Hey Guys,

I heard that some of you work at Honda so I wanted to ask for a 1992 Accord, what do you guys do to clean the evaporator? I know that there is mold on the evaporator (stinky feet smell) from the previous owner and my father not opening the vent and perhaps running the blower bit after the a/c is turned off, before parking the car. I read the service manual and it says to completely yank out the evaporator case. I don't feel like evacuating the a/c, opening up the lines, and completely removing the passenger side dash to get to it, then putting it all back in, need a new reciever-dryer and o-rings caz the car is old and the system was opened to air, then a 30 min vaccum pull, then recharge. It's time consuming. So is there a way to open perhaps only the lower half of the case, so I can clean the fins of the evaporator from the mold? It seems like the case is the meat in a sandwhich between the blower and heating cases, so it doesn't seem easy. Never really done the drill a hole and spray cleaner method and let it drain out the evaporator drain.

 

If you have mold that has grown on the evaporator fins inside the cabin, there's no need to take apart the whole a/c unit. Rug Doctor makes a product that is called Odor Remover that they sell where they rent machines. Put it in a spray bottle and go to town. It kills mold, mildew, and works good to get rid of smells on the floormats too. I've used it and it works great.

As far as the evaporator goes, take out the glovebox, and remove the blower motor/fan and its casing. It'll take about 30-45 minutes to do. With the blower motor out, saturate the area with the RD Odor Remover. Let it sit about 15 minutes, and spray it out with clean water from another spray bottle. It should drain out the normal a/c drain (assuming that its not blocked with mold). If the smell persists after the clean water spray, wait an hour for it to dry and respray with the Odor Remover and rinse again.

Take the car out for a drive after reassembly without running the a/c, but with the blower motor on high.

Don't use bleach, as it could ruin whatever carpeting it drips on and it isnt too good for plastic either. The Odor Remover doesn't smell too bad either.

 

There is a simpler product out there I've used that you "inject" into the evap. box.
I wish I could remember the name. You would find an area free from the evap or anything else important in the box then drill a small hole. Then you would inject this pressurized can of odor remover/mold killer into the hole, run the a/c in recir. and plug the hole after with a rubber plug provided. As I remember it worked so well we never pulled evap boxs again for that complaint. Try doing a seach on goggle and I'll post the name of it and where u can get it if i can find out.

 

ah...well, want to try and stay away from drilling the evap case if possible. The idea about taking out the blower case is actually a very good idea, I just didn't know if it was possible or not. I'll try that. But if you find the name of that chemical, let me know. thanks!

 

You from Carmichael, CA? Call up to Autowest Honda, I think they use it still. It's a hole about the size of a pencil and the plug fixs it, no big deal. Pulling it all out is fine if you're anal, it will also work.