My AC stinks!

[coolbeans]

Originally Posted by MCeatalot

Here's a thought:

Take out your cabin filter and spray it with Lysol. Put it back in. Turn on your A/C and wait 'til Lysol does its job. Or,

Do what others have suggested. Spray Lysol into the cowl (plastic thing that's between the windshield and engine compartment). I did that on my g/f's 99 Corolla and man what a BIG difference!

What Lysol product did you use?
I went to my local Walmart Corner Grocerystore and the only lysol product they had was Lysol All Purpose Cleaner W/ Bleach, Lysol Bathroom Cleaner and Lysol Kitchin Cleaner..

Im guessing you used the Lysol Disinfectant Spray ( aerosol spray can) ??

[Rosieannie]

Can you send me exact instructions on what filter to replace and how to do it myself or must I take it to a dealer? Thank you!

[gdanaher]

It's behind the glove box. Take the crap out of the box and set it on the seat. Using two hands press the back of the box in or out so that the whole thing will clear the tabs on the side. Unhook the loaded compressor thingie on the right side and let the box drop down. Reach in and again using two hands, press the tabs on the filter door cover and take it off, slide the filter out and replace.

[SE_2007]

I know that the drain hole is under my car but mine is not dripping water. can someone show me where it is so i can clean it or blow it with air pressure, i think mine is clogged, that's why it's smelly. thanks guys

[markman]

I pulled mine apart and the hose is clear and the white plastic fitting on the side of the register/duct unit is completely clear. If you removed the glove box, then pry up the front part of the trim that goes along the bottom of the door opening, pry off the trim piece that joins that to the dash around the glove box, then you'll see a 10mm bolt at the far right bottom part of the dash. Remove it, 4 screws, pull... all the trim that was around the glove box comes loose. Make sure the disconnect the little wires going to the push button that resets the tire monitor on the left of the glove box opening. Then you'll find the carpet has a Velco pad at the left front edge of the foot well. Pull that loose and you'll see the black drain hose going from the register duct unit through the floor.

So I expected to see some signs of something and I didn't. Air enters at the top of the firewall, comes down through the filter and into the fan that's right above the passenger's feet. My filter had just been replaced so it only had a few little leaves in it. The fan blades were clean and the duct over to the evaporator looked clean. The evaporator is right up against the firewall with everything in front of it, so I can't easily poke into it, but like I said the fitting for the drain hose is white and looks completely clean inside.

I'm puzzled by how bad this thing smells. No AC running at all, but it's been cooling off to almost freezing at night and 50's during the day and when it rained last week, well... only Roseanne Roseannadanna could tell you how bad it was.

I found some cleaners and mildew treatments at the local home building place - $8 for a quart. But I'm not sure where's I'd apply it now that I look at this thing.

There must be another drain that comes before the inlet to the blower, or something. Water from around the windshield, etc. has to flow into the air inlet under the windshield. It must flow on down around the firewall and out or it would fill up until it reached the level of the duct going down to the fan and then it pour all over the filter which it obviously doesn't. Hmmm...

Seems like there could be two completely different sources of foul smell - one the AC evaporator and one the area under air intake.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by markman

I pulled mine apart and the hose is clear and the white plastic fitting on the side of the register/duct unit is completely clear. If you removed the glove box, then pry up the front part of the trim that goes along the bottom of the door opening, pry off the trim piece that joins that to the dash around the glove box, then you'll see a 10mm bolt at the far right bottom part of the dash. Remove it, 4 screws, pull... all the trim that was around the glove box comes loose. Make sure the disconnect the little wires going to the push button that resets the tire monitor on the left of the glove box opening. Then you'll find the carpet has a Velco pad at the left front edge of the foot well. Pull that loose and you'll see the black drain hose going from the register duct unit through the floor.

So I expected to see some signs of something and I didn't. Air enters at the top of the firewall, comes down through the filter and into the fan that's right above the passenger's feet. My filter had just been replaced so it only had a few little leaves in it. The fan blades were clean and the duct over to the evaporator looked clean. The evaporator is right up against the firewall with everything in front of it, so I can't easily poke into it, but like I said the fitting for the drain hose is white and looks completely clean inside.

I'm puzzled by how bad this thing smells. No AC running at all, but it's been cooling off to almost freezing at night and 50's during the day and when it rained last week, well... only Roseanne Roseannadanna could tell you how bad it was.

