damp smell coming form air vent

[TRD04RUNNER]

sometime when i turn on the heat or ac i get this damp smell coming of the vent. i change my cabin filter but its still their. its really bad after i wash the 4R or when driving in the rain? but it goes way after a while. what can i do to get rid of it? is their some other filter inside the 4R other them the one behind the glove box? i don't want to take my baby to the stealer for little thing I can fit my self.

 

[T4RMatt]

Does it go away if the A/C is on?

 

[Boaz]

Here is how I fixed that damp smell

Pop the hood and look on the passenger side cowl / windshield wiper area, there is a vent about 6-7 inches long where the air is sucked into the cabin before it gets to the cabin air filter. Take a can of Ozium air freshner or your favorite and spray the vent while the AC is running full blast in the cabin. Usually I do this about once a month.

Ozium works wonders! And It has a pretty unique lemon smell.

(I use the blue can)
http://www.keysan.com/ksuai10.htm

 

[TRD04RUNNER]

Turning on the ac does not get rid of the damp smell. i think after a while your senses get use to the smell and it don't smell that bad but its still their. Jake do they sell the ozium at the store anywhere or do you have to order it on line?

 

[Boaz]

walmart, target, autozone and pep boys carries it in my area.

Its pretty easy to find.

Good luck!

 

[spyderdoc]

One othre suggestion would be to make sure the recirc is off. This lets more fresh air through the vent system. I can't stand that the recirc is usually on by default.

 

[tcpoob]

i've noticed the annoying smell many times too. had tought it's coz i parked it in my (not well ventilated garage) the night b4.

 

[alaskanboi]

If you don't go with Ozium, make sure what you do get kills bacteria.... a lot of air fresheners don't...

 

[alotawatts]

If you are talking about AC smell and not regular heat it helps if you shut off the AC a minute or two before you shut down the engine.

 

[dcampen]

Yeh I get this when I used the AC the day before, my '98 Camry does this too. My solution is the same as others have said - I try to remember to turn the AC off and the fan to high a minuit before I park.

 

[atomic punk]

Does anyone know if this problem is covered by warranty or what the dealer would do to fix this problem?


I tried the Lysol trick already.... I sprayed about 1/3 of the can into that intake previously mentioned, now my cabin WREAKS of Lysol and that same musty smell. I know enough how to "prevent" this from happening again, but it's too late. Musty smell only in the dash vents has now overcome the defroster vents too.