Terrible Smell
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
Terrible Smell
Whenever I turn on the AC there is a terrible smell that starts up and it is strong. I've tried turning it up and rolling all the windows down when im on the highway to air it out but it will not go away.
Is this the AC filter?
Is this the AC filter?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: CA
You probably have A/C mold. My car always defaults to the recirc mode whenever I start the car. When I bought my GS it smelled aweful when turned on the A/C and it comes back every few months despite turning off my A/C before I arrive at my destination to let it dry out. You can buy a spray at autozone or probably any other parts store that will take care of this smell for awhile...so far I have not been sucessful at permanently removing the smell.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 55
From: 408 NOR CAL
& If its a real bad smell all of the suggestions above would be a good idea. Spray the AC Odor killer stuff in your vents and above the Cabin filter when the air is drawn in, install a new Cabin Air Filter, and hit the new Filter with some Fabreeze before you install it.
You can also try spraying Lysol or a diluted alcohol mixture into the outside air intake vents while running the AC on the Fresh Air setting. Just make sure no one is in the car when you try this
. Of course try this at your own risk and dont spray too much.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
should the air filter have been addressed during the scheduled maintenances? or do they not mess with it?
Thanks for all the suggestions. Based on the putridness of the smell I think I will just buy a new filter
Thanks for all the suggestions. Based on the putridness of the smell I think I will just buy a new filter
Trending Topics
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 6
From: RI
it may or may not have been, if they didnt turn the AC on they wouldn't have thought about it. It's like a 20 dollar filter, you might as well just replace it. When i got the car from my uncle he had never changed it in 120k miles of driving and 7 years, him being a smoker it was pretty nasty. Changed the filter and it went away.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Lexus TX 550h+ (& 3 Reasons to AVOID!)
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyota Models of the 1990s RANKED!
Joe Kucinski
10 Great Toyotas That Could Have Been Lexus Models
Joe Kucinski
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: FL
Check out this thread for possible solutions. I had smell even after changing cabin air filter out. One can of lysol worked for me. And always dry ac out before turning off car as mentioned in thread.
The cabin air filter is listed to be replaced every 7500 miles in lexus gs maintenance schedule. The only way to tell if they did it is to check yourself. Good luck.
The cabin air filter is listed to be replaced every 7500 miles in lexus gs maintenance schedule. The only way to tell if they did it is to check yourself. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
i don't know if it matters but i almost never use the heat or A/C
thanks for the tips, is there anywhere else i should be spraying into besides the bottom of the outside windshield?
thanks for the tips, is there anywhere else i should be spraying into besides the bottom of the outside windshield?
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 55
From: 408 NOR CAL
Take the Cabin Air Filter out and spray UP into the vent intake (NOT down into the fan). Obviously don't have it blowing air in your face when you do this or you will be eating Lysol.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles/Vancouver
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...t=blitz+filter
dated back to 2005
surprisingly, the $10 off code still works!!!
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
I took out the old filter and just took some extra filter i had and cut it to size and slid it right into the catridge. the old one had a bunch of old leaves and all that there. sprayed a little lysol although it didn't seem necessary. Ran hot air as well too, smell is gone. thanks everyone
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
