Sorry for typo in title will no longer allow me to edit: Air Recirculation Problem 2011 LS460L. The a/c has three modes that I know of: Fresh air, auto, or recirculate. I normally only keep the car on recirculate because I do not like to get any of the outside smells in the car with the air on here in South Florida. For a while now even when on recirculate I am getting outside smells. Lexus has tried to fix twice with no success including re-synchronizing the mechanisms that open and close the flap doors for the different modes. Any ideas or has anyone else had this issue? Thanks!

 

There are a few scenarios that can cause outside smells. Here is the most likely and easiest to check imo.

Ours had outside smells while on recirculate. When I changed the cabin air filter I did not follow the proper procedure. You must select recirculate mode before trying to gain access to the filter. If you don't you can break things. One of the things that breaks or pop's off if your lucky is a linkage that opens and closes the blend door. It is easy to see if the door is working correctly. Select recirculate. Remove all contents from the glove box. Then take out the divider and glove box rear panel. With those removed you should be able to see the door open and close when switching between recirculate and outside air. The door should move fully open and fully closed. If something has happened it may move half way, a few inches or not at all.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ir-filter.html Post 5 has a good diagram.

 

Thank you very much for the suggestion and information. I am going to check the function of that door tomorrow.

 

I wanted to come back and update the thread. The issue is still not fixed. I removed everything from the glove box and when I switch between outside air and recirculate the blend door comes down and fully closes no problem. Anything else that would not be working and thus allow the outside smell in even when on the recirculation mode. I also want to note I always keep my car on recirculate mode so whenever I change the cabin air filter it is always on recirculate mode.

 

Wanted to come back to this thread. Car has been into Lexus 3 times now for this issue. They have still been unable to fix. Is anyone familiar with the ins and outs of LS460 HVAC system? I thought that when the car is on recirculate mode all air coming into the cabin must pass through the cabin air filter before being blown out through the vents. I changed the filter, the blend door is working properly and I am still getting all outside smells into the car. In hot humid FL driving down the highway at night I am getting tons of unpleasant odors into the car. Any other ideas? Where could there be a hole or something wrong in the system that is allowing outside air into the cabin? I'm getting very frustrated with this issue.

 

Switching between outside air and recirculated air mode is linked to “AUTO” switch operation by default. The decision is based on outside air temperature and humidity. The customizable features allow for the manual operation of the switch as an option. You might try getting your dealer to set it to manual.

 

Thanks for replying.....I have 3 options. I can press my switch 3 times. One press lights up the light above the recirculate only. A second press lights up the light above the fresh air and auto and a third press lights up the light about just auto. I have the Carista module and app but I did not see a setting for anything else? Am I missing something. Even if the switch is pressed so just the light above recirculate is on it still brings in outside air and the blend door is functioning perfectly that is why I am so stumped. I saw a setting on Carista for something pertaining to allowing fresh air to come in by feet when on fresh air or something along those lines and I even shut that off (it was on) to see if there was a difference but nothing changed. Driving home today they are mowing grass all over I'm getting full on fresh cut grass smell in my car when its on recirculate mode.

 

If you are using the ECO DRIVE mode you might try turning that off, it sort of seizes some of the AC controls such as Outside/Recirculate to improve fuel efficiency.

 

Nope I've actually never tried the eco-mode. I'm at a loss. Could there be some sort or hole or Servo not working on the system maybe buried in the dash somewhere or something? Lexus does nothing. They connect a scan tool and they verify the blend door is opening and closing properly. It's quite pathetic to be honest.

 

Maybe time for tracer smoke.

 

Ah not a bad idea. I am going to suggest that! Thank you

 

I’m having same issue with IS350 2014…

 

OP, did you ever find any resolution to this? I'm having the same issue on 2008 LS460. Blend door opens and shuts properly but outside air/smells/exhaust are still definitely getting in even when set on Recirculate.

EDIT: it does in fact seem like my blend door is malfunctioning. When I press fresh air it closes. When I press recirculate it raises just barely, not even a half inch, but it does move.

I'm assuming the door open is Recirculate and the door closed is Fresh Air?

Anyone know how to fix the door operation?

 

UPDATE:

I used this guide to disassemble the dash to get to the blend door. Turns out the arm had just popped out of the guide and I was able to carefully wrangle it back in without breaking anything. Everything works perfect again now.

 

Adding to this thread as my recirculation stopped working and it wasn't because the plastic linkage was broken. My servo motor stopped working and as a temporary fix I separate the plastic arms that connect the door to the servo motor by using a screwdriver to pry the pin out of the slot it rides in. This allowed the door to move freely again so I used some masking tape to hold the door in the air recirculation setting (door up). I found the servo motor sells for just under $200 and I could get it for about $150 but I'll see if the tape holds. Living in Texas, I never intentionally set it to let in outside air so except for occasional fogging of the windows in the winter time I don't need to be able to allow in outside air while driving. Pics below are after the previously linked instructions are followed to get to the plastic linkage. In the first pic, the linkage is separated already. I used a screwdriver where the top arrow is to pull the pin from the other piece (bottom arrow). Next 2 pics show where I used some masking tape.


linkage already separated and door open

masking tape holding the door open