06' Musty odor from A/C when set to recirculate cabin air - Honda Pilot

mfisher1967 · 06-24-2007, 12:05 PM

Houston is a hot, humid place to live. One thing that I have noticed is that the cabin air filter needs to be replaced even more frequently than 15K miles that Honda recommends.

I try to replace the cabin air filter about ~6 months on average. The air from the vents tend to smell increasingly musty over time if the A/C is operated in recirculation mode. This was also an issue with my 1998 CR-V, so the problem is not unique to the Pilot. Honda even offered to replace the Evaporator coil on my CR-V at one point, acknowledging that there was a problem.

Are there any sprays that can be used on the Evaporator coil at the time a cabin filter change is performed to kill off any mold there? Also, has anyone had any luck with the activated charcoal cabin air filters? Thanks for your help!

humanoid · 06-24-2007, 12:30 PM

BG Frigi-Fresh® or BG Frigi-Clean® work really well. You can google them and buy them online.

mfisher1967 · 06-24-2007, 03:32 PM

It looks like Frigi-Fresh is exactly what I need. I plan to also use Frigi-Clean to clean the evaporator next time I replace the cabin air filter. For now, Frigi-Fresh will work. Thanks for the tip!

Tupperware · 06-24-2007, 03:59 PM

I had this problem with a Volvo and their best advice was to "try and park the car with a dry evaporator coil whenever possible". Do this by turning off the a/c a few minutes before you reach your destination but continue to allow the blower to run. I sold the car instead

06-24-2007, 12:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
mfisher1967 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Houston, TX Posts: 58 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	06' Musty odor from A/C when set to recirculate cabin air Houston is a hot, humid place to live. One thing that I have noticed is that the cabin air filter needs to be replaced even more frequently than 15K miles that Honda recommends. I try to replace the cabin air filter about ~6 months on average. The air from the vents tend to smell increasingly musty over time if the A/C is operated in recirculation mode. This was also an issue with my 1998 CR-V, so the problem is not unique to the Pilot. Honda even offered to replace the Evaporator coil on my CR-V at one point, acknowledging that there was a problem. Are there any sprays that can be used on the Evaporator coil at the time a cabin filter change is performed to kill off any mold there? Also, has anyone had any luck with the activated charcoal cabin air filters? Thanks for your help!

06-24-2007, 12:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
humanoid Super Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny SoCal Posts: 2,970 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	BG Frigi-Fresh® or BG Frigi-Clean® work really well. You can google them and buy them online. __________________ 2005 EX-L Sage Brush Pearl -->OEM Running Boards, OEM rear mud guards, OEM crossbars, AVS bug deflector, 5000K HIDs, OEM Accord EX emblem, full sized spare, Hella FF 75 driving lamps, Nifty CatchAll Mats <------------ click here first, n0oB!!!

06-24-2007, 03:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
mfisher1967 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Houston, TX Posts: 58 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks for the tip! It looks like Frigi-Fresh is exactly what I need. I plan to also use Frigi-Clean to clean the evaporator next time I replace the cabin air filter. For now, Frigi-Fresh will work. Thanks for the tip!

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06-24-2007, 03:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tupperware Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 188 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I had this problem with a Volvo and their best advice was to "try and park the car with a dry evaporator coil whenever possible". Do this by turning off the a/c a few minutes before you reach your destination but continue to allow the blower to run. I sold the car instead

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