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Houtex's avatar
Houtex
Explorer
Aug 13, 2014

Stinky ac problem

Not sure if this is the right place but...

I've got a 2015 Puma with a second ac installed in the rear. When you flush the toilet you get a stink that ONLY comes from the rear ac. It doesn't smell in the bathroom, or any other room and it isn't coming through the ducted ac.

I've taken the lower half off and sealed it from the attic more just in case there was any gas coming in that way. Didn't help...

The smell isn't there when you dump or run any faucets or anything. Only when the toilet is flushed.

The best way to describe it would be like the vent is burping and the ac is sucking in outside air. I guess that could be the case but that's not how the ac is designed.

I've spoken to Puma as well as the dealer and both say they've never heard of this sort of thing...surely someone has had an issue similar???

My wife is threatening to leave our campsite if we can't figure it out. Kinda tempted to put it off but then again I can't cook so I need her to stay

9 Replies

  • Check the A/C Unit 'hold down bolts......

    Remove ceiling cover from A/C Unit. In the 4 corners should be bolts that hold A/C Unit to roof. They can become loose.

    They should be 'snug' but don't overtighten them. (40 inch pounds....not foot pounds)
    The roof gasket if over compressed can be deformed and leak water.

    Roof gasket is 1" thick and is compressed to 1/2" when installed.
  • beemerphile1 wrote:
    Any chance they terminated the black tank vent inside the ceiling rather than above the roof?


    It's absolutely a possibility, but I haven't been able to check that yet.

    I'm leaning more towards the ac seal only because the smell is gone since the wind shifted. Also, last night we picked up a STRONG campfire smell when the people across made a fire and the wind was blowing this way. Even then, the smell was only coming from that ac and only in the room with the door closed off.
  • Any chance they terminated the black tank vent inside the ceiling rather than above the roof?
  • That was my next step as soon as I got it back home and had a ladder. I'm sort of leaning that way because today the wind is blowing the opposite direction and pushing any fumes away from the ac and no matter how many times I flush it doesn't smell at all.

    I'm thinking maybe the seal for the ac isn't installed correctly or maybe even torn...who knows.

    I'll update when I find the problem and solution
  • Have you checked the drip pans on the AC units? Another thing you could try is wrapping the black tank vent with something temporary and see if it is exhausting the stink when flushing.
  • Old-Biscuit wrote:
    Just a few questions.....

    When this occurs is the other A/C unit running?

    Is there a ceiling duct in bathroom?

    Is there a ceiling duct near 2nd A/C unit?




    It happens whether the front ac is running or not. There is a output vent from the main ac in the bathroom as well as in the bedroom about 4' from the second ac.
  • Just a few questions.....

    When this occurs is the other A/C unit running?

    Is there a ceiling duct in bathroom?

    Is there a ceiling duct near 2nd A/C unit?
  • Wish my wife would leave that easily, hmmmm....I might have to make something smell around here.
  • Put it off. Learning to cook will be easier than figuring this one out.