Funny smell in air circulation... what is it?
#1
Senior Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Smallville, Kent farm
Posts: 1,803
Funny smell in air circulation... what is it?
I noticed that about 3 weeks into owning the tc, when I start the air cirulation, I get a funny smell like damp water that smells not too pleasant.
if I have the ac on, the smell is noticeable for about 3 seconds and then clears out, but if I just run the fan the smell is constant.
1st owner, new car only 2 months old, and I baby this car, I dont sweat in it, I use seat covers, fabreeze and clean in obesessively, use air fresheners and so on.
I aksed a few friends and they told me its normal for new cars and it goes away after a while?
I was thinking maybe condensation is built up somewhere, in the ac system because I have it on all the time?
any ideas of what it might be?
if I have the ac on, the smell is noticeable for about 3 seconds and then clears out, but if I just run the fan the smell is constant.
1st owner, new car only 2 months old, and I baby this car, I dont sweat in it, I use seat covers, fabreeze and clean in obesessively, use air fresheners and so on.
I aksed a few friends and they told me its normal for new cars and it goes away after a while?
I was thinking maybe condensation is built up somewhere, in the ac system because I have it on all the time?
any ideas of what it might be?
#5
it happens in every car. condensation from the AC in the ducts mixes with common road dust and stuff and makes a musty smell.
i had the same problem in my last car. there is a product where you spray the intake vent where the AC sucks air from, but it only masks the smell for a short while, not to mention smells the car like baby powder. i just live with it and blast the vents with the windows down!
i had the same problem in my last car. there is a product where you spray the intake vent where the AC sucks air from, but it only masks the smell for a short while, not to mention smells the car like baby powder. i just live with it and blast the vents with the windows down!
#7
oil change is about 5000k and also the smell is normal in Toyota cars, if you take it in i think they will just laugh at you. because there is no way to stop condensation from the AC, that is like trying to stop a human from sweating.
#8
Senior Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Smallville, Kent farm
Posts: 1,803
well.. is there a way to get rid of the smell, or will my new car smell like its sweating everytime I turn on the ac?
its a yucky smell, isnt there a way to clean out or dry out the area thats causing it?
its a yucky smell, isnt there a way to clean out or dry out the area thats causing it?
#15
Did you fart? Just kiddin man!
but it sounds like it's possible to have condinsation. I don't know exactly where it might be or anything, but I've seen this problem before. Dealer is my best guess too.
but it sounds like it's possible to have condinsation. I don't know exactly where it might be or anything, but I've seen this problem before. Dealer is my best guess too.
#17
You could have a clog on the air duct the where water has built up and made a bit of mold..........and have you put a filter in.Most likely the vent path has pollen or mold and it is being vented into the cabin.........dealership......
#19
yeah, sometimes that smell is unavoidable. you can minimize it by keeping the recirculate function off whenever possible. in other words, keep the fresh air vents open. if you take it to the dealership, they will try to sell you a $350 "AC refresher" service. don't buy it. i once read about a product from germany that actually does kill mold and dissolve any organic material in the ac system, but i haven't been able to find anything on it since. sorry, i wish i could be of more help.
#20
OK, it is mold, fungus and bacteria growing in the air-handler, and the ONLY way to actually take care of it, rather than cover it up, is to kill the crud...
There is the Toyota way:
http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/t...p?p_faqid=4243
...and their are also commercial products (like the German Einszett Air Conditioning 'Klima' Cleaner) that are sprayed into the intake vents and they foam up and fill the area with a disinfectant type stuff, then collapse and drain out the built-in A/C drain.
There really are some topics here on ScionLife that have discussed this...
Such as: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...088909#2088909
BTW, I'm one of those folks who doesn't really care for most "air deodorizer" or "smell good" products 'cause many of 'em leave a very difficult to remove film on everything inside the car, including the glass. (They work by releasing a very slow evaporating "scent" that has to land SOMETHERE, and usually it is oil based)
Tom
There is the Toyota way:
http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/t...p?p_faqid=4243
...and their are also commercial products (like the German Einszett Air Conditioning 'Klima' Cleaner) that are sprayed into the intake vents and they foam up and fill the area with a disinfectant type stuff, then collapse and drain out the built-in A/C drain.
There really are some topics here on ScionLife that have discussed this...
Such as: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...088909#2088909
BTW, I'm one of those folks who doesn't really care for most "air deodorizer" or "smell good" products 'cause many of 'em leave a very difficult to remove film on everything inside the car, including the glass. (They work by releasing a very slow evaporating "scent" that has to land SOMETHERE, and usually it is oil based)
Tom