Mildew smell in A/C?

[Bobelvago]

I own a 1997 Camry and I was just wondering.

Yesterday, I turned on my car, and I smelled mildew, I said no worries, might just be the laundry I had in my car.

But then I smelled it again later, no laundry this time, and noticed it's coming from the A/C.

I've been searching for solutions, people say it's a cabin filter but others say it's not, some people say the true solution is to leave your windows open, some say to buy a cleaner kit. Some say put the heat on max to burn it off.

What do I buy? or what do I do?

[Chris Crash]

I use Ozium. It's a little 6-8 oz can you buy from Walmart in the car air freshener section. It's a sanitizer, and I'll spray a burst in every vent, and then into the cabin air intake as well.

Seems to work wonders for me.

[Bobelvago]

But won't a spray just cover up the smell? How long does your method last before you need to spray it again?

How much is the can (autozone puts it at $2.99 for a really small can...do they make big ones)? And where is the cabin air intake filter thingy to spray into?

I might as well try this unless there is a permanent solution.

[AliRazoR]

these cars do not have AC filter

[AliRazoR]

you can also remove the air blower and clean it

[Bobelvago]

Air blower? How do I get to it? I think just spraying into it would be easier but uhh ok.

[AliRazoR]

remove the glove box,it is there

[Bobelvago]

I think spraying it is easier than removing a glove box lol, although it's simple, you have to be careful due to the air bag behind it, right? So eh, spraying may only work for a month or two but it's cheap and easy to just spray in the vents lol.

[AliRazoR]

no,it is not so difficult.check this out:

http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=457308

[AliRazoR]

Originally Posted by Bobelvago

you have to be careful due to the air bag behind it, right?

it has nothing to do with air bag

[Bobelvago]

Oh so taking off the glove box doesn't affect it? I guess it's just newer cars then.

So reading that thread, I clean the blower which is right under the glove box after removing some bolts. Might as well try it.

[Chris Crash]

The spray is a sanitizer, so it gets rid of the smell. Doesn't cover it up.

I've only had to spray it once in each car, until a different smell arises from a different problem haha.

Also, you can use this stuff in your house vents, anywhere that smells really.. we have a few cans here.

[Stillrunning]

Spray should be fine to start. Easier if you adjust air control to recirculation and spray though intake under dash with blower on high. You might have crude in drain pan or partially blocked drain, but I'd try spray first.

[96ToyoCam164K]

When my original evaporater exploded (literally, it made a pop and the vents had white gas spewing out), it smelt like something had just crawled in there and died.

I have changed every part of the A/C except condensor and hoses...but the smell seems to reappear from time to time especially after humid days and not using it.

Pep boys sells something called 'vent-fresh' and you spray it in inside and outside vents...its not a coverup but actually kills the molds in the vents. Reapply every 6 months or so. $10.

And make sure to turn the A/C on often otherwise the evaporator gets acid at the bottom and stinks up everything. I think I need to become a friggin A/C tech after all this sh!t LOL