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 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.
Let 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.
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.
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 RepliesWe 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 RepliesI have a 2005 Prius that my son has been using for the last couple of months... He just called me this evening and asked if I had ever had a rotten egg or natural gas smell coming from the a/c. I have not... the car only has 30,000 miles on it and I have never had any issues (knock on wood). He shut down the a/c rolled down the windows and drove on flow-through ventilation for a while and the smell dissipated. However the minute he turned the a/c back on the smell returned. I should probably mention that this car is being operated in Las Vegas... so I am pretty sure mildew is off the suspect list.
View 9 RepliesMy 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 RepliesI've had my Prius v (lowercase v) for about 6 months now and just took it in for its 5000 mi service. There were no problems but shortly after I got it back I started noticing a really bad odor coming from somewhere in the car. Its not a moldy or mildew smell that's coming from the HVAC. I sniffed all the mats and it's not that either. From what I can tell, the smell seems to be coming from the plastics on the dashboard area, but it's really hard to tell for sure. I tried covering it up with febreeze, but the odor is too strong. It's not the smell of a rotting animal either.
Again, not from the seats, floormats, or AC system. Seems to be coming from the dashboard and/or center console area where all the buttons are. I have a baby and a carseat, but I don't feed the baby in the car, and after sniffing the carseat and rear seat area, I can confirm the smell isn't coming from there.
I'm about to take a multi-day cross-country road trip in my Prius v and would love to fix the source of the smell before I go. It's not that noticeable with the windows rolled down, but when you sit in the car for the first time in the morning, the smell is definitely noticeable, and it's not good.
I've got an 08 Gen II with 173k miles on it. The last few days of coming up the huge hill in front of our house I've noticed a burning smell, link burnt coolant.
So today I actually popped the hood to investigate and found a small tuff of smoke coming from the back of the engine.
After climbing underneath I found a leak of some sort of brown/cream fluid.. Kinda scary color. Anyways it seems when put a significant load on the car going up a hill it sprays this fluid on the exhaust, thus the burning smell..
Oil is clean on the stick and under the cap.
I have a 2004 prius with about 350k miles on it, bought it about a year ago and we have had our first trouble with it (it's been great so far, and when you consider it's mileage, pretty impressive).
We were driving along and a constant alarm started (beeeeep!!!) and lights on the dash lit up. I assumed it was cranky because the rear hatch wasn't closed or something and kept driving (we didn't have far to go). It wasn't long before smoke with a distinctive burnt electronics smell started coming up from the dash at the front left lower corner of the windshield. Then the brakes started to feel very unresponsive and sluggish (no regenerative braking either). She still runs and drives. So here is where I am now:
The car screams constantly and the brake light, ABS light and the (!) light are all lit.
I've been poking about and figured out that my inverter coolant pump isn't working properly. At this point I am wondering if this is just pure coincidence though (i.e. perhaps its not been working for awhile). I will be replacing this soon.
I checked the error codes and they all seemed to be un-related and or old (catalytic converter not working properly, ran out of fuel, etc). I cleared them and no new ones are populating. (car has only been driven around the block 3 times though)
The 12 V battery seems to be working fine, and it's getting the proper charging voltage. (voltage tested through the console under various conditions)
I have reset the braking system (bridging the #4 and #13 pins thing) and this turned the buzzer and lights off for about 20 seconds. Still no proper brakes. And of course the noise and lights just come back. Still no error codes via my Bluetooth reader and smartphone.
I have my doubts that replacing the inverter pump will fix this brake issue. I am familiar with working on cars, but this is my first foray with 1) a modern car and 2) a Prius. (Previous cars are all mid 90s or older, so I'm a little bit overwhelmed here...)
I have what looks like mold around my gas cap. Why and how to get rid of it?
View 3 RepliesI'm considering replacing the exterior belt molding on my front driver side door, the piece of chrome and rubber trim that runs at the base of the window on the exterior of the car. It is the trim that is under the mirror. What ever holds it down is broken, something I've noticed since we've bought the car. The piece moves around when operating the window, and occasionally vibrates.
I can remove it with ease but I cannot find any information about installing it. I've looked around and have seen the part, but no image of the actual thing, and because mine is broken, I don't know how it should properly go in. I don't know if the door panel has to be removed, if there are any clips, or how it really mounts. I cannot see how the passenger one is mounted either, and I would rather not remove it.
Need to install this, Can it simply be slid in or does the interior door panel have to be removed?
This is a 2005 GX470 with 125k miles. We've had this truck for 3+ years and this is the first time we're experiencing this issue.
2 days ago, i noticed that there is a strange moldy smell inside the cabin when i drove the car around town. Not too strong, but definitely noticeable. It was not the usual musty/humid smell that all cars have after you drive them with the AC on for awhile and then you turn it off. This usual smell is common in a lot of cars, i've had it in the Lexus too, and it usually goes away after 10 mins or so.
What i have in our car is a different smell. It smells like there is a piece of old moldy wood or moldy piece of cloth left under the seat for a long time. The smell does not go away. I am 95% sure it comes from the vents on the dashboard.
Today i checked the entire cabin and all floors for leftover food, wet clothes, stains, spills and i found nothing. The car is clean. Carpet appears dry and very clean for a 10yr old car. No strange stains. Nothing inside the car smells like mold, especially when it is not running.
When i start the engine, the smell creeps up. It appears to be coming from the vents. I checked the cabin air filter. It is not brand new, about a year old, but it DOES NOT smell like mold at all. I ordered a new filter but i doubt this will fix the issue. The current filter is not wet or smelly. It's not the source. What else should i check?
There must be an AC condenser drain hole somewhere under the car. Not sure if this is obstructed or not. Where is the AC drain located exactly? Any pointers will be useful.
I have a 2003 SC430 with 170,000 miles on the odo. It runs great, but the exhaust smell is killing me. I'm pretty sure it's normal for an 11 year old car, but I want to eliminate it.
Do you know what part or part(s) I might be able to replace to eliminate the foul smell?
I have a burning smell coming from the grill? noticed it yesterday while driving. 110,000 miles + volvo s60. no engine lights, no smoke, temp. gauge is not high.
View 8 RepliesHaving burning oil smell coming from the V6. Took it to the dealership and they tole me it has an oil leak on the the header then it burns off. It seems to get much worse when the RPM's are some what high. Only 70,000 miles too. Guess its getting to stay that way for a while.
View 9 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 RepliesThe first time I noticed the sulphur smell I figured it was another car. Since then it has happened several more times, typically when outside temps are a bit on the high side.
I saw some members noticed a fishy smell with a/c but I would say mine is more toward the rotten egg smell. Once I am parked the smell is gone with no residual under the hood.
Also, one time I noticed with temps in the high 90s and shutting down the engine there was a pretty dramatic spooling down noise of some sort after the engine was off. Has not happened before our since.
So, 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 Replies