Air from vents humid/smelly after turning A/C off
 

So I'm aware that all cars do this to some extent, but it's particularly gross on mine. I turn the A/C off before I turn the car off, but after doing so, the air from the vents gets super humid and smells pretty bad for several minutes. Humid to the point that it leaves a visible layer of condensation on the fake carbon fiber thing across the front of the dash.

Are there any secrets to preventing this? Shouldn't the moisture just be purged out the bottom of the car? I'm concerned there's a blockage somewhere that's not allowing it to drain out all the way.

was wondering the same thing. bump for a solution.

Check the drain hose on the bottom of the car to make sure it isn't clogged. Check your in cabin air filter. Take it to the dealer if it persists. When they say "sorry we can't do anything" call Toyota or Subaru of America and file an official complaint that the dealership is not honoring your warranty.

I am dealing with something similar right now on my wife's car ('12 prius C) and Toyota says that the dealer should have at the very least sprayed deodorizer.

The dealer even said it would cost me $800 if they tore apart her car and they didn't find any mold... and of course, being a dealership you know they won't be able to find the smell or otherwise "reproduce the problem"

There are probably some exceptions to the following but it is my general feeling that dealerships' service departments are not there to swoon you with their customer service. I will find out very soon if Toyota is the same way. So far they have at least listened to me with sincerity. I can update you with my progress on this if you'd like.

I avoided this fight (kind of, it was my second time trying to get them to fix it) with the Subaru dealership when I handed them the TSB for the crickets and asked them if he heard them when I pulled up and left the car running...

EDIT: for the record, my wife's car has been to the dealership 3 times now for the mold smell issue.

I have never seen a layer of condensation on the faux c/f dash piece after running my a/c. That doesn't sound normal.

You may have condensation from the AC system... but you may also have a leak somewhere that is introducing moisture.

Does it smell bad as in a rotten water smell, or does it smell borderline rotten/sweet?

If it's the latter, your coolant core may have prematurely sprung a leak. If it's the former, you need to try to replicate it with accuracy and bring it to the dealer.

-alex

Check your drain line for AC system - all cooling systems WILL build condensation and your system has to be able to dump that water or else you will have mold issues which is what you smell.

Someone here posted the same issue and took it to the dealer and they found his drain line plugged up.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. It doesn't smell like coolant at all, it's that moldy water smell. Anyone have pics of where the drain hose is located?

Being in Seattle, I wouldn't be surprised if it's mold. You know we get it pretty bad up here. Do you garage your car?

Either way, the dealer should handle this. I know with Hanson down in Olympia, I often have to walk them through my problems or they'll just blow me off and say they couldn't replicate it. If you take it in specifically mention the drain line.

Do a thorough search because this was just covered a week or two ago in another/similar thread. If I can locate it, I'll link it.

Found it http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...ht=A%2FC+smell

If you run your A/C and there is NO condensate puddle under your car, drain is blocked. Not sure of its location.

GFs Camry had same issue. Turned heater on max and drove around for a little bit with windows down. Got rid of the smell as far as I know. Try all of the above.

Check to see if your A/C is draining condensation while the car is running that would be the first step.

My 1 month old 2015 FR-S had the same problem. I took it back to the dealership that sold it to me and said essentially that they needed to take care of it and I didn't care how. Because I paid cash for the vehicle, maybe that helped. Anyway, the service manager was helpful in treating the problem and at least after I got it back, it smelled OK. Now here we are about three more weeks down the road and I noticed the odor again this morning. It only occurs on startup.

I was told that this is a problem endemic to most Toyotas and ALL Scions and is caused by the air conditioning condenser (under the dash) becoming mildewed and/or moldy. I guess I will have to go back again to get it fixed.

Search around the forum a bit more for the long thread discussing this. Specifically, some claim that the two missing rubber grommets on the bottom of the car is the cause of the problem. Smell disappeared for me once I installed them.

If that is correct OP the grommets should be in your glove box and can be easily installed, I think the a/c drain line runs quite close to them or water can easily flow in through those holes

Dealerships actually prefer folks to finance cars over paying cash. The better deal for paying cash is a memory of a bygone era.

On another note, my '06 Tucson did this, smelling like rotten water. The closest the shop could suggest was the catalytic converter was stopped up, but since the Tucson had 3, they never fixed it, kept the prob placated by deodorizing every couple months til I traded the thing.

This can occur on any A/C system, any auto mfgr, even residential systems.

MOLD.

Replace the cabin filter and you'll be good.

An older technique was to spray Lysol disinfectant into the intakes for the air conditioner continuously till the bottle is empty along with blasting out the condensation vent line

The deal was the same as if I had financed, but I wanted to point out to the pinhead service rep (not the manager) with whom I first spoke that I had just dropped nearly 30K one month earlier in their place of business and I expected the car to be free of defects for at least a little while. No worries, it got fixed. At least for now.

My A/C occasionally smells like smelly feet. I've grown accustom to the smell, and mayeb even a little fond of the stench.

It makes me wonder how they stored it prior to sale for there to be mold after one month. Mine has been in the garage every night and I also garage it at work.

The car was transferred up to Charles Maund (Austin) from Red McCombs in San Antonio so I am pretty sure the problem started with that dealership. Nevertheless, it is now Maund Toyota's problem.

It might just be the standing water in the a/c unit I really think this thing needs better flow