Odor from vents
#1
Cruisin'
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Odor from vents
There is a funny odor (musty is the best I can call it) coming from the vents. Its quite noticeable when I don't have the A/C on and I'm not recycling the air. Typically, I just leave my windows (or moon roof) to get fresh air in, but when I have them closed, the smell is a bit annoying.
Its been happening for a few months now and would like to know what I can do. I had the air filter replaced at the 15k service, so I don't think I need another (stock filter), but any other ideas as to what I can do to remove this odor?
Thanks,
vash
Its been happening for a few months now and would like to know what I can do. I had the air filter replaced at the 15k service, so I don't think I need another (stock filter), but any other ideas as to what I can do to remove this odor?
Thanks,
vash
#2
But I just got here
iTrader: (1)
The best advice I can give is to just hold your breath. Seriously though, maybe you have a plastic bag or something stuck to the radiator in the front? Or maybe even stuck to your exhaust? Just check those 2 spots and make sure there's nothing there. That's all I can really think of though.
#3
I had a new chevy truck that had this problem, it's pretty common. What happens is that the water will accumulate in the evaportator, then mildew will form and cause that stank smell. What the dealer does is install a swich that will turn on the fan once every 10min for 10sec after the car is shut off, this process will continue for the first 2 hours after the car is shut off. This will dry the left over condensation after the car is shut off and thus the mildew won't form, no stank.
#5
Cajun Gumbo Man
Vash: They are all wrong ! You live in La correct ? Well LA really stands for : LA - Lousy Air ! LA air quality SUCKS big time !
#7
Cruisin'
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Thanks for the info, I'll be taking it to the dealership to see what they can do on Friday. I have some additional items for them to look at, so I'm hoping they can fix it then.
vash
vash
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#9
it's not the filter, allthough I think they should be changed every 30k or whatever the dealer says. What you smell is sour water (condensation) and meldew, this is a common problem will most cars, especially here in FLA where it's real humid all the time
#10
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The manual states that if you store your car for a long time to
slightly leave the windows open and to recirculate air as often as possible to prevent a build up musty air inside the vents and in your cabin.
You don't necessarily need the A/C on, just the fan or allow the outside air to enter the cabin. That will clear up the vents.
Nothing wrong with filters i dont think. Its a typical sounding problem.
slightly leave the windows open and to recirculate air as often as possible to prevent a build up musty air inside the vents and in your cabin.
You don't necessarily need the A/C on, just the fan or allow the outside air to enter the cabin. That will clear up the vents.
Nothing wrong with filters i dont think. Its a typical sounding problem.
#11
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I'm getting this smell too. Even after 50,000 miles. I'm using the Lysol in the vents and that takes care of it for the most part but when I park in the garage and take a minute to get out of the car, the smell in the air in the garage stinks. Is there someplace else I need to spray besides in the interior vents and the fresh air vent?
#12
Really bad odor coming out of vent
Hi all, for some reason, since the weather got hotter and hotter, everytime i start up the car, there would be this really really bad smell, like wet smelly socks, that comes out of the vent. The smell would go away after few minutes, but it will come out everytime i start up the car !! can someone tell me how to get rid of this smell ?
#13
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This happens to me too. Someone has the answer, I read it here over a year ago; something about the dealer replacing a filter. In the meantime, I spray Lysol in the vents as a temporary fix.
#14
Where is my super sauce?
Mold can grow in A/C systems. This is not uncommon. The dealer has some sort of fix/cleanup that can be done. Kensteele's remedy sounds pretty sound.
#16
Where is my super sauce?
Originally posted by CCType-S
its happen to me everytime after using A/C.
its happen to me everytime after using A/C.
Mold usually takes a couple seasons of moist air to build up.
#17
Where is my super sauce?
Look what I found on a google search!
Click and Clack say to clean out the evaporator drain: http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch...97/May/17.html
And how about this product: http://www.ultrashield.com/odortreatment.htm
Ain't the internet fun?!?!?!?
Click and Clack say to clean out the evaporator drain: http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch...97/May/17.html
And how about this product: http://www.ultrashield.com/odortreatment.htm
Ain't the internet fun?!?!?!?
#19
I have a theory about this after several experiments on my other cars. That smell comes from the buildup of cooling agent in the A/C pipes when u turn the car off. I bet you turn the car off as soon as you turn off the A/C or even with the A/C on. What I do is bleed the system.....before u turn the car off turn off the A/C and let the fan blow untill the air is not cold anymore....doing this will prevent that rotted smell. Try it!!!!!!
#21
Three Wheelin'
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Its a very simple problem guys.
What you are most likely doing is running your A/C in the reciculating mode button (yellow light on) alot.