I found some cleaners and mildew treatments at the local home building place - $8 for a quart. But I'm not sure where's I'd apply it now that I look at this thing.

There must be another drain that comes before the inlet to the blower, or something. Water from around the windshield, etc. has to flow into the air inlet under the windshield. It must flow on down around the firewall and out or it would fill up until it reached the level of the duct going down to the fan and then it pour all over the filter which it obviously doesn't. Hmmm...

Seems like there could be two completely different sources of foul smell - one the AC evaporator and one the area under air intake.

Just because the tube is white means nothing.

You have evaporator and heater cores that you cannot see in the heater housing.

Yes there is a drain from the air inlet. If you want to know where it is, take a pail of water or a hose and try to fill it up. If the drain is clear you will see it. If not the air inlet will up and you will end up with water coming into the filter.

You will end up with the same problem that everyone else in this thread had..............

[09camryUA]

I didn't read this thread but there is a TSB for this concern to replace the evaporator. I just did one, its a pain in the ass to do, so if yours really smells take it in and they should fix it. Dont buy the a/c refresh its a waste of 40 bucks

[markman]

I look at AllData and I don't see any TSB for smells or odors. T-SB-0075-08 states:

****************************
Some customers may complain of excessive dust or powder from the HVAC vents. A newly designed evaporator is available to help reduce this concern. Follow the procedures listed below to remove and replace the evaporator with a new service part.
****************************

I haven't really seen any powder or dust in my vents, so I'm not sure it applies. If you could provide any further information, it would be greatly appreciated! I haven't been running the AC at all, but damn does it smell when it's raining or snowing. I have allergies and wear contacts and sometimes my eyes start to water from it and I have to pull over.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by markman

I look at AllData and I don't see any TSB for smells or odors. T-SB-0075-08 states:

****************************
Some customers may complain of excessive dust or powder from the HVAC vents. A newly designed evaporator is available to help reduce this concern. Follow the procedures listed below to remove and replace the evaporator with a new service part.
****************************

I haven't really seen any powder or dust in my vents, so I'm not sure it applies. If you could provide any further information, it would be greatly appreciated! I haven't been running the AC at all, but damn does it smell when it's raining or snowing. I have allergies and wear contacts and sometimes my eyes start to water from it and I have to pull over.

I posted the TSB. I'm not going to hold your hand and do your SEARCH...

[markman]

Originally Posted by njerald

I posted the TSB. I'm not going to hold your hand and do your SEARCH...

I searched for all of your postings to this thread:

"Answered in the other thread that you asked the same question!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Sayonara........."

"The French are wrong, AGAIN!!!!"

"Just because the tube is white means nothing.

You have evaporator and heater cores that you cannot see in the heater housing.

Yes there is a drain from the air inlet. If you want to know where it is, take a pail of water or a hose and try to fill it up. If the drain is clear you will see it. If not the air inlet will up and you will end up with water coming into the filter.

You will end up with the same problem that everyone else in this thread had.............."

"I posted the TSB. I'm not going to hold your hand and do your SEARCH..."



I read this entire thread, noting every mention of a recall or TSB:


In message #30 of this thread, lollonais stated that his wife was told there would be a recall for this problem.

In message #36, akide forwarded a message from Toyota Canada saying to either have the dealer clean it or try pouring 1:5 diluted isopropyl into the outside air intake.

Message #79, msanfilippo said, "They have even pulled down the entire dash to replace the evaporator, etc." but no mention of a TSB.

Message #134, cjgcamry2005 stated, "Both dealerships told me that it was a common problem with the car and toyota was working on a fix."


I searched for odors and TSB and found one - for 2009/2010 Corollas T-SB-0384-09.

If you know of a TSB for the Camry concerning odors or smells, could you please provide a link to your port or a TSB number to search for?

Thanks

[toyotaluver]

I have the smelly A/C for the first few minutes after turning it on as well, and didn't know about the TSB or would have had it fixed before my warranty expired. 2007 V6 LE, can someone help me with the best way to access the evaporator without having to disassemble the whole dash. Is it via the cabin filter behind the glovebox or via somewhere else (windshield vents or the drivers footwell)? I am hoping to spray down the whole evaporator with a cleaner/alcohol mist to kill all the mould/bacteria to solve this problem. My drain is clear.

[toyotaluver]

If I fill the whole evap core with alcohol via the drain tube and let it soak (is it sealed to hold liquid?) then drain it, would that be a possibility or would I just have alcohol all in the venting?