pschonig

Has anyone had an issue of a foul smell coming from the A/C? My wife experienced this in her 07 ES350, now I am experiencing an intermittent foul smell from my 07 GX470. My wife took her car back to the dealer and they replaced the A/C filter, but the foul smell is still present. I took my 07 GX470 to the dealer and was told condensation builds up on the A/C filter and when the A/C switches from inside to outside air, the air flows through the filter and the musty smell is present. It seems it would take longer for this condensation to become a mold than the 20 minutes of driving to produce the foul smell. Our vehicles only have 1000 miles on them. We have two neighbors with 2007 models and they have the same problem? Any ideas or fixes?

The G Man

Other owners have try using a disinfectant spray to get rid of the mildew in the duct work with good result. Spray a can of disinfectant into the intake of HVAC system while the fan on high and outside air intake. I usually shut off the AC about 5 minutes before I shut off my car and put the fan on high and outside air to get rid of condensation, it seems to work well.

CVsIS250

I notice this when I first start running it after a winter with heat. Just moisture. Change your filter and use some spray.

CV

GrdnRxR

Yeah, I have it too.. I also had it in my 06 GS. It's really embarrassing.

The G Man

GrdnRxR, from your profile, it looks like you are a true Lexus fan.

Lou19

Old timers claim this is a form of Legionnaire's Disease, spores and such growing in your A/C. When you start the car, you suck all the live spores down which excites your nasal sensors and thus you get the whiff of stench. I wouldn't worry about it.

Lou
OIF Vet
42nd ID
Misfits
"Spin 'um up"

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Here's a good thread with a couple of alternatives

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/automotive-care-and-detailing/81943-mildew-smell-from-ac.html

CVsIS250

Yeah if you expect to have guests, i'd run the AC prior to driving...

CV

The G Man

Legionnaire's Disease, spores and such growing in your A/C, hummm, that doesn't sound too good.

SilverLady

Two guys from Arizona having mold problem in the AC? I would have figured everything to be bone dry soon after it was shut off. Would running the recirc every so often help?

OOPs - I meant turning off recirc and running outside air.

The G Man

The only thing that work for me so far is to run the fan on high and outside air intake after I shut off my AC. The idea is to prevent condensation which is form by the temp. diff. between the inside and the outside of the duct work. After the AC is used, the inside of the duct work is still cold. Running just the fan right after AC shut off will equalize the temp between the inside and the outside of the duct work. It seems to work but its a PITA to do all the time.

shodog

where is the outside air inlet for the GX? is it near the bottom of the front windshield?

The G Man

I have never done it on the GX, on my other car, its near the bottom of the front windshield, passenger side.