Bad Smell Coming Out Of Ventilators.

[zee3b]

Hey guys I own a corolla 09 bought it last around the end of last year. Last couple of days or you can say about 2 weeks whenever I start the car and drive it there is this bad smell which comes out of the ventilators and I'm getting sick of it now...
Any ideas, suggestions?

[LeanBurn]

Could be a bit of mildew in the system. There is a odor killing spray you can get and spray in into the intake and it goes away, made specifically for this I saw in a flyer a few weeks back. Any detailing automotive place should know about the spray remedy.

[Exit9]

I read somewhere that the 10th gen Corollas have a dust-pollen(-mold?) filter that needs to be replaced periodically. (I think it is on the service schedule.) It might be worth inspecting it or replacing it. I think it is removed and replaced inside the car in the dash area but I don't know the specifics.

If anyone can write a procedure (with photos?) of replacing the pollen filter it would be of interest to everyone.

I sometimes get a funky smell from the vents. I think it is when I switch off the A/C after its been running awhile but I am not positive. Next time it happens I will pay more attention and report back.

[wildcard50]

what does it smell like? rotten eggs?

[deKatt]

Do you park the car outside? I found a dead mouse in the vent ducts of one of my cars a couple of years ago.

[Bluefire]

Its a common problem, at least two of the rollas of my friends did have that problem

[Svrajam]

Is the smell occurring when you have the AC on or off? If it happens only when the AC is off, it could be a buildup of mildew/mold in the AC system (as mentioned above). What can happen sometimes is, if you run AC a lot, the condensation (water) from the condenser may build up in areas and not drain properly. If this sits for a while, it can lead to mildew/mold buildup. After a while, this will start to smell when you have the vents open and fans blowing, particularly in hot weather. Sometimes, the smell may go away when you turn the AC on, but not always. The solution to this is to have someone use a disinfectant spray and treat the AC system to kill the bacteria.

[EHemmalin]

I hate that smell!

This has happened in every car that I have had with AC.

This is how you stop it.

Before you stop your car (maybe 3 or so minutes) turn off the AC and run with just the fan.

This causes the air system to warm up enough to stop condensation. You still get the cool air until the system warms up

When you just shut off your car with the AC running it causes condensation in the air system. When it sits for awhile with the condensation it causes mold or at the least the condensation picks up the smell from the duct work etc.

[Svrajam]

Good tip! I forgot to mention that.

[Senor89]

Originally Posted by deKatt

Do you park the car outside? I found a dead mouse in the vent ducts of one of my cars a couple of years ago.

That happened to me too for the Camry. Apparently there is cleaning kits out there for that sort of problem. You think they would put iron mesh for the openings so critters wont crawl into them.

[Exit9]

FYI re previous post - I just got that funky smell on startup after the car had been parked for four hours in 85 degrees F temperature. It only lasted about a minute or two and went away after I turned on the A/C. It smelled like a locker room or ripe gym shoes. I am guessing the smell is a small amount of condensation from the A/C system which gets stale as the car sits in the sun.

[johncal]

Used to get that on my minivan all the time. I used to spray Lysol into the outside intake with the fan on high. Shut the car off overnight and it would kill the mold.

Only issue is car smells like Lysol for a couple of days, but better than a locker room.

[gizzer777]

Originally Posted by Exit9

I read somewhere that the 10th gen Corollas have a dust-pollen(-mold?) filter that needs to be replaced periodically. (I think it is on the service schedule.) It might be worth inspecting it or replacing it. I think it is removed and replaced inside the car in the dash area but I don't know the specifics.

If anyone can write a procedure (with photos?) of replacing the pollen filter it would be of interest to everyone.

I sometimes get a funky smell from the vents. I think it is when I switch off the A/C after its been running awhile but I am not positive. Next time it happens I will pay more attention and report back.

==========================================
Sorry I cannot supply pictures, but here is the general procedure for changing that dust/pollen filter... Tools needed...Perhaps a flashlight only!

I will add that after about a year, my filter was pretty nasty! We are talking about maybe 5 minutes of work here that the dealer will try to rape you for! Ahhh, fresh air really helps!!!Remember that even when the heater/AC is turned off, air still vents thru

Here is a link to replacement...THE 2009 IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME EXCEPT THAT THERE IS NO SCREW, IT IS A SNAP ON BUTTON INSTEAD

http://www.shop3m.com/xc003868996.html

1) open the glove compartment (lower one) After removing all contents, so they will not fall out
2) there is a supporting plastic "arm" that stops it from falling completely open...that arm is held to the glovebox on by a plastic "button" that fits into a hole in the arm (it just pushes onto the button and is held by simple pressure)
4) after you disconnect the arm, the glove compartment will simply be loose enough to allow it to travel further downwards...Gently squeeze the outer sides of the glovebox, so it drops down exposing the filter compartment.
5) there is a snap on plastic cover over the filter compartment about 1.5" high x 5 inches or so long . Squeeze the retaining pressure "clips" at both ends and the cover will come off...the filter element sits inside and simply pulls out.

OBSERVE THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE FILTER BEFORE YOU REMOVE IT. THERE IS A DEFINITE IN/OUT flow ON THESE FILTERS (Like the ones on your house central heater).

an Toyota oem replacement is about $30...for some reason the Bosch ($17) was just a bit long for mine...WE ARE TALKING REALLY SIMPLE DIY HERE!

[jdhog]

I make my own cabin air filters from Filtrete filters. Can make 4 of them from one filter for about $15....

I posted a DIY with pics over on the matrix forum:
Cabin Air Filter


That bad smell as someone mentioned, just turn the recirculate off for a bit at the end of each journey to let moisture blow through and not go stale. Also I bet you'd be surprised how dirty the cabin air filter gets.....

[jlauden]

If some of the smell persists, try one of those air fresheners that clip into your air vents. They don't fit as well with the Corolla as some other cars I've seen, but they don't smell sickenly strong and they do their best work when the vents are turned on. If there's any left over funk blowing through the ventilation system after a filter change, etc, it might be something to consider...