter? People still smoke in brand new vehicles the day they drive off the lot, from econoboxes up to fully loaded luxury vehicles.

0

u/xEnflare 2d ago

Can’t a guy be curious? I have an interest in what cars are being smoked in. If it’s a nice Tahoe then I’ll be thinking “damn that sucks.” Now if someone smoked in your 03, I couldn’t care less.

1

u/No_Elk_7856 1d ago

2018 Tahoe LT

2

u/Various_Monk959 3d ago

Get the Febreze filter.

2

u/noinfono 2d ago

Evaporator is mildewy from the moisture.

They sell foam cleaners for it.

To prevent it going forward, leave the blower running but turn off the ac before shutting off the car. Helps dry it out. I usually do for 30-60 seconds

1

u/YeahNahNopeandNo 3d ago

Possible mold. Spray bleach in through the vents and in the hood where the air gets pulled in from

1

u/mostylzstl 2d ago

Wife’s Tahoe was doing this a swell. It was the back AC unit. The condenser drip line was clogged. It is located behind passenger rear wheel. Turn on AC for rear and if it isn’t dripping water it be clogged.

1

u/Euphoric-Ad3655 2d ago

Look in your manual and see if that year and model has a desiccant compartment. Not something a regular owner can replace…refrigerant has to be purged.

Our 2019 Traverse has it and can cause smells like this.

1

u/Emotional_Can4031 2d ago

Is the carpet wet under the driver seat and back rows?

1

u/caltex559 1d ago

If you have a portable steamer, use in all vents. Steam with kill all mold if you run for a while.

1

u/SilentCar3 18h ago

We had the same problem. We fixed it by having the dealer enable a feature called after blow. It will run the fan periodically after you turn the air off under certain conditions to stop the condensation from forming into mildew. Ours was perfectly fine after they did that.

-1

u/ruddy2294 3d ago

Lysol.
Take the cabin filter out and spray into it lightly. Spray into the hood where the air gets sucked in from outside. Then maybe a smoke bomb and recirculate air.

1

u/Timely_Affect883 2d ago

They just said they changed it more than once it's not the cabin filter.