It should be run in the fresh air mode button (green light on) most of the time. Once the car is cooled down the fresh air mode should be used at all times. If you have the system in the REC mode & turn the car off then you will get the pissy smell. I had this problem with my 90 ACCORD & 94 ACCORD untill I started turning the system over in the fresh air mode. The ACCORDs A/C was not as powerful as the TL ofcourse. The only time I use the REC button(yellow light on) is when the car is real hot. Or it may be an oil burning smokey stinky car or bus in front of me. I have never had this problem with my TL in the 2 & a half years of ownership. I use A/C most of the time except winter. I sure have used it this past week with Temps in this area at about 100 & heat index near 110. This is most likely your problem turn the A/C system to the fresh air mode.
What you are most likely doing is running your A/C in the reciculating mode button (yellow light on) alot.
It should be run in the fresh air mode button (green light on) most of the time. Once the car is cooled down the fresh air mode should be used at all times. If you have the system in the REC mode & turn the car off then you will get the pissy smell. I had this problem with my 90 ACCORD & 94 ACCORD untill I started turning the system over in the fresh air mode. The ACCORDs A/C was not as powerful as the TL ofcourse. The only time I use the REC button(yellow light on) is when the car is real hot. Or it may be an oil burning smokey stinky car or bus in front of me. I have never had this problem with my TL in the 2 & a half years of ownership. I use A/C most of the time except winter. I sure have used it this past week with Temps in this area at about 100 & heat index near 110. This is most likely your problem turn the A/C system to the fresh air mode.
#22
Where is my super sauce?
Originally posted by FTM-1
...What you are most likely doing is running your A/C in the reciculating mode button (yellow light on) alot.
It should be run in the fresh air mode button (green light on) most of the time...
...What you are most likely doing is running your A/C in the reciculating mode button (yellow light on) alot.
It should be run in the fresh air mode button (green light on) most of the time...
#23
Moderator Alumnus
Originally posted by kensteele
This happens to me too. Someone has the answer, I read it here over a year ago; something about the dealer replacing a filter. In the meantime, I spray Lysol in the vents as a temporary fix.
This happens to me too. Someone has the answer, I read it here over a year ago; something about the dealer replacing a filter. In the meantime, I spray Lysol in the vents as a temporary fix.
lol, don't do this. It will only cover up the problem. Get it fixed. Take it back to the dealer, they can clean your A/C condensor & evaporator drain which will eliminate the smell. Also have your inside air filter replaced at the same time, it'll probably linger in there too.
Also, lysol will most likely discolor your dash/plastic if you overspray it.
Do you smoke in your car?
#24
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Originally posted by SiGGy
lol, don't do this. It will only cover up the problem. Get it fixed. Take it back to the dealer, they can clean your A/C condensor & evaporator drain which will eliminate the smell. Also have your inside air filter replaced at the same time, it'll probably linger in there too.
Also, lysol will most likely discolor your dash/plastic if you overspray it.
Do you smoke in your car?
lol, don't do this. It will only cover up the problem. Get it fixed. Take it back to the dealer, they can clean your A/C condensor & evaporator drain which will eliminate the smell. Also have your inside air filter replaced at the same time, it'll probably linger in there too.
Also, lysol will most likely discolor your dash/plastic if you overspray it.
Do you smoke in your car?
I'm going to try to fresh air (non-recirc) method described above and talk to the dealer next time I'm at Superior.
#25
Moderator Alumnus
Originally posted by kensteele
Yep, lysol is only a quick, temporary remedy when you know you're going to have company in the car tomorrow and don't feel like experiencing that bad odor. I'm careful when spraying as it does get all over the place but you have to wipe it up quickly. No one smokes in my car.
I'm going to try to fresh air (non-recirc) method described above and talk to the dealer next time I'm at Superior.
Yep, lysol is only a quick, temporary remedy when you know you're going to have company in the car tomorrow and don't feel like experiencing that bad odor. I'm careful when spraying as it does get all over the place but you have to wipe it up quickly. No one smokes in my car.
I'm going to try to fresh air (non-recirc) method described above and talk to the dealer next time I'm at Superior.
#27
alright, FTM, thanx for the suggestion, it does make sense. However, I remember my friend spraying some sorta of odor removal spray into the place where air flow into the car's circulation system. Where in the 3.0CL is the entrance of air flow ?
#29
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Here's the way to prevent it...
Ok, when you are about a minute or so from turning the car off, turn off the a/c and just let air blow through, this will help dry it out before just turnining it and letting it stew in its own juice. Also the lysol thing works ok, but doesn't get it all. The best way to keep it down is a combination of both the "dry-down" and a little lysol everytime you clean the car...help keepin it smellin fresh, and let the hoochies stink up the car for you, not the mold!
