A/C Smell - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Maticuno · 08-07-2006, 01:14 AM

I don't know if this is common automotive knowledge that I was never let in on. In every air conditioned vehicle I have ever been in, when you turn the a/c off but leave the air still blowing through I get that stale, moldy bread kinda smell. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? And if so, what the hell is it?

ScubaGuy · 08-07-2006, 07:39 AM

Only one of the older cars I owned did this. The drain for the airbox where the evaporator is was clogged. I took the airbox out (PIA) and the cleaned out all the goo that was in it. After that it was good. I have not had any problems with the A/C in my Tacoma yet. In fact the A/C is one of the best in any car I have owned so far.

mafan · 08-07-2006, 10:31 AM

Yep... noticed the same thing in my truck and posted a similar question on another forum. The feedback I received is that it was caused by keeping the system in recirculate mode for too long -- condensation build up. The recommendation was to run the A/C system in fresh-mode for at least 10 minutes per day to avoid this. Since I followed this recommendation, I have not experienced the smell again

Matt's06xrunner · 08-07-2006, 11:56 AM

another method for this is to turn the a/c off and leave the fan blowing for at least the last five min. or so before you turn the truck off. It helps dry to codensation up in the duct, ect.