Fogging and random smell
 

i have a 2000 es300 and it seems to get fogged easily at night, i know this usually is the symptoms of a heater core going bad, but with a bad heater core when u turn on the defroster it usually gets worse and in my case it doesn't, just in general i feel like my car fogs excessively, also too sometimes ill get a musty type smell coming thru my vents, i thought maybe this was all happening due to a dirty cabin filter, but someone told me these cars dont have cabin filters, any1 know what might be going on?? thanks

Several Possibilities. Here are four of them:

1) You do have a Cabin Filter installed, but its blocked. (Check as per owner's manual)

2) Your Fresh Air Intake control is not working correctly, and its stuck in the Recirculation mode, or YOU have it set for recirculating air.

3) You have a water leak into the cabin, causing lots of humidity. (Look under the front and rear carpets for water leaks)

4) Your AC is not working, or its set to "OFF"

There may be other, but these are the most likely ones.

Phil

Attachment 163433

you should have a cabin filter, this pic shows you how to remove the filter. First you have to pull back the carpet on the transmission tunnel, (near the gas pedal).

thanks, ill look into that, i hope it is something as simple as a cabin filter

Also check the fresh air intake, open the hood look in the area at the windshield wipers.

i have the same problem as the OP. i have tended to notice its worse if its snowy and lots of water is on the floor mats from it, from pizzas in the car, and from putting on recirc mode [to avoid the burning oil from being inhaled as much] also, the temp setting seems to reallly related to it.

the smell is a hint of a problem but doesnt mean there 's a problem [with the car]. it can be that your thing aint drying out properly perhaps from a cloged drain. but even normally draining, some cars get that smell easier than others, and some people tend to get that problem in their cars easier believe it or not. lol it can be cleaned , but may return. you have to clean the box primarily to get rid of the fungus and friends.