FYI Class Action HVAC Stinky
- Thread starter cognus
- Start date
Chris Walker
New member
My wife has a Tahoe and gets the smelly AC issue. She takes it in to the dealership and they run an "AC cycle" when they change the oil. My understanding is its an AC setting that runs varying heat and AC temps for about 20 minutes. It kills anything in the system and we get it back and the issue goes away for about a year...
I wonder if Toyota has a built in AC cycle they can run...
I wonder if Toyota has a built in AC cycle they can run...
I've had this musty, moldy smell coming from my HVAC system since the day I bought my 4runner in 2015. I live in an area with a moderate climate. I only have the smell when I am running the fan only.
I rarely use the AC and when I do it's definitely not blasting or turned to the coldest setting.
I also keep my driver's side window down often during the warmer months and leave a couple of the other windows cracked or halfway down so outside air circulates well through my vehicle.
When I first smelled this I thought it was just some type of odor from the plastic from the vehicle being new but here it is almost 4 years later and the smell still exists.
Even if Toyota agreed to do something about this I don't think I would take my vehicle into the dealership and let them start tearing the dash and HVAC system down. I would probably come out with the same problem and then have all of the added squeaks and rattles from having the dash not installed back properly.
I rarely use the AC and when I do it's definitely not blasting or turned to the coldest setting.
I also keep my driver's side window down often during the warmer months and leave a couple of the other windows cracked or halfway down so outside air circulates well through my vehicle.
When I first smelled this I thought it was just some type of odor from the plastic from the vehicle being new but here it is almost 4 years later and the smell still exists.
Even if Toyota agreed to do something about this I don't think I would take my vehicle into the dealership and let them start tearing the dash and HVAC system down. I would probably come out with the same problem and then have all of the added squeaks and rattles from having the dash not installed back properly.
STX4Runner
New member
Never heard of running your system with warm air or whatever everyone is talking about and never done that either, and I live in San Antonio. It's not Houston humid, but it's humid enough most of the time and I've never had a problem.
JAXJeremy
New member
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..
i'm trying to understand how running unconditioned air over the evaporator prevents odors and doesn't just put that moisture back into the air. the vehicles air conditioning is doing both sensible heat removal (basically just temp) and latent heat removal (energy, basically humidity). the coil cools the air to a low enough temp that it's basically at 100% RH, so the extra moisture condenses out and is supposed to drain away. if the drain gets clogged, that water just sits there and contributes to mold and odors. dirt and dust can also help hold water (and clog the drain). all running unconditioned air over this coil would do is allow some of this moisture to go back into this no longer fully saturated air and back into your vehicle and make you feel sweaty again, it does nothing to the help or fix the draining issue that is the cause of odors.
i haven't done it yet on the 4runner, but generally cleaning is a pretty easy process and you just need cleaner spray and some tubing. i'd bet toyota even has a kit.
i haven't done it yet on the 4runner, but generally cleaning is a pretty easy process and you just need cleaner spray and some tubing. i'd bet toyota even has a kit.
The Waco Kid
New member
I had to do that, but I am in Houston. It happened after the first summer here back in 2014, and hasn't happened since. Just cranked the AC and sprayed a ton Lysol though the ac air intake in front of the windshield and I never had a problem again.
-E5J-
New member
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
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.
The lines are routed in a way that traps moisture like a P-trap.
some good vids on 'tube about remedies etc.
Hans Moleman
New member
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.
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
Member
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.
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.
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.
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.
apc9199
Member
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
New member
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.
Still waiting for Toyota to give me a set of new door actuators.
Similar threads
