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This method I test on my both Lexus and it works very well.
1: Clean air vent ducts near windshield under hood.
2: Check Cabin Air Filter behind glove box, Clean or replace it with carbon or pollen media filter as your like.
3: Clean evaporator with foaming cleaner, I brought two cans around $10 from Home Depot, one can is good for two car or one car two times. a 3-4 feet 3/16" PVC tube used
Carefully run PVC tube through between the blower fins and slowly push tube in until it can't go further. you may need test couple times to FEEL the tube head is against evaporator or something. Be careful dealing with blower fins!
How many foaming you need is really depends, Half can for each car works well for me. Release foaming slowly but steadily.
Start engine and open all windows, Set at highest temperature run blower at max speed for at least 5 mins and you may need do this a few times to drive away foaming's artificial smell.
4: Auto mode Turn off AC only few blocks away from home or office and let blower dry the evaporator a bit before parking.
Nice. I figured I might try something into there whenever I do my filter next. So the foam and gunk just drips down the condensate drain ports? Foam smell go away pretty quickly?
Nice. I figured I might try something into there whenever I do my filter next. So the foam and gunk just drips down the condensate drain ports? Foam smell go away pretty quickly?
Yes, wait a few seconds or so you can see they are out of drain hole underneath [some car have two drain holes, the passenger side has more out than driver side], Foam smell will fade within a few days just like most auto ac spray cleaner.
Yes, wait a few seconds or so you can see they are out of drain hole underneath [some car have two drain holes, the passenger side has more out than driver side], Foam smell will fade within a few days just like most auto ac spray cleaner.
OK, did this today, and what a difference. Used that exact product FM Home Depot. Did it just a little different, so I thought I'd share. Remove lower right passenger side console cover. Two plastic clips and gently peel back carpet there. Once removed you will see condenser drain tube beginning and where it connects to bottom metal pipe of condenser. I sprayed up that metal pipe which covered condenser with foam directly. Also sprayed some down outlet rubber hose. Reconnected, started car with AC full blast, outside air. Immediately noticed foamy dirty water under car...had been just barely dripping before. Really flowing now. Opened hood and pried off air inlet covers. Sprayed foam into those. More came out bottom. AC noticeably colder. Switched to recirc, ran awhile, then fresh air plus heat, then heat with recirc, etc. AC system running like new. Just thought I'd share as removing that lower panel and Carpet gives direct access to condenser.
OK, did this today, and what a difference. Used that exact product FM Home Depot. Did it just a little different, so I thought I'd share. Remove lower right passenger side console cover. Two plastic clips and gently peel back carpet there. Once removed you will see condenser drain tube beginning and where it connects to bottom metal pipe of condenser. I sprayed up that metal pipe which covered condenser with foam directly. Also sprayed some down outlet rubber hose. Reconnected, started car with AC full blast, outside air. Immediately noticed foamy dirty water under car...had been just barely dripping before. Really flowing now. Opened hood and pried off air inlet covers. Sprayed foam into those. More came out bottom. AC noticeably colder. Switched to recirc, ran awhile, then fresh air plus heat, then heat with recirc, etc. AC system running like new. Just thought I'd share as removing that lower panel and Carpet gives direct access to condenser.
You mean the evaporator yes? My system works very well and no odors so I may wait on this but thanks for the writeup.
You mean the evaporator yes? My system works very well and no odors so I may wait on this but thanks for the writeup.
yes. Once you remove panel, it's right there so no need to snake through system. Mine smelled and didn't drain much at bottom of car. Lots of water now. Product from OP is 5$ and change at home Depot. Compare to $$$ for the Toyota specific cleaner.
Just one question. Are we trying to clean just the evaporator or foam the entire volume of the HVAC chamber? In which case I'd need to move the tube around to hit all the areas.
05-18-17, 10:56 PM
AC Bad Odors Easy Fix
