missing a quick physical AC on/off button control for Lexus 2016-2017
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 640
Likes: 92
From: Colorado
This generation of ES does not have a good water drain under the AC evaporator in the dash. When I lived in Columbus Ohio, I did exactly that - left it on auto and set the temperature. But after 2 summers I had a horrible mold issue with the AC. Cost me $300 I think to get it sorted out, and the dealer had to repeat the mold removal process at no charge because the smell had not gone away.
The dealer told me that this is a known problem with this Gen ES. And the way to deal with it is to turn on the Compressor and then switch to fresh air. And then turn off the compressor 5-10 mins before the end of the trip and turn the fan on full to dry out the evaporator. The dealer told me this procedure. I have followed it and so far the smell has not come back. But I hate this about the car. I love everything else but this is too much of a pain. My current job is only 10 mins from home so I don’t turn on the AC in the sweltering heat and would not have time to dry the AC. I hate it.
The dealer told me that this is a known problem with this Gen ES. And the way to deal with it is to turn on the Compressor and then switch to fresh air. And then turn off the compressor 5-10 mins before the end of the trip and turn the fan on full to dry out the evaporator. The dealer told me this procedure. I have followed it and so far the smell has not come back. But I hate this about the car. I love everything else but this is too much of a pain. My current job is only 10 mins from home so I don’t turn on the AC in the sweltering heat and would not have time to dry the AC. I hate it.
Driver
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 82
Likes: 1
From: new york
This generation of ES does not have a good water drain under the AC evaporator in the dash. When I lived in Columbus Ohio, I did exactly that - left it on auto and set the temperature. But after 2 summers I had a horrible mold issue with the AC. Cost me $300 I think to get it sorted out, and the dealer had to repeat the mold removal process at no charge because the smell had not gone away.
The dealer told me that this is a known problem with this Gen ES. And the way to deal with it is to turn on the Compressor and then switch to fresh air. And then turn off the compressor 5-10 mins before the end of the trip and turn the fan on full to dry out the evaporator. The dealer told me this procedure. I have followed it and so far the smell has not come back. But I hate this about the car. I love everything else but this is too much of a pain. My current job is only 10 mins from home so I don’t turn on the AC in the sweltering heat and would not have time to dry the AC. I hate it.
The dealer told me that this is a known problem with this Gen ES. And the way to deal with it is to turn on the Compressor and then switch to fresh air. And then turn off the compressor 5-10 mins before the end of the trip and turn the fan on full to dry out the evaporator. The dealer told me this procedure. I have followed it and so far the smell has not come back. But I hate this about the car. I love everything else but this is too much of a pain. My current job is only 10 mins from home so I don’t turn on the AC in the sweltering heat and would not have time to dry the AC. I hate it.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 837
From: Idaho
I suspect humidity has a lot to do with this problem. This week our humidity has been in the single digits and I haven’t noticed any odor. Our humidity is typically very low. That may explain why the issue doesn’t impact everyone.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 640
Likes: 92
From: Colorado
My wife has an Altima and Camry before that. I had a Mazda Millenia before the ES. We never had any mold issue with those cars in all the years we lived in Columbus. Granted it is very humid there but the AC systems in those cars did not develop mold. The ES is a different story. And all these menus to get to the AC switch makes it double difficult.
All Lexus has to do it to provide a free software update, where:
1) The AC does not automatically go to recirculation mode when turned on.
2) If the AC was on during a trip, then after the ignition is shut off, the AC fan stays on for 10 additional minutes in fresh air mode. This would dry out the evaporator and eliminate the problem without much drain on the battery.
If I could hack into my car, I would do it myself, along with a could of other changes I can think about.
All Lexus has to do it to provide a free software update, where:
1) The AC does not automatically go to recirculation mode when turned on.
2) If the AC was on during a trip, then after the ignition is shut off, the AC fan stays on for 10 additional minutes in fresh air mode. This would dry out the evaporator and eliminate the problem without much drain on the battery.
If I could hack into my car, I would do it myself, along with a could of other changes I can think about.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 756
Likes: 168
From: Louisiana
The other side of this coin is I live in Louisiana... month after month of unbearable humidity and never an issue with mold / odors of any sort.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 756
Likes: 168
From: Louisiana
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: New York
I highly doubt we'll be seeing any compressor failures on these cars within a 5 to 10 year period, due to this.
It seems strange to me, but after seeing all the threads regarding this issue, it must really bother people. Ever since I bought my first car with auto climate control, I've just set it and let it do its thing. I thought it was one of the greatest advances in car technology. No more fidgeting with the temp, vent and fan controls. The only thing I dislike about the ES's climate control is the way it defaults to recirc mode above 70 something degrees.
It seems strange to me, but after seeing all the threads regarding this issue, it must really bother people. Ever since I bought my first car with auto climate control, I've just set it and let it do its thing. I thought it was one of the greatest advances in car technology. No more fidgeting with the temp, vent and fan controls. The only thing I dislike about the ES's climate control is the way it defaults to recirc mode above 70 something degrees.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 4
From: TX
I also prefer an AC on and off button. I just like the greater control, like if I'm leaving in the morning and I don't want it super cold, I just flip my AC off but have the fans keep running.
It also keeps that moldy smell down also because you can flip it off a few minutes from your destination and it dries out the evaporator.
If it were up to me, I would have ZERO climate control through a computer screen. I just prefer traditional, easy to reach buttons without going through menus.
I understand a screen for functions like the stereo and smartphone integration, but I like old school buttons for everything else.
It also keeps that moldy smell down also because you can flip it off a few minutes from your destination and it dries out the evaporator.
If it were up to me, I would have ZERO climate control through a computer screen. I just prefer traditional, easy to reach buttons without going through menus.
I understand a screen for functions like the stereo and smartphone integration, but I like old school buttons for everything else.
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