#30
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Horrible smell/odor
Recently, I started noticing a really bad odor when running the AC.
Could this be mildew? Anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix?
Thanx guys
Could this be mildew? Anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix?
Thanx guys
#31
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change your cabin air filters...it is an easy DIY and you can get the filters at any car parts store for about $20 (there are two of them). There are instructions on this site and/or on the TL site if you want to search for them.
#32
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Originally Posted by bigkahuna
Recently, I started noticing a really bad odor when running the AC.
Could this be mildew? Anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix?
Thanx guys
Could this be mildew? Anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix?
Thanx guys
same thing happemed to me. smelled like old mildew or somthing. it ended up being a leak, not sure exacly what was leaking but take it in to the dealer.
#33
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This is one of the drawbacks to doing the service at other-than-dealership places. You save a bundle but there are some filters that places don't change. Did your car sit for a while?
I imagine that this is rare though? I have been good about the "big" services being done at the dealer but most of the less-than 40k ones I do outside of the dealer. I have a garage now...but that was only for the last 5k.
I imagine that this is rare though? I have been good about the "big" services being done at the dealer but most of the less-than 40k ones I do outside of the dealer. I have a garage now...but that was only for the last 5k.
#37
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Originally Posted by bigkahuna
Forgive my stupidity, where is the cabin filter?
I recently installed an Injen CAI....could something be leaking into it ??
I recently installed an Injen CAI....could something be leaking into it ??
#39
on to the next one...
Written Instructions:
To access the interior air filters you will need a Phillips screw driver a pocket flat blade screw driver and a sharp knife. Open the glove box and empty it of whatever you have been hiding in there.
There is a air piston on the right side that slows the opening speed it is attached to the door with a screw, remove the screw, pop of the air piston.
There are two stops on the inside the glove box, pop both out with the small flat blade.
The glove box will now open downwards, there are two Phillips screws holding the door to the dashboard structure, remove both screws; the door can now be removed.
You will now see two Phillips screws that appear to hold nothing in place, remove these -- leave the metal clips in place.
There is a serrated panel visible it must be cut away from the dashboard structure, save this panel as it is to be reused later.
There is now a vertical white plastic panel visible that can be snapped out of the way and removed.
The filters are the two vertical boxes now visible; remove the bottom one first by pulling it towards you then lower the upper one and remove it as well.
Exchange the filters noting that they have arrows on them for airflow; the boxes that contain the filters are marked as well. Install the filters in the boxes and reassemble the filters in to the air box . Take the white panel and snap it back in place.
Now take the previously cut out plastic panel and turn it so the two hooks engage the two slots in the dash structure, the two screws that did not do anything are now used to secure this panel in place.
Reassemble the glove box in reverse fashion from disassembly.
.
This job should take you about twenty minutes or less.
Jens
How to pics:
http://public.fotki.com/kavextrax/aircon_micron_filte/
Hope this helps.
B
To access the interior air filters you will need a Phillips screw driver a pocket flat blade screw driver and a sharp knife. Open the glove box and empty it of whatever you have been hiding in there.
There is a air piston on the right side that slows the opening speed it is attached to the door with a screw, remove the screw, pop of the air piston.
There are two stops on the inside the glove box, pop both out with the small flat blade.
The glove box will now open downwards, there are two Phillips screws holding the door to the dashboard structure, remove both screws; the door can now be removed.
You will now see two Phillips screws that appear to hold nothing in place, remove these -- leave the metal clips in place.
There is a serrated panel visible it must be cut away from the dashboard structure, save this panel as it is to be reused later.
There is now a vertical white plastic panel visible that can be snapped out of the way and removed.
The filters are the two vertical boxes now visible; remove the bottom one first by pulling it towards you then lower the upper one and remove it as well.
Exchange the filters noting that they have arrows on them for airflow; the boxes that contain the filters are marked as well. Install the filters in the boxes and reassemble the filters in to the air box . Take the white panel and snap it back in place.
Now take the previously cut out plastic panel and turn it so the two hooks engage the two slots in the dash structure, the two screws that did not do anything are now used to secure this panel in place.
Reassemble the glove box in reverse fashion from disassembly.
.
This job should take you about twenty minutes or less.
Jens
How to pics:
http://public.fotki.com/kavextrax/aircon_micron_filte/
Hope this helps.
B
#40
If you run your a/c all the time on fairly cold settings, with recirc ON, then this will happen on any car. You should always turn recirc off, and the a/c compressor off about 2 minutes before you shut off the car. Something about blowing the water dropplets off the condensor I believe.