Bad smell from AC
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 67
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Bad smell from AC
Does anyone else have this? I think it is a mildew type smell that is only there briefly coming directly out of the vents when a turn the car on. It goes away quickly, --but for that brief moment, it is BAD!
I assume that I will have to take it in to get addressed, but I thought I would ask if anyone else has experienced this?
I assume that I will have to take it in to get addressed, but I thought I would ask if anyone else has experienced this?
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
try to take the ac filter out of behind of your glove compartment, and shake the dirt. If not you need to replace the filter.
I think BananaGS has DIY to replacing the filter with cheaper homedepot product rather than paying too much from dealer.
I think BananaGS has DIY to replacing the filter with cheaper homedepot product rather than paying too much from dealer.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: woodinville WA
musty smell
Is due to the bacterial (mold and mildew) buildup/growth primarily on the vanes of the A/C evaporator. When you shut the car down after using the A/C all day there will always be a thin film of mositure left on the surfaces of these vanes, about 10,000 sq inches in the case of the 92 LS.
This moisture, combined with the airborne "food" that gets through the pollen filter and the cool dark (50-70F) of the A/C plenum provide a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Lexus tries to "mask" the smell of the bacterial "outgassing" by always operating the A/C thereby keeping the A/C vanes coated with a thin film of moisture. But as you have noticed you still get the horrid mold and mildew, dirty gym sock smell/odor, when the system first starts up, before the A/C evaporator cools enough to condense moisture out of the incoming airflow.
Lots of answers elsewhere, search for "odor".
This moisture, combined with the airborne "food" that gets through the pollen filter and the cool dark (50-70F) of the A/C plenum provide a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Lexus tries to "mask" the smell of the bacterial "outgassing" by always operating the A/C thereby keeping the A/C vanes coated with a thin film of moisture. But as you have noticed you still get the horrid mold and mildew, dirty gym sock smell/odor, when the system first starts up, before the A/C evaporator cools enough to condense moisture out of the incoming airflow.
Lots of answers elsewhere, search for "odor".
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: California
I think everyone with a GS has this problem. I took mine to the dealer 2 years ago, and they used something that smelled like wintergreen (YUK!) to deodorize the system. It worked. The service manager told me to disable the recirculation mode every time it switches on automatically, and the smell would not return. It worked. Good luck.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: woodinville WA
device
Spraying a chemical into the airflow intake is only a temporary fix, it will kill off the bacterial but multiple "rinse" cycles will wash the chemical away within a month or so. In 92 Lexus coated the A/C evaporator with an anti-microbe chemical that didn't even last for one full season.
Have a look at:
http://www.airsept.com/eed.html
for a possible long term solution.
Have a look at:
http://www.airsept.com/eed.html
for a possible long term solution.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,859
Likes: 12
From: Waipahu, Waikele, HI
I guess if you got the tools....you can do this fix yourself.
https://www.clublexus.com/Informatio...0/ac001l01.pdf
Peter
https://www.clublexus.com/Informatio...0/ac001l01.pdf
Peter
Trending Topics
this seems to be a very common topic in multiple Lexus models.
Has anyone reported this to Lexus.com?
I suggest everyone bombard their FAQ site with questions on foul smelling odors from the AC. Include all the filter changes and deoderizing spray attempts you have made as well as trips to the dealer.
I do not hear of other manufacturers having this problem. Sounds like it is a mult-model design flaw. Toyota and Lexus must share common AC parts (condensors, evaporators, etc). Anyone also own a Toyota and smell this crap?????
I can't help but wonder if the mold or mildew is just run of the mill or the non-healthy variety.
sj
Has anyone reported this to Lexus.com?
I suggest everyone bombard their FAQ site with questions on foul smelling odors from the AC. Include all the filter changes and deoderizing spray attempts you have made as well as trips to the dealer.
I do not hear of other manufacturers having this problem. Sounds like it is a mult-model design flaw. Toyota and Lexus must share common AC parts (condensors, evaporators, etc). Anyone also own a Toyota and smell this crap?????
I can't help but wonder if the mold or mildew is just run of the mill or the non-healthy variety.
sj
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Tech Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Does not matter how much chemical you pump into the AC, it WILL come back. The only proper fix is to get rid of the smell by some antibacteria spray like limsol (spell)
then, to prevent smell to come back, always (try to) leave the car using outside air (setting on the AC unit) every night (ie when you get back home from work)
the smell is from mildew and bacterial grow due to moisture trapped inside the air system, by allowing outside air circulating the system over night, you keep the system dry and bacteria free ==> no smell.
get it ;-)
then, to prevent smell to come back, always (try to) leave the car using outside air (setting on the AC unit) every night (ie when you get back home from work)
the smell is from mildew and bacterial grow due to moisture trapped inside the air system, by allowing outside air circulating the system over night, you keep the system dry and bacteria free ==> no smell.
get it ;-)
Last edited by BananaGS; Jan 6, 2003 at 02:29 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 3
From: California
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
I did notify lexus.com, basically they offered to talk with my dealer for me...that I can do. At last service the dealer sprayed something called "fridge fresh" into the system vents, worked for a very short period of time.
I've been trying some of the ideas gleened from this site, keeping system in "auto" mode, running fan only for a bit before shutting down and tilting open my sunroof at night when I remember, to let any additional moisture evaporate. Problem isn't completely solved but is definitely getting better. Thank goodness.
Open to any other ideas. Good luck.
Brad
I've been trying some of the ideas gleened from this site, keeping system in "auto" mode, running fan only for a bit before shutting down and tilting open my sunroof at night when I remember, to let any additional moisture evaporate. Problem isn't completely solved but is definitely getting better. Thank goodness.
Open to any other ideas. Good luck.
Brad
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Thanks for that suggestion. I wouldn't have figured the filter needed replacement within the first year and my dealer hadn't suggested replacement or even brought up the subject for that matter. Good to hear others have found replacement to be helpful and that it was needed within first 20K. That'll be my next step. Thanks again.
Brad
Brad