I'm getting real tired of your shit, Mustang

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake) 10/01/2016 at 00:20 • Filed to: None

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Another day, another stupid problem with my Mustang. This time? When I turn on the AC/Fan/what the fuck ever we want to call HVAC there’s a funky smell for a few minutes. No idea how to describe the smell and no idea where it’s coming from.

The car has 10,000 fucking miles. My fucking economy car Sonic never had any nagging problems like this. About the only issue I ran into with that car was the blower motor making noise at 38,000 miles.

To recap the issues I’ve had with the Mustang:

- High pitched sound coming from the speakers. Gotten nowhere with two dealers and Ford customer service on this

- Check engine light and rough idle. Was fixed with a service bulletin

- Chattering noise coming from somewhere in front of me at 65 mph and above. Dealer said they couldn’t hear it

- Intermittent backup camera picture issues.

- Improperly installed seal behind grill. Was replaced at 500 miles

- Poor hood alignment. I made it better myself

- Funny smell coming from vents. Guess I’ll make an appointment sometime next week?

None of the issues have been major, but it’s frustrating. This is the nicest, most expensive car I’ve owned and I’ve had to deal with more crap than any of my previous ones. Maybe I’m just more aware of the little things because of how nice the car is, but I’m annoyed. I know half of you are going to tell me to buck up because your 15 year old car does so much worse shit, but I don’t care. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be frustrated at small issues in a $33,000 car with only 10,000 miles on it

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 00:24

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I think the funny smell is just Wichita, my AC has been intermittently doing that too.

Jayhawk Jake > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 10/01/2016 at 00:25

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Could be? I’ve had a cold for a week and my sinuses are all fucky, maybe I just don’t notice it outside

RallyWrench > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 00:29

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Maybe there’s a couple of decaying fingers or something stuck in the cabin filter from the last Cars & Coffee?  

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 00:30

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funky smell is usually a little mold in the hoses. rather common if you haven’t used the AC or maybe heater in a while.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 10/01/2016 at 00:37

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it’s probably a good idea to not sell something that develops mold later on.

Xyl0c41n3 > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 00:46

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My Fiesta emits a strange smell when I have the HVAC set to right down the middle between a/c and heater. To me, it kinda has the sweetish smell of antifreeze. But I live in Texas, where 99.99999 percent of the time, the HVAC is set to “arctic,” so I’ve never really looked into it. Maybe it’s just a Ford quirk?

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/01/2016 at 00:56

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usually caused by condensation in the hoses. can happen on all cars, old or new

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 01:08

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That’s quite the list of inconveniences.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 01:12

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Funky smell? Have you changed your cabin air filter lately? 10k is about the change interval on those things

My bird IS the word > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 01:13

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I think that it is reasonable to be frustrated at the issues ford can’t fix. warranty stuff sucks, but from a manufacturing standpoint it is expected. that shit with the rattling and speakers? That’s where I draw the line.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 01:30

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I want to say cabin air filter but that would cause more of a constant funk than something that goes away after a few minutes. Plus 10,000 miles is way too low for that to need replacement already.

I haven’t exactly been thrilled with our Fusion and its little problems either. It goes in more for warranty work than for maintenance. It has to go back again for a rear suspension creak and excessive wear on the driver’s seat cover now. Kinda ridiculous.

Wacko > Xyl0c41n3 10/01/2016 at 02:41

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I once had a 91 cavalier z24 with the 3.0 and it smelled like antifreeze too. My friend had a sunbird se also with the 3.0 and his smelled too. I’m pretty sure it was the heater core that had a pinhole leak. And that wasn’t because they were old, since that was in the mid to late 90s that I had that cavalier.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 03:19

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Condensation builds up on AC evaporator. Sometimes this condensation yields mildew. Thus odor. The smell goes away after a few minutes because the moisture that was there has been dried off by airflow. Not uncommon, but some manufacturers apply a coating to the evaporator to prevent the growth of bacteria, I suspect Ford is not one of them. Another workaround is software in the HVAC control unit to periodically run the blower motor, even with the vehicle off but only during certain conditions, in an effort to keep the evaporator dry.

Not unreasonable to be annoyed, particularly when it comes to the problems that they can’t fix. But at the same time, cars will have issues. Generally speaking the more a car cost the more issues it can have, particularly in the first few years of a generation. Just be glad these issues are happening under warranty.

