Weird smell from AC vents..?
#32
Lexus Test Driver
How did it end up working out for you? I figured the freshner from Sewell would have done the trick. guess there are always other options than throwing money at your problems... lol
#33
Racer
iTrader: (1)
So I reduce the sensitivity of the smog sensor, and the car seems to automatically go to fresh air more often, and the smell seems to be gone ... let me know if this is just a coincidence and I need to increase the sensitivity ...
Isn't the condensing unit the thing with the funky wires normally under the hood? My car is still under warranty for a few months, but my dash is pretty much rattle free. I don't want them to take it out and then it would rattle like some people reported here :/
Isn't the condensing unit the thing with the funky wires normally under the hood? My car is still under warranty for a few months, but my dash is pretty much rattle free. I don't want them to take it out and then it would rattle like some people reported here :/
If your car is still under warranty...good news, there is a fix. If not, you may not want to read this cause it will probably be very expensive.
I bought a 2008 IS 250 with 25,000 miles on it and this smell started the first summer. We took it in and they did an Ozone machine treatment, didn't work. Then they did the foam treatment, worked for a week. Took it back and they took the whole dash out and replaced the condensing unit and said that they had improved the design of the system since my car was made as it retained moisture in whatever material is surrounding the system. They also said that leaving the A/C in recirculating adds to the moisture build up and that if I could remember to switch it to outside air before turning the car off..ya right.
I have no more smell after the change out.
I bought a 2008 IS 250 with 25,000 miles on it and this smell started the first summer. We took it in and they did an Ozone machine treatment, didn't work. Then they did the foam treatment, worked for a week. Took it back and they took the whole dash out and replaced the condensing unit and said that they had improved the design of the system since my car was made as it retained moisture in whatever material is surrounding the system. They also said that leaving the A/C in recirculating adds to the moisture build up and that if I could remember to switch it to outside air before turning the car off..ya right.
I have no more smell after the change out.
#34
Lead Lap
iTrader: (10)
I have tried every single method that has been suggested in this thread, even had my ac condensor replaced per the tsb. Even after the TSB the smell returned and the only thing that I have found to work 100% is a air conditioner deoderizer. Here is the specific one I use http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0440&ppt=C0090 I am sure that your local auto store sells something similar and I followed the directions on the can. I used one can in the begining of the summer last year, and still no mold smell has returned.
#35
Advanced
iTrader: (3)
I have tried every single method that has been suggested in this thread, even had my ac condensor replaced per the tsb. Even after the TSB the smell returned and the only thing that I have found to work 100% is a air conditioner deoderizer. Here is the specific one I use http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0440&ppt=C0090 I am sure that your local auto store sells something similar and I followed the directions on the can. I used one can in the begining of the summer last year, and still no mold smell has returned.
#37
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: May 2012
Location: LA
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I have the same problem and my car's only two months old. I've been reading the previous comments and it seems to me that their cars are a couple years old while mine is brand new and I'm getting this smell. It kind of worries me. Should I do the steps above and just put it in fresh air mode before I reach my destination or should I call my dealer and explain to them this problem?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#38
Lexus Test Driver
You can get the A/C refresher kit but no one seems to have directions on how to use it. You can also find carbon filters on Amazon either generic brands or from Wix for under $15. I noticed the carbon filter really makes no difference. I also used the A/C refresher kit but put it through the wrong hole lol so bottle wasted.
#39
The real problem is that the AC is too powerful for the car. Which means it cools real fast. But the drawback is that it is no longer working efficiently and removing the moisture. One way to beat it is to bring the temp real down, say 68F. That will make it work more and extract the moisture out all the time.
#40
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The real problem is that the AC is too powerful for the car. Which means it cools real fast. But the drawback is that it is no longer working efficiently and removing the moisture. One way to beat it is to bring the temp real down, say 68F. That will make it work more and extract the moisture out all the time.
#41
Super Moderator
Haven't you noticed that the compressor in the IS doesn't cycle on and off like those in older cars did?
That's because the HVAC controller can change the pumping capacity of the compressor from 100% to near zero in order to meet the cooling load. It can also temporarily reduce capacity during hard acceleration to reduce the parasitic load on the engine.
#42
I never noticed that because in my earlier car I could not notice it either.
Anyways, it is good to know this. That said, there is definitely an issue in drawing out the moisture, making the air smell musty.
If the air conditioner is too big, it will cool the space without running long enough to take the moisture out of the car. If we want it to run longer to dehumidify, we have to turn down the thermostat, making the car colder than we want.
Try out the suggestion of lowering the temp way down and see if the musty smell goes away or not.
Anyways, it is good to know this. That said, there is definitely an issue in drawing out the moisture, making the air smell musty.
If the air conditioner is too big, it will cool the space without running long enough to take the moisture out of the car. If we want it to run longer to dehumidify, we have to turn down the thermostat, making the car colder than we want.
Try out the suggestion of lowering the temp way down and see if the musty smell goes away or not.
#44
Super Moderator
The musty smell is not because the A/C is not removing enough water from the air. The smell is because of mildew and fungus growing right on the evaporator coil.
If the air conditioner is too big, it will cool the space without running long enough to take the moisture out of the car. If we want it to run longer to dehumidify, we have to turn down the thermostat, making the car colder than we want.
With the fan speed and compressor output reduced, it works just like a smaller unit. You get to have your cake and eat it too.
What you say is totally on-point when sizing an A/C unit for your home or office, a well insulated space being cooled by a unit with a fixed capacity compressor -- but not to your car, which has a variable speed blower, and variable output compressor, and a practically insatiable heat load owing to the fact that it is an uninsulated metal and glass enclosed space.
#45
So, what is the conclusion/solution to this issue?
For me, I always turn the A/C off 3-5 minutes before I reach home and turn up the fan to blow the moisture out of evaporator as much as possible. This works for my case. I no longer get nasty smell from the vent when I turn on the A/C system in the morning.
For me, I always turn the A/C off 3-5 minutes before I reach home and turn up the fan to blow the moisture out of evaporator as much as possible. This works for my case. I no longer get nasty smell from the vent when I turn on the A/C system in the morning.