Getting a funky smell from the vent

[johnnyzee]

Hey guys, I get a funky odour from my interior vents, worse so when the a/c is turned on and at its worst when the a/c has just been turned off.

It progressively got worse over the summer to the point where i want to deal with it.

I changed my cabin air filter, assuming something died in there, but that didn't help either, although, on a side note, I should have changed it alot sooner. It was ridiculously dirty (first one changed in the life of the cam - 5yrs)

Anyways, back on topic, a friend says it's mould in my a/c and he paid heavy $$$ to fix the problem.

What can I do here to eliminate this smell without having the car serviced. Is there something I can do here?

Thanks, and as always, you guys rock

[geoff5093]

This sounds like the problem that the Gen 6 and other newer cars have, where if you turn the car off with the A/C still on or shortly after turning it off, then the water left in the condenser(?) will start to grow mold, and when you turn your car back on afterwards with the A/C on or off, you will smell a foul odor.

I heard you can fix it by spraying isopropyl alcohol into the air vents using a spray bottle.

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by geoff5093

This sounds like the problem that the Gen 6 and other newer cars have, where if you turn the car off with the A/C still on or shortly after turning it off, then the water left in the condenser(?) will start to grow mold, and when you turn your car back on afterwards with the A/C on or off, you will smell a foul odor.

I heard you can fix it by spraying isopropyl alcohol into the air vents using a spray bottle.

I also try to turn off the AC like a few minutes before I got home. I read somewhere on this forum that would help prevent molding. I also turn my AC on once a month for a few minutes even during winter (eventhough there is no winter in San Diego) that way it keep the AC system in better shape. Sorry to hear about your problem. You might want to do a search on this topic as it has been discussed before. Good luck.

[Gellenole]

Originally Posted by geoff5093

This sounds like the problem that the Gen 6 and other newer cars have, where if you turn the car off with the A/C still on or shortly after turning it off, then the water left in the condenser(?) will start to grow mold, and when you turn your car back on afterwards with the A/C on or off, you will smell a foul odor.

I heard you can fix it by spraying isopropyl alcohol into the air vents using a spray bottle.

This is correct, the A/C moisture stays in the vents because of the temp changes and creates a foul odor due to mold. What I did to stop the smell is to have the A/C off and let the air vent through and don't recirculate the air in the cabin.

I usually turn off the A/C about 3-4 mins before I get home and have the fan set to circulate from outside in and open my windows so I can get some fresh air in the car.

Dunno if it does the trick to specifically prevent any molding, but I know I don't have any smell in my car when I turn on my A/C. Also, don't turn your A/C on and off often, it'll create that smell as well.

[Qslim]

I used to have this problem a bunch. Then I stopped leaving the dead hookers in my trunk for so long.

But seriously.

BG makes a package called Frigi-Fresh that we used to use at the dealer, and it worked really well. There was a big can with a hose on it that you shoved up the drain tube to foam the evaporator out, and a small spray can to spray in the air intake at the base of the windshield. Worked like a charm everytime, really did a good job of killing those stinky growers.

[TRD VVTi]

It's not mold in the vents, it's mold on the evaporator and in the evaporator tray.

As stated above, this problem has been discussed over and over before. Do a search.

BG Chemicals makes an A/C cleaning kit and so does SET.

You can correct this problem yourself. I know that dealers in the SET territory would charge $49.95 for an A/C Refresher Service a couple of years ago.

[ebumdude]

hopefully none of your friends put a small fish in your vents...that would suck b*lls.

[johnnyzee]

thanks guys, and thanks guys for reminding me to do a search...

so what i gather from you guys is that the problem is not in my VENTS as per say, but more to do with the evaporator and that there are cleaning kits for this type of thing.

cool, thanks

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by johnnyzee

so what i gather from you guys is that the problem is not in my VENTS as per say, but more to do with the evaporator and that there are cleaning kits for this type of thing.

cool, thanks

Exactly.

[Bear95]

I have used this system www.dwd2.com with great success. It is injected between the blower and the a/c coils. They use Ethanol instead of Isopropyl Alcohol so there is no doctor office smell and it is long lasting. It fills the entire system with a cleaning foam. My sister did the install of the injection line herself, so it is not hard to do. You only have to remove the panel under the glove box and there is the big duct that connects to the A/C coils. The port is left in place, so you can refresh it when needed. No dealer visit or big $$ required.
B95

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by Bear95

I have used this system www.dwd2.com with great success. It is injected between the blower and the a/c coils. They use Ethanol instead of Isopropyl Alcohol so there is no doctor office smell and it is long lasting. It fills the entire system with a cleaning foam. My sister did the install of the injection line herself, so it is not hard to do. You only have to remove the panel under the glove box and there is the big duct that connects to the A/C coils. The port is left in place, so you can refresh it when needed. No dealer visit or big $$ required.
B95

The other methods above are better. You don't have to remove anything and it accomplishes the same thing.

There is no such thing as "A/C coils" either.

[etc]

FWIW, I had terrible smell in my 4th gen.

Could never trace it to anything, with AC on or off.

[Bear95]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

The other methods above are better. You don't have to remove anything and it accomplishes the same thing.

There is no such thing as "A/C coils" either.

I stand corrected the part name according my Factory Manual is Evaporator Core !
Don't be such an Jack-ASS, TRD, life is too short
B95

[desentrix]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

It's not mold in the vents, it's mold on the evaporator and in the evaporator tray.

Aye, a mechanic told me the same thing -- Had this problem on an older Camry.

[OneFlyGuy]

Yeah, I usually turn off my a/c like 2 minutes before i get home and turn on the heater to get all the moisture out before i turn off my car.