levinsoy

I recently purchased a 2014 GS350 F-Sport and when I start up the car and AC kicks on for about a few seconds there is a moldy/musty smell coming from vents and then goes away and I don't smell it again until I start the car next time. When I purchased the car I checked the cabin air filter and it looked relatively clean but I just ordered a new one just in case. Any thoughts or ideas on what that smell is?

Thanks in advance.

kdl001

Mine does the same thing, I wonder what is causing the smell also..

Twidge

its caused by the condensation in the air conditioner dripping inside the car.

you'll want to use this to get rid of the smell.

https://www.detailersdomain.com/coll...ro-300ml-10-oz

k0kong

I remember this happening on my old car, ended up being caused by mold forming on the blower motor / A/C Evaporator. i took some household Lysol, found where those 2 components were located and sprayed it a few times. It was situated right before the cabin air filter in that car so it was easily accessible. I let it sit for a bit then ran it for about 10 minutes. Ghetto - yes, but the smell went away for the next 2 years up until i sold the car lol. Just my 2 cents.

DallasDave

iTrader: (1)

If you haven't already done so, replace the cabin air filter with a high-quality unit. Often times that will take care of the problem AND is a simple fix.

islandbeef

BlackLexRX

Exactly. I just dealt with this on my RX so I thought I'd chime in. I used a foaming AC cleaner from Home Depot, here's a link to the product:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/AC-Safe-A...-921/206740351
Less than 6 dollars-compare to Toyota product that is $$$, same stuff. Next, get one of those little red staws that connect onto spray cans (like the ones that come taped onto cans of WD40).
Go to passenger side floorboard. On the back passenger side of console, there are a couple of removable plug in clips that allow access to your AC evaporator, remove those with a small flathead, this will allow you to remove small panel there.
Look into cavity and you will see evaporator box that also contains heater core and AC equipment. Look for a rubber hose (about 1/2" diameter) coming off of evap box, that is your drain tube. Pull it off gently. Spray AC cleaner up into the evap box thoroughly by inserting straw into metal outlet of evap box. I use about a third to half can, then a little down disconnected hose that leads to bottom of car. Reconnect the drain tube hose to evap box. Start your car, open windows and run AC full blast for about 5 minutes. You will see foam releasing from bottom of car as it cleans evaporator. Next run your heater full blast for a little as heater core will have been exposed to the cleaning foam too. This product from Home Depot states on can it is safe for all plastics and metals and will not harm anything, only cleans and dissolves grime. Allow the car to run awhile while foam clears the system and out bottom of car, probably not good to breath it. It really made my AC fresh and cooler. This is exactly the same procedure Lexus will do and charge you around 200$ minimum.
I tried Lysol first as I had it on hand, worked for a week or so, but my evap was clogged up with gunk, like yours sounds like it is. Did the foam cleaner and now over a month of fresh and strong AC.

Dallasguy1

First thing I do after getting the interior cleaned is to change the cabin air filter on a preowned car caus we don't really see but it does hold a lot of dust and all once we change it. I'm sure swapping the filter should solve the smell problem.

BlackLexRX

I changed mine first, as I normally do every 10k, before digging into my AC smell. Didn't help as I found out next, AC system is adjacent to cabin filter. Def try cabin filter first. But if car has odor only during AC use, evaporator will need cleaned most likely. Condensate and dust can sit in system if unused which creates bad odor.

jonathancl

Same here. Both of my GSs had a musty smell when the AC kicked on. Replaced cabin air filter, and the smell went away both times.

It's so easy, and the offbrand filters are $12 on amazon. Definitely start with that.

bclexus

Make sure the condensation line is clear and not clogged-up, which will retain stagnant water.

BlackLexRX

Right. This is how I knew I had a problem. I'd run my AC in Denver when it was like 90+degrees and have very little (just a few drips) of condensate water coming out of bottom of car. Almost nothing. After using the foam cleaner, it now flows out lots of water underneath. If you have no water under car when AC on in hot weather, you need to clean your evaporator core. Filter only masks problem.

r3dl4b3l

iTrader: (1)

Any pics you can show us of the panel and plugs?

BlackLexRX

I'll take some of mine when I get home from work. Get down on your passenger floorboard. Look left toward driver side, but at the bottom of the console (where a passengers left foot would go. There are 2 plugs there. Remove them and expose the evap core, AC works, etc.

BlackLexRX

Went ahead and took one. Nice to work 100 yards from home, lol.