(How to) Clean HVAC Coil.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,351
Likes: 776
2020 GLS450 (wife) / 2024 Ford Bronco (mine) / 2014 VW Tiquan (son)
I have no idea why my descriptions for these photos did not post with them. That sucks!!!
my point…
you can’t wash the hvac coil because it’s installed vertically instead of horizontally.
you can’t get to it via dash vents because the duct work is above the vents.
you can’t get to it via the cabin filter chamber. Lives next to the filter, directly behind the hvac control buttons. Think of it is two pictures hanging on the wall next to eachother (filter / hvac coil).
best think to do to prevent odor, when changing cabin filter, spray heavy on the Lysol into the filter chamber towards the center stack of the car before installing the new filter. At least that will give some disinfectant effect for mold/mildew.
ours is 5 years old, 90k miles, many many months in hot humid climate of DC summers and NC coastline. It looks fine, we don’t have too much “gym sock” syndrome. Today fixed what we did have.
my point…
you can’t wash the hvac coil because it’s installed vertically instead of horizontally.
you can’t get to it via dash vents because the duct work is above the vents.
you can’t get to it via the cabin filter chamber. Lives next to the filter, directly behind the hvac control buttons. Think of it is two pictures hanging on the wall next to eachother (filter / hvac coil).
best think to do to prevent odor, when changing cabin filter, spray heavy on the Lysol into the filter chamber towards the center stack of the car before installing the new filter. At least that will give some disinfectant effect for mold/mildew.
ours is 5 years old, 90k miles, many many months in hot humid climate of DC summers and NC coastline. It looks fine, we don’t have too much “gym sock” syndrome. Today fixed what we did have.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 1,535
From: U.S.
Current/Last 5-years:GLS;G70;Alpina B8;X7;Accord. Sold:X7,TeslaS;S560;S550,X5;530e;L.Navigator;LS460
There is a TSB for the GLS, and you "can" get this service for FREE from a Mbenz dealership, but only if you complain the right way.
Do NOT ask them to clean the evaporator. Just tell them that the AC isn't working as designed, and there is a bad smell (even after you replace the AC cabin filter with a new one). That alone triggers a warranty repair complaint. The only way for them to fix it, is to clean the evaporator as it accumulates moldes that causes that smell. Now, when they clean the evaporator, because they spray a cleaner, they are obligated to also replace the cabin air filter and you will NOT need to pay for it cause u are NOT complaining about the filter nor that asked them to replace it. Just report a bad smell and mention that you even tried yourself to replace a cabin air filter and that you feel there is an AC issue causing the smell.
I just had this service done for me a no charge to me, including installing a new cabin filter, all under warranty. The trick above was shared with me by my service advisor who was aware of the TSB and referenced it to get the service done under warranty. AC smells fresh now.
Do NOT ask them to clean the evaporator. Just tell them that the AC isn't working as designed, and there is a bad smell (even after you replace the AC cabin filter with a new one). That alone triggers a warranty repair complaint. The only way for them to fix it, is to clean the evaporator as it accumulates moldes that causes that smell. Now, when they clean the evaporator, because they spray a cleaner, they are obligated to also replace the cabin air filter and you will NOT need to pay for it cause u are NOT complaining about the filter nor that asked them to replace it. Just report a bad smell and mention that you even tried yourself to replace a cabin air filter and that you feel there is an AC issue causing the smell.
I just had this service done for me a no charge to me, including installing a new cabin filter, all under warranty. The trick above was shared with me by my service advisor who was aware of the TSB and referenced it to get the service done under warranty. AC smells fresh now.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,351
Likes: 776
2020 GLS450 (wife) / 2024 Ford Bronco (mine) / 2014 VW Tiquan (son)
The Kool It doesn’t work very well because the coil is vertical and it’s literally impossible to see the coil without a scope camera. Very difficult to do the camera and the hose of the Kool It. So I unloaded a can of Lysol into the opening instead, which too k care of it. Granted not as effective as a wash of the coil that the Kool It does, but also since the coil is vertical, it drains down well and doesn’t get quite as moldy as other cars typically do.
