F_Throttle

I am running into the same issue... What the hell? I got a CPO with the filter recently installed.. What is the resolution to this?

itsmike177

iTrader: (3)

"Fix" is to turn off the AC, fan on high, outside air in, windows down. Blow it out until the moisture from the vents dry out, which should take 3-5 minutes. I've noticed this issue of smelly AC on all cars made in the past 10 years.

F_Throttle

I've tried that 'fix'.. but it comes back the next day.. Or am I suppose to do that everytime I have the AC on.

itsmike177

iTrader: (3)

The AC evaporator core has to be "cleaned." I use BG FrigiClean (not frigifresh) about once a year. I run 2 cans through it since Toyota cars are notorious for trapping moisture in the evap core.

Do not spray Lysol or any spray into the cowl vents under the windshield, it will do nothing and Lysol will corrode the evap core or metal parts.

After using Frigiclean plus going through the steps of setting the fan on high, outside air in, AC off, 5 min before arriving at the destination, the "smell" is not present until about 1 year later.

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

My car is approaching 6 years old, and I never do anything special. Never have the mildew smell. Ever. Probably because I hate cold and leave the temp at 78 most of the time.

I8ABMR

Guys, I mentioned this to my SA yesterday when I brought mine in for 30k service and he said the cars with the smell just need AC service. He said its not just adding more refrigerant. Its cleaning and deoderizing according to him

caveman

my 2006 GS300 had this mildewy a/c issue on and off for the 7 years i owned it. it would just come and go. i havent had this issues in 1.75 years with the IS-F. not sure what the cause is as i'm not doing anything difference

F_Throttle

Took it to Lexus, and they replaced the filter again with a 'charcoal' filter. If it presist, they will need to "take the dash out" to clean the core? Is this BS???


Also, they told me their Lexus bulletin states to:

Always run outside air
Remove air fresheners

spacexmase

I have the same problem in my 2012 that I just purchased.

Unfortunately, I didn't discover this until 1 week after I bought it.

Here is the official TSB from Lexus:

http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/TSb/...dPdf?id=181291

I'm still trying to figure out the most cost effective way to handle this. I am sure that my evaporator coil has mold/mildew on it. Each morning I enter my car, it smells like rancid milk/gym socks/dead body... maybe even all 3. It's disgusting!

Does anyone know how much it costs to clean the evaporator? Is doing this myself an option?

Let me know your thoughts or if anyone else is suffering from this issue.

Max16

I just bought some Wurth a/c odor eliminator. You shoot this product by the drain hose under the car and it acts directly on the evaporator.
Should works wonder.

Bigjon3475

iTrader: (2)

The fix is easy. Before you pull in to your home and cut your car off switch the AC off and run the fan on high until the air coming out of the vent ls is no longer moist. Five to ten minutes should suffice. In the HVAC world it's called dirty sock syndrome and it affects coils that don't get above 145°F. Typically heat pumps and straight AC that do not use a heating device before the coil like a fossil fuel burning furnace.

If you really wanted to speed up the coil drying process you could switch over to heat.

Ninja10r

yeah removing the moisture out of the system will help keep mold out of the HVAC system and get rid of the smell