Well, one thing lead to another, and my HVAC unit is now out and on my workbench.

My car is an AC delete, and the other capabilities are currently InOp (future project).

My car still has quite the musty smell, and I'm hoping that cleaning out the HVAC unit and the blower box will remove some of that.

The piece on the left should be easy enough to clean....everything is exposed.

I'm hesitant to disassemble the piece on the right due to fear of not getting it back together. I was thinking about removing the electronics and dumping it into a tub / shooting a hose through it till it's nice and clean.

Any thoughts or alternate approaches?

 

I would do the Tub, just detach anything electrical.
As for the Smell, did you pull up all the carpeting, if not the under carpet and mats if ever wet will do it.
Suggest a nice smelling car deodorizer in there during the non-driving period may help too

 

Sweet. Into the tub/shower it goes!

Yeah...I've got the interior down to the bare metal (with the exception of the headliner and rear QP). Have already scrubbed the floors down and have dynamat down as well. That's reduced some of smell, but there definitely is a fair amount remaining.

 

And I think I've found the biggest musty smell culprit.

Put it in the utility sink, ran some water through the inside and whoa. Whole first floor of the house smells like my car.

 

Big respect! I started to take it out but finally gave up. Too complicated. And I could not reach the top left mounting point due to all the other stuff getting in my way...

 

Well, at least you got the smell out of the car.

 

Three additional things I have learned:

1. The AC condenser can hold vast amounts of gunk & organic material.
2. The pieces slip apart once some of the crud inside the case was removed.
and..
3. Don't use your hands to remove leaves from the condenser. There's a wire mesh that is on the inside side of the condenser, and the prongs don't feel good while stuck in your finger.

AC Condenser is currently in the dishwasher. Might need to run a disinfect cycle afterward at high heat to kill off the remaining smell.

 

(Minor nit, that's the evaporator)

 

I'll take education wherever I can get it. Not a nit at all.