AC smell
#31
I agree with the post above with the list of gas. I use chev 98 octane and i dont get the sulfur smell. It also depends on the refiniery they use in your area. Its the sulfur content in the gas that is giving off that smell.
#33
I too have a harsh chemical smell that comes out of my vents after I start the car, when it has been sitting for a while. It dissipates after a few minutes of driving. Sounds similar to what you're describing, except that I hardly ever use the A/C, and I always have the air set to "external."
It's definitely not a mildew or sulfur smell. Anyone know what it is?
EDIT: I only have about 2600 miles on the car
Last edited by Recluse; 10-15-07 at 12:56 PM.
#34
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Weird I have the same thing and it has just occured.
However this summer has been much more humid than the previous one. I think it is just time for me to change out my filter, I'll do that first....
However this summer has been much more humid than the previous one. I think it is just time for me to change out my filter, I'll do that first....
#36
Just call me "Sprinkes"
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Bump from the dead, yeah did anyone get an answer for this? Im in texas and my AC is starting to smell. Like feet. Stinky feet. I hope i dont have to shut off the AC before i get home or where ever because thats dumb. I didnt buy a 40k car for it to do that. (yes, i sound noobish.)
#37
That smell is mold. If you pull your cabin air filter, you will find black on it. You can go to a NAPA store ( or similar ) and buy a can of AC disinfectant. If you dig, you can find a good thread on this. There is a condensation drain tube that exits downward under your passenger side front wheel. Turn your steering wheel full counterclockwise to get better access. Run a wire up through it to make sure it is not clogged, then spray the disinfectant up there. I also removed the cabin filter and sprayed in there ( don't get the filter wet), and into the ducts. Its an alcohol based spray that kills the mold. You can get it baby powder scented, etc, so it smells OK. May have to do it more than once, but it works. Those "turn up the heat......" solutions didn't work for me. If this many people read/reply to the post, I think its a design problem. Heck, they could likely fix it just in software ----- if the AC is running, let the fan run for the next 10 minutes after the engine is shut down. The stuff is not cheap, so you may want to let the dealer do it.
#42
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#43
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I'm here in Houston as well, and have the same problem, ugh. My car's at about 5,500 miles, and it smells like vinegar upon start up. I thought it was just mine until my friend told me she heard many Lexus owners had the same problem.
#44
Steve
#45
Lexus Test Driver
Spoke to the service advisor for my other car which has the same problem about this and they said on new AC systems with climate control you have to leave the climate control system on all the time. That will take care of the problem because the system has a built in dehumidifier. If you manually shut off the auto climate control then you'll get this mildew problem again.