FYI Class Action HVAC Stinky - Page 3 - Toyota 4Runner Forum

-E5J- · 02-15-2019, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAXJeremy

it's always humid in FL...I've run my A/c consistently since I bought my 4R back in August of last year..used the heat a bit this winter, but my A/C is pretty much always set to on, only difference is whether I'm using the recirc.. I'm not experiencing any unusual odors from the A/C..

This^
Im in FL, too... insane humidity. 10 months of summer in FL and humidity usually in the 70%-90% range...

Had this issue with my 2002 4Runner... was instructed to start intermittently open the vent (turning off recirculate) when not behind a truck or diesel vehicle, on open road... issue went away. On my 2015 LE, 2016 XP, and on my 19 TRDP, I've always intermittently turned off recirculate... No more issues...

So on open roads, when no one is in front of you, turn off recirculate, roll the windows down a bit for a few miles, and prevent the issue...

I hope you all have a great weekend,
Jason

cognus · 02-15-2019, 01:19 PM

Actually, it IS a real issue, bad routing of the lines. It ain't like ordinary musty humid air smell - its bad when its left untreated and there are actually a good handful of posts here about the problem on 5th gens. but if your nose isn't bothered by it and your sinuses resilient to mold, you're good to go!

The lines are routed in a way that traps moisture like a P-trap.

some good vids on 'tube about remedies etc.

HEAVY WT · 02-15-2019, 04:54 PM

I have this issue in my 4Runner - kinda smells like an old tackle box from time to time. Granted it isn't my DD, but my Acuras have never had this issue - even when I lived in FL and used AC all the time.

Hans Moleman · 02-15-2019, 07:52 PM

My Toyota never had smelly HVAC because I don't use recirculate unless it stinks outside.

My Fords always had stinky HVAC because if the system is off, it goes into recirculate. The only way to get outside air is to have the blower on when it is set to vent. What I like about Toyota is you can still get outside air without the blower on.

johnbt · 02-15-2019, 08:00 PM

I only use recirculate when driving through thick grass clippings on the road, like when they're cutting a month's worth of knee high weeds on the median strip. I'm sensitive to cut grass, mold, mildew and various noxious stinks.

And I generally keep the driver's side rear window open an inch year around to improve the air flow.

I love the smell of gasoline. Go figure.

fkheath · 11-18-2020, 11:36 PM

There is a factory technical service bulletin from Toyota that covers the issue of HVAC odors: Know Howe: HVAC system maintenance

In a nutshell, it recommends drying out the A/C system before you park your vehicle by going to outside air, and getting an activated carbon filter for the A/C cabin filter. Toyota makes activated carbon filters for most of their cars; I had one for my RA4, but have not looked into it for the 4Runner.

jhguth · 11-19-2020, 08:54 AM

these ad bots are getting pretty good

apc9199 · 11-19-2020, 10:15 AM

I knew an old engineer who was constantly tinkering with vehicles and one of the things he modified in an old Scout II was to add a relay so that the fan in the AC system would continue to run for ~60 seconds after the AC was turned off or the vehicle was turned off so it would evacuate all the cold air out of the system. I think he did it in order to "save" that cold air that was otherwise being lost, but the effect was probably exactly what we are talking about here. I don't see why auto manufacturers couldn't do something similar, even if they vented the air outside the vehicle or something.

LandCruiser · 11-19-2020, 11:53 AM

I fail to see how HVAC getting stinky and moldy in humid climates is a defect any more than vehicles rusting in the rust belt or the sun destroying paint out in Arizona.

Still waiting for Toyota to give me a set of new door actuators.

jhguth · 11-19-2020, 11:54 AM

because that's dumping humid unconditioned air back into the vehicle, the proper solution is designing a housing that will drain and not hold water

jrandom · 11-19-2020, 12:34 PM

Toyota states the procedure in the manual:

Quote:

■ Air conditioning odors
●During use, various odors from inside and outside the vehicle may enter into and accumulate in the air conditioning system. This may then cause odor to be emitted from the vents.
●To reduce potential odors from occurring:
• It is recommended that the air conditioning system be set to outside air mode prior to turning the vehicle off.
• The start timing of the blower may be delayed for a short period of time immediately after the air conditioning system is started in automatic mode.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhguth

because that's dumping humid unconditioned air back into the vehicle, the proper solution is designing a housing that will drain and not hold water

You’re not wrong. A plugged drain was the issue I had. The end of the drain tube attracts grime, it could be as stupid as the radiator fan consistently blowing material in its direction, don’t know but the fix take literally a few seconds.

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