After I use the AC, I get a bad smell. It smells like mold or mildew. I've tried a spray cleaner but the smell comes back. Is there a way to clean the system without tearing out the dash?
View 16 RepliesLet me know if I'm doing the right things
1. Spray sanitizer in it (already done)
2. Flush kit from Toyota ???
3. New evaporator coil
Trying to remedy this problem.
We have a 2005 VW Passat wagon and it has an awful and undetectable mildew/mold smell. We have had it checked for leaks by three separate mechanics, no water or dampness is apparent under the carpets, we have never seen any water in the car. It is not related to A/C or heat, for it is always there in the passenger cabin. We had it detailed with an antimicrobial solution applied to all of the upholstery and we cannot get rid of the stink.
View 3 RepliesMk7 GTI, currently at 5k miles but strong mildew smell coming from the vents.. I know the cabin air filters will last at least 15-20k miles.
I read before that the condensation hoses were sometimes installed incorrectly leading to run off inside the cabin. Can that be it?
Headlight out prematurely
Rear plug in not working - went to use it for the first time and it does not work at all
Windshield Wipers are not working. This is the second set.
MOLD SMELL - From the A/C ..the only time it has gone away was when the cabin filter was replaced. It was only free of that smell for a few days and then it started back again.
I’ve been having this awful mold smell coming from my 3rd gen during the first few minutes of AC use in the warmer weather months when I generally use AC more often. This mold smell rarely happened in the winter since I usually only use heat without AC and the air circulation is usually set to “outside” instead of re-circulate.
So I’ve read somewhere to simply not use the default recirculate setting when operating the AC to avoid the mold smell, and if using the re-circulate – to only use it to initially cool down the car then switch to outside circulation.
Some also state while the AC is on outside air circulation to turn off the AC a couple of minutes before arriving to your destination while keeping the fan on, but mainly I see that simply using the outside air circulation resolves my odor issue.
Keep in mind, that the default setting for AC while cooling down the vehicle is to re-circulate when using the “auto” mode – so you’ll have to be cognitive about switching it to outside air each time.
This method works like a charm for me. It has been driving me nuts for two seasons. Since following the above, I’ve not had that stinky mold/wet sock/hamper smell coming from my vents.
I have a 2010 Prius and it has developed a very strong mold smell/odor. It is strongest when the car has been sitting with the windows up. I have tried many of the tips in the forum regarding not using the recirc mode. I've clean the car inside and out, mats, carpeting, every compartment.
I have talked to the dealer parts counter and replaced the cabin air filter with the carbon filter and used the 2 can treatment that Toyota sells (one in the a/c drain x2 and the other in the air intake.). No joy.
I took it to the service department they did the same thing - again, no joy.
They have asked me to bring it back for, and I quote, "exploratory surgery." I asked if this the covered under the Toyota Certified Warranty. He could not confirm that it would be covered.
I am a first time toyota owner. I have a 2011 Camry which was purchased NEW in november. I have 6000 miles on it and thea/c smells like MILDEW. Took car into dealer todayand all they did was spray foo foo juice and my car now stinks to high heavens. Nobody told me a toyota would smell llike mildew. What is this and what do I do to fix it. I am scared to drive this car as some have told me it is probably MOLD in the ac.
View 14 RepliesI have a Corolla XLi 2010 (1.6) which from the moment I bought the car it had this problem with the AC (I bought it used and was informed about the issue so I got it with a good price).
The AC sometimes starts and sometimes it doesn't I thought it was just lacking of freon gas but wasn't that, and except this problem the second one is that sometimes it smells like mold coming from the AC. May be are related or maybe not, but I really want to resolve these issues asap.
I'm adding some more info, when the AC isn't working I don't hear the AC sound, and of course when it's working I hear the classic AC sound, and another "thingy" is that when I push the car around 120km/h the AC keeps working more , and also some times if isn't working and I hit the turbo increasing the RPM and making the car scream like a sport car , suddenly the AC starts (but I don't do thsi all the time) and it's just my impression of daily-use.
I've had this in old cars before but not a car less than a year old ! I have 5,000 miles on mine and everytime I start the car this summer it smells like sour ammonia or mildew. I'm gonna take it in soon but was hoping there was an easy fix. Everything I've read seems temporary.
View 14 RepliesI have a '07 Elantra Limited. Air coming out air conditioner has a fairly strong mildew smell. How can I get rid of the smell? Is there a drain plug somewhere in the ventilation system I can open to get rid of water?
View 3 RepliesI'm getting a mildew smell every time I turn on the AC in my Tiguan. Even if the car is warmed up and shut off for 5 minutes, when turned on again, the smell is there. It's a 2012 with only 15k miles and the cabin filter is brand new. I was thinking of getting the mold sprays to apply directly to the vents. What to do to resolve it?
View 9 RepliesWhen I turn on my car I get a horrible mildew smell from my AC
There's only 3500 miles on it.
It's garaged every night.
When I turn on my car I get a horrible mildew smell from my AC... It's garaged every night...
View 6 RepliesOver the last few days, noticed immediately after starting car with AC on , slight mildew smell from the vents. Seems to last a few seconds then clears.
My Gen 3 is just over a year old with 10K miles. Most times my HVAC is set Auto/75/AC on, and use no special procedures to vent the evaporator with non/cooled air prior to shutting off the car.
Over the last few days, noticed immediately after starting car with AC on - slight mildew smell from the vents. Seems to last a few seconds then clears.
My Gen 3 is just over a year old with 10K miles. Live in Central Florida so the air has been on for plenty of those miles. Most times my HVAC is set Auto/75/AC on, and use no special procedures to vent the evaporator with non/cooled air prior to shutting off the car.
Just wanted to let know that the mildew smell i had in my '10 ISF was resolved with a simple spray into the a/c intake vents at the bottom of the windshield. Changing the cabin filter and lysol didnt do squat. its called "a/c treatment spray" available at Lexus or at the auto stores.
View 14 RepliesMy wife's RX has had this weird, what I'd call a moldy/mildewy smell when you open the hatch. Cleaned everything out, check spare compartment for moisture, emptied out everything in the hatch, had the car detailed, and it's still there.
View 2 RepliesI have been having a mildew smell when using AC. I purchased a foaming cleaner that is mean to be sprayed by inserting a small tube in the evaporator pan drain, but the design on my santa fe drain hose prevents the tube from making it to the core. It always gets jammed up at firewall because of a 90 deg bend. Is there a port on the housing that allows access to the core?
View 15 RepliesI've had the JoeZ axle back installed for about two months now. I noticed that the engine light came on initially when installing but it went away on its own. I got into an accident and after the repairs were done on my car the light was gone.
It soon came back on but i expected it was because my oil change was due
Got the oil change done and the light was off. Couple days ago the light came back on.
I called the Lexus Dealer and they told me that it might be due to the Gas cap not tight enough. Gave it a few twist but light still remained on.
For the past month, I also recently noticed a mildew smell coming from the vents when i start the car but goes away. Does the mildew smell + Check engine light mean that something is wrong with the exhaust?
I have what looks like mold around my gas cap. Why and how to get rid of it?
View 3 Replies