Update: After two weeks of trying to recreate the problem, shop could not and attributed odors to new vehicle off-gassing. I asked the service writer for a recommendation of how to eliminate. She said don't run on Auto. Oh, and check recirc settings.
Well, I had no idea where this button was that used to be right in the dash somewhere, so it never occurred to me to even consider what I found when I finally sat there and went through the climate control menu... there was this little obscure icon way over on the right.
And it was set to recirculate (no outside air). I never touched this from new, would have never thought this would be engaged be default, but it was. And thus platic stink was being trapped in the cabin. WTH?
Unlike older models, it appears recirc does not turn off by itself after 5 minutes, it will stay on indefinitely through restarts etc. Until you turn it off.
But again, why would it have been delivered with recirc on, and why did techs never consider this? Maybe for them as much as me, the button not being in front of your face is like it and its function does not exist.
I'll report long term, but for now plastic stink and what to me was like coolant flavored stink seems to have abated.
. . . . .
Has anyone experienced a coolant scent in the cabin in their ST or other Explorer trim? What was the solution if any?
From time of delivery with 39 miles on it through 350 miles when I returned my 25 ST to the dealer for this problem, every so often I would get a whiff of what I finally realized was coolant. It happens after a short key-off ~5 minute sit then restart, then in 100 yards or so it hits me in the face. Other scenario is after a few miles at superslab speed, come to a stop at end of offramp, auto stop kicks in, then the sweet chemical smell hits me in the face again. Correlation or causation, can't say. It's been enough to result in a film on the windows that I believe is more than new interior gas-off.
Dealer pressure tested and system held at 23lbs which should be edge of cap blowout, with no leak down so they claim. Thought was maybe a tiny leak at the heater core and it only happens at a brief moment of an air door for the heat path cycling in the system. This was during a solid 80s-90 couple of weeks so always with AC on. (Coldest AC I have ever felt in a Ford.)
Dealer has had it for a cooler week here, poking at the issue, is making a 5-star effort at tracking this down but they are stumped as they have not caught the car in the act and are going to run it through its paces on a predicted warmer (88F) day tomorrow.
To their credit they believe me, but are claiming to not have any other case like this come through the busy shop.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Well, I had no idea where this button was that used to be right in the dash somewhere, so it never occurred to me to even consider what I found when I finally sat there and went through the climate control menu... there was this little obscure icon way over on the right.
And it was set to recirculate (no outside air). I never touched this from new, would have never thought this would be engaged be default, but it was. And thus platic stink was being trapped in the cabin. WTH?
Unlike older models, it appears recirc does not turn off by itself after 5 minutes, it will stay on indefinitely through restarts etc. Until you turn it off.
But again, why would it have been delivered with recirc on, and why did techs never consider this? Maybe for them as much as me, the button not being in front of your face is like it and its function does not exist.
I'll report long term, but for now plastic stink and what to me was like coolant flavored stink seems to have abated.
. . . . .
Has anyone experienced a coolant scent in the cabin in their ST or other Explorer trim? What was the solution if any?
From time of delivery with 39 miles on it through 350 miles when I returned my 25 ST to the dealer for this problem, every so often I would get a whiff of what I finally realized was coolant. It happens after a short key-off ~5 minute sit then restart, then in 100 yards or so it hits me in the face. Other scenario is after a few miles at superslab speed, come to a stop at end of offramp, auto stop kicks in, then the sweet chemical smell hits me in the face again. Correlation or causation, can't say. It's been enough to result in a film on the windows that I believe is more than new interior gas-off.
Dealer pressure tested and system held at 23lbs which should be edge of cap blowout, with no leak down so they claim. Thought was maybe a tiny leak at the heater core and it only happens at a brief moment of an air door for the heat path cycling in the system. This was during a solid 80s-90 couple of weeks so always with AC on. (Coldest AC I have ever felt in a Ford.)
Dealer has had it for a cooler week here, poking at the issue, is making a 5-star effort at tracking this down but they are stumped as they have not caught the car in the act and are going to run it through its paces on a predicted warmer (88F) day tomorrow.
To their credit they believe me, but are claiming to not have any other case like this come through the busy shop.
Any insight would be appreciated.
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