I bought a new 2013 ES 300h. It only has 7K miles on it. When I first start it up for the day there is a moldy smell coming out of the vents for a few minutes. I've not taken it through any deep water.
Does it just need some new vent filters? What filters would be involved?
Every time I get in and start up my GX it omits a moldy / musty smell out of the vents, it stinks! It goes away in a matter of seconds but it seems at every start up I get that smell again, it's kind of embarrassing.
View 14 RepliesSo I've been noticing this winter that pretty much after every cold start a weird smell comes through the vents. To me it smells like natural gas, like the type found in some gas heating systems. It tends to go away after about 10mins. It may have also faded in and out once or twice when the car was running for an extended period of time.
View 14 RepliesI have a 2013 and after it sits for a day especially when it's warm the AC vents put out a moldy smell when starting. I've heard all the ideas of Turing off AC before shouting down engine but that shouldn't required for a Lexus of all cars. The dealer ran a refresh we thru the systems that worked for a few days but that was it. I've never had this problem with my 2004 RX. I also replaced the cabin filter with a charcoal based one. Seems a $45,000 vehicle shouldn't have this type of problem
View 14 RepliesAfter 1 year and 9000 miles, I have the dreaded moldy smell through the AC vents. Thought this would be covered by warranty but Toyota says "NO" and will cost me$120. That is unacceptable to have to pay $120/year for a problem that should NOT happen. I have had too many cars in the past to count and have never had this problem. It has to be a design issue (poor drainage??) 2012 PIP.
View 16 RepliesI enjoy your show and newspaper column. Here's my situation. I have a 2008 Grand Prix with a stinky problem. There's a terrible musty, moldy smell that comes out of my vents (any vents, i.e. dashboard, floor, defrost) after I shut off my air conditioning. When just the fresh air from outside is coming through the vents, everything is just fine. When I turn on my air conditioning, everything is just fine. When I turn off my air conditioning is when the funky smell starts.
Mechanic number one cleaned out the drain hole, sprayed anti-mold spray and foam through the air intake vents with the recirculation switch on and the windows rolled up. But the mold is still there. Mechanic number two shared with me that the only way to get the mold out is to disassemble part of the A/C unit, physically clean out and disinfect the unit and then add some other part that drain or dry the unit so moisture never sits in there and starts the molding process. Is that the best way to deal with this problem?
My a/c vents smells musty/moldy when A/C is turned on, searched the FTE site and everyone says to check the A/C drain tube to make sure it is not clogged, I have searched all over top and bottom with a flashlight for the drain tube and swear there isn't one. I think it should be on the bottom of the condenser box but just do not see it. Where it is located? The vent smell is Awful!
2000 F350 Super Cab 7.3 Diesel
When I started my car, there was this fishy smell coming out from air condition for about few seconds and then it was gone. I parked my car outside all the time and I was wondering if it had anything to do with the heat or because of exposing the car under the sun for too long? I just changed my air filter about 3000k miles ago.
View 6 RepliesGetting a sour, moldy, or musty smell when the car starts and the air is pushed out the front vents. I know its getting hot and humid here in midwest but kind of started before and smell got gradually worst with humidity. It goes away in like 15 seconds but its a pain to have a new/used care and it smell like a 16 year boy when you start up. Though the AC filter might be moldy or has some funk on it.
View 14 RepliesI noticed a bit of funky smell coming from the vents when I first turn on the AC and after turning off the AC. So I am trying to locate the air conditioner evaporator drain hose and make sure it's not plugged.
View 5 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'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?
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. 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.
So I thought the smell had been taken care of last year by the dealership (which I had to pay for) but that was not the case. As soon as the temp's outside started getting hot out, I notcied the mold smell starting to come back. Had the pollen filter replaced again this year at my expense and once again, the smell is still there. It happens after the car sits a while and only when I'm running outside air. It also happens as soon as you turn the air on whether its the A/C or just outside air. I plan on calling the dealership again today because to be honest, it's a bit embarassing when I have other people/clients in my car. Is there anything that I can do on my own to cure this?
View 1 RepliesIn the last week the I've noticed a moldy metallic smell when I turn my ac on. I've tired to come up with what I would liken it to. Almost as it the ac hadn't been turn own in months or it was almost out of freon. It's only a month old so I wonder what it might be.
View 5 RepliesMy wife was in the car today, and complained about a strange odor coming from the A/C vents. I would describe it as a slight vinegar/alcohol/sour odor. I think it is from the A/C vents.
View 40 RepliesSo, at 14k it looks like I have that musty smell coming out of the AC vents. I've seen a TSB on here that addresses it. Hopefully my first trip to the dealership for anything other than an oil change doesn't present me with any other surprises.
View 8 RepliesI noticed this weekend the vents in my 080camry have a foul musty smell coming from them, what this could be.
View 6 RepliesMy 2009 Corolla "S" has a musty yucky smell that happens off and on. It is coming out of the vents on the dash, and it is worse when the air conditioner is on.
My mechanic has smelled it, but does not know what it is that is causing it.
I put a new filter in behind the glove box, but I think it was worse after that. So strange that it comes and goes like it does.
My bride reports a musty smell, possibly coming from the A/C vents, in her new v5. I've been away from home for six weeks and have not driven the car since we brought it home from the dealer on Sept 2. In years past we had a series of Ford Tauruses that had this problem. Apparently moisture from condensation builds up somewhere in the system and mold/mildew results. We used to have to spray Lysol into the HVAC air intake to alleviate the problem for a while.
View 19 RepliesWhen the car is warm with the A/C off(vent air only) you can smell an oily smell coming from the inside air vents. The smell is also evident from the engine compartment when exiting the car. I do not have any oil leaks that I can find and have been good about cleaning up spilled oil when changing the filter. I've had the car when new and it currently has about 63k miles on it now. The smell seems to be getting worse. No mods to the engine and everything else seems to be running well otherwise.
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