Bad smell from vents

[sarsman45]

So I'm using the camry cuz the avy needs to go to shop, and whenever i start the car, a bad smell comes through the vents.
This happens every time that air passes through the vents. I checked/changed the cabin filter and nothings wrong with it, except for that persistant smell of mold/mildew. I want to get to the bottom of this but i dont want to go through and check the ducts themselves. What should I do?

[njerald]

Here we go again and again and again.............

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Wel cuz,

It sound lek u hav a daid rat uppin ur dash. Iffin it twas min instaid of urin, id take the whule dash outin the car and hos it of wit a gardin hose and then find the daid rat and threw it away.

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Sorry,

I just could not help myself.... Try doing a search for mold/mildew in the AC evap. unit. You also need to check the condensate drain line.

[CharmCityES]

you can buy a cleaner foam and disenfectent for the evaporator box and the air vents....
most auto stores have it...it cleans the mold out of the evaporator box and lines, because due to the condensation in the a/c system mold tends to form in the lines and evaporator...the foam kills said mold, and the spray is introduced into the cowl and disenfects the vents so the smell goes away.

[sarsman45]

I remember said rat in dash. But i swears, i have none, no sir! I'll try to get this product after finals... in the mean time... face death!!!

[sarsman45]

still, this is the only car in my lineup that does this... i really dont know why....

[desentrix]

You could try Frigi-fresh, an arse load of lysol, or pay the dealer...

[CharmCityES]

our dealer sells the a/c deoderizer service....i have about 8 of those kits in my toolbox and i clean my a/c system every 2 months to keep it fresh inside...im also incredibly anal about my car and i adress every issue head on or try to prevent it

[MrObvious]

Maybe it's a recycled fart?

[SIrMack]

Is it possible that the AC drainage line could be clogged? I know this is an issue on some other vehicles.

If so, where is the A/C drain located and what is the best way to unclog it? I have heard that sticking a wire coat hanger into the drainage line/hole can unstuck any debris that may be in there.

Also, where is the evaporator box/lines located?

Thanks!

[TRD VVTi]

I tried a search but there was only 5,000 threads dealing with this topic so I decided to clutter the forum with another....