If the dealer tells you they can’t verify a concern, take them for a drive and verify it with them. If they say it’s a normal condition get them to prove it to you via documentation from the manufacturer or by showing you multiple other new cars. Be warned, you could annoy them or even piss them off by going this route but it isn’t necessarily unreasonable. Go in with a friendly and positive attitude and tins will work better for you.

Related true story: I’ve got this customer who’s only ever bought one oil change from my store. He has a 2015 AMG that he bought elsewhere. Brings his car in at least one a month, often late for his appointment and usually needs to pick up mid afternoon. His complaints are always interior noises, almost entirely impossible to duplicate, almost always from somewhere new. Keep in mind warranty won’t pay us unless we actually fix a problem. So half the time we will spend a couple hours messing around only to not get paid, then the other half we will fix at least one noise and get paid a fraction of the time we have in it. That’s just the way warranty usually goes on squeaks and rattles. So we usually end up losing a bunch of time/money when this guy comes in. But, he is the nicest guy in the world so we bend over backwards trying to make it perfect. I mean this guy knows half the shop by name, can carry conversation with any of us without being awkward, super polite, full of gratitude for us even attempting to fix what he admits are stupid problems. Actually, on second thought, he might actually be brainwashing us somehow...

jimz > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 06:46

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Can you describe the high pitched sound from the speakers? e.g. when do you hear it. What engine do you have? Is it an Ecoboost?

Jayhawk Jake > jimz 10/01/2016 at 07:45

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It’s always there if the engine is on. It’s constant, doesn’t change with speed or RPM. I have an Ecoboost

Jayhawk Jake > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 10/01/2016 at 07:47

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Yeah, that’s what it seems to be. While everyone says it’s common and I believe them, I’ve owned 5 cars and driven countless more and never once noticed something like this

jimz > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 08:45

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I’m guessing by the “Jayhawk” name you’re nowhere near Detroit. is it something which can be recorded and heard? It doesn’t happen at all when the car is in accessory mode, only when the engine is running? I wonder if it’s ESE-related, though ESE shouldn’t be doing anything at high frequencies. Which audio system do you have? 6, 9 or 12 speaker? is it there if you turn the audio system off?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 09:55

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Smells like a funky cross between mold and stinky feet? Water in the HVAC plumbing is promoting mold growth. Check your cabin air filter for moisture.

Jcarr > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 10:13

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Does it have a cabin air filter? I get a funky smell in our VW when that needs to be changed.

Jayhawk Jake > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/01/2016 at 11:04

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I checked the cabin air filter, it’s dry.

Jayhawk Jake > jimz 10/01/2016 at 11:07

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Im in wichita. It only occurs when the engine is running. I have actually observed it ‘start’ shortly after the engine starts. Doesn’t matter if the radio is on or no. I once unplugged the amp and obviously heard nothing.

I have the shaker premium system

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 11:56

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Funky smell is likely a pedestrian stuck in some of the body work and beginning to decompose.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 12:04

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So there’s moisture collecting somewhere else. You might have a blocked drain tube or something.

Rico > Xyl0c41n3 10/01/2016 at 12:15

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I suspect because it’s Texas and always hot it’s a byproduct of mold from condensed water. Some people say try putting the heat on max for a couple mins to dry up moisture every once in a while (obviously don’t be inside during this because Texas) but try to see if that stops the smell from appearing next time you put it on in the middle.

Rico > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/01/2016 at 12:18

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I bring a case of beer in my trunk and tell my SA it’s for him and to share it with the tech who works on my car.

90% of the time it works everytime.

jimz > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 14:34

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I’ve got to believe it has something to do with ESE, but I haven’t heard of any ESE issues with the Clarion radio. let me ask a couple of the D&Rs at work if they’ve heard of this.

Jayhawk Jake > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/01/2016 at 15:27

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I think that’s what it is. Interestingly I went to a touchless car wash and now it smells like the soap instead of just musty.

I have an appointment at the dealer on Tuesday, hopefully they’ll figure it out. Yay warranties!

Jayhawk Jake > jimz 10/01/2016 at 15:37

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Thanks for the help. I have sat in other ecoboosts and felt like I noticed it there too, but mine seemed louder. I think I’m just really sensitive to it

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jayhawk Jake 10/01/2016 at 16:54

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I have a blocked tube somewhere, on incredibly humid days the piping in the dash gets so much condensation on it that it trickles down and I find a wet spot in the carpet on the side of the transmission tunnel.