Sonata I45 (YF - 2011+) :: Musty / Molded Smell From Air Vents
Jun 30, 2016
I few weeks ago noticed musty smell out of my air vents but didn't mind it thinking it something temporary. Mind you that this only occurs when i have just the fan running without the AC or recycle feature. I opened up the filter and cleaned it out of debris. Looking at the filter it seem like it got wet because of color change that occurs on it, brownish(muddy). I bought the car pre-owned almost 10 months ago, had one service done but unfortunately Hyundai dealer scheduled the service hour before closing down and i think they didn't mind checking the filter, let alone checking tire/brake tread and no car wash.
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I got my first Toyota couple months ago, Camry xle i4 38k. Everything is fine except for the not-so-smooth tranny, but I get used to it. The thing annoys me is the moldy smell from the vents. I usually turn on fan (A/C off, inner circulation on), when notice the smell, I changed the cabin air filter (the old one has tons of dirt!!). the smell goes away, but whenever I put on defroster, it comes back.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Getting 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.
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My 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.
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My 2012 corolla has got about 7500 on it, and recently whenever I turn off the A/C, and keep it running on fan, it smells like old socks or really bad B.O. through the vents. Stays like this for about 5 minutes and goes away.
I heard of spraying Lysol through the air intakes, is it the one right below the windshield wipers? I know I should probably take out the cabin air filter and give that a thorough cleaning as well. Is there anything else I should do to eliminate the smell?It's getting to be pretty bad..
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I have a 2012 Toyota Corolla LE. When the A/C is first turned on, a strange, musty smell comes from the air vents. As the system cools, the smell changes slightly but never goes away. It has done this since shortly after I bought the vehicle. Dealer has checked cabin air filter and says it is OK.
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How do you fix the musty smell from the cabin airbox when it is always on recirculate and must be wet inside? I have a 2011 Camry.
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I get a musty odor from my vents from time to time. It usually happens on days when it is damp out and often on startup but sometimes it happens later in the trip. Its quite strong, unpleasant, and terrible for allergies.
I read something about this a long time ago but cannot find the posts. Found a TSB summary on VW's site but Dealer pulled it and says its for Passat. Thinking its something in the A/C or ventilation system.
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So I've been noticing this for a while, pretty much ever since ive had my car. I have a 2011 camry se v6 and when i go hard on the gas from a dead stop or accelerating on a on ramp on to the freeway i get this smell coming from the vents that smell like rotten eggs or something and my friend in the back said he can smell it too. This only happens when i accelerate really fast and shoot up to or over 4500-5000 rpm, why? i use cheveron 89 gas which is plus.
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I have a 2011 BMW 328i and I get this sort of burnt chemical smell through the vents when the heat is on. It doesn't happen until I have been driving for 10-15 minutes. After that you get the smell on some low level all the time, but it seems to be briefly exacerbated by making a hard turn (i.e. a U-turn). You get a stronger whiff coming out of the turn and then it returns to baseline. I also smell it stronger when setting off in low gear (1st or 2nd) like from a stop sign. It happens whether the car has the air re-circulation on or not. It has been in for service twice and they can't find the problem. The car is a RWD manual transmission and only has 20k miles on it. I checked the fluid levels and as far as I can tell they don't seem low. I looked in the service history and a coolant leak was fixed at one point, near the thermostat - yet the car still exhibits the smell. In addition to the smell, it kind of irritates the back of my throat after a while.
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My CPO '11 Lux has a strong odor coming from the air vents. First thought it might be some kind of air freshening canister that was injecting the fragrance, but now wondering if I have an antifreeze leak???
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My fiance has a 2011 Corolla LE. A couple years ago this weird smell started coming through her AC vents. It is intermittent happening when the car is parked or in drive. Once the smell comes through the AC the only way to make it stop it to push the AC button so that normal air blows through, turn outside air on, or switch the AC air speed a couple times, or just wait a minute or two. I changed the engine and cabin filter, sprayed the vents and everything else with cleaner and check the drain tube. I don't know what else to do.
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So I was sitting in my car, running, parked with the ac on and out of no where I got an electrical/burning smell coming from the vents. My volts were reading 12 with ac on at idle but once my rpms reach about 7-800 it goes back to 14. My question is what was that smell? I've had 2 alternators go on this car (power draining aftermarket accessories 3.3 v6) and have driven the car for about 2 hours collective time since the problem started (usually alternator goes quick) and haven't noticed any lights dimming, ac blows cold, system still plays full tilt. could a bad compressor be causing putting some stress on the car?
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I recently purchased a used 2006 Honda Pilot. I now notice a mildew/musty smell that appears to come from the ac vents. I only notice it when driving with the windows down, right after I turn the AC off, and sometimes when I first get into the car. I do NOT notice it when the AC is running or when the fan is blowing. I have had the car detailed twice (thinking the odor was coming from the upholstery) and have hired someone to spray an odor eliminator spray into the vents and air intake. I have also changed out the cabin air filter. None of these actions have worked and the smell remains. I love the car but this odor is really annoying me.
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When I start my car after its been sitting overnight, I get a musty smell arising from the AC/fan exhausts.... it dissipates shortly but it happens almost every time.
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I did read the most recent thread on this, and while those lessons would be good if I was out of warranty, I'm about to go in for the 5k service after 2 months on the road.
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Recently noticed after a hard rain, I get a bit of a musty smell in the car. It clears up after a day or so.
I've check everywhere. Everything is dry. I can't find standing water anywhere.
Any problems with standing water?
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My 2003 Passat has a musty smell coming from the HVAC system that just won't go away. Have resealed pollen filter and had airsept treatment (this worked for a while, but now the smell is worse than ever). Two dealers have tried (and failed) to fix this. It's so bad I can't take passengers in the car.
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