My AC stinks! (smells bad)

[WhiskeyTango]

This is my introductory thread. I have been lurking for awhile but just pulled the trigger on an 01 Limited 4x4 yesterday. The truck is silver and has 150K miles on it. On my drive home from the dealership I got a flat on the driver rear tire and didn't even notice until it was too flat to save the tire. Michelin LTX M/S2, new too.:Cry:

Changing the tire was no fun roadside. It took me awhile to find the little hole that lowers the spare and the jack takes about 150 turns to raise the tire off of the ground which isn't easy with the provided tool.

All of that said I am still a happy new owner. One thing is driving me crazy though....


The truck stinks!



When you open the door you can smell it and its not pleasant.

The interior is in good shape and the carpet extremely clean but it smells like mold or wet dog or something.

I thought maybe it was the black pine tree air freshener the dealer had left in the car but I ditched that thing but it still smells.

I left all of the windows cracked while I was at work today and then I got in I didn't notice the stink. I started driving down the road with the AC on max and I noticed the smell again.

I switched the AC to outside air and it seemed to go away but the AC didn't blow cold enough at all (im in TX) but the smell seemed better. Switched it back to recycle and the smell came back.

My best guess is that maybe the recycle intake is pulling air from the problem area? Does anyone know where it draws air in from in this mode?

I haven't seen anything about a cabin air filter so I don't imagine that is a problem.

Any guesses as to why the AC smells so bad?

 

[MONTYMTB]

Welcome & congrats on the purchase.
There have been a few threads on this subject, this is one:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/67965-musty-smell-coming-c.html

 

[WhiskeyTango]

Thanks for the link. I will give that a try this weekend.

Is this a common problem for 4runners? I have owned allot of used cars and never heard of that before.

 

[Tom P.]

I'm in Texas, too

I've tried the Lysol treatment. It works for the day, then the mold returns. I don't yet know how to get rid of it once and for all. I even injected some kind of foam cleaner into the a/c drip nozzle inside the engine compartment. That didn't kill the mold either.

 

[WhiskeyTango]

I've tried the Lysol treatment. It works for the day, then the mold returns. I don't yet know how to get rid of it once and for all. I even injected some kind of foam cleaner into the a/c drip nozzle inside the engine compartment. That didn't kill the mold either.

Very discouraging.

 

[Ex-ToyTech]

My first post to answer your question. A the dealership, we had a foam that was sprayed into the drain for the evap. case. It would expand and fill the case completely. You then had to wait about 15-20 min. for it to drip out. Then start the vehicle and turn on the heat to help dry it out (leave the a/c off). Worked on every musty vehicle (including my sons '00 Dakota) and never had a recurrence. It came from our distributor (S.E. Toyota) but I'm sure there is something comparable on the market.

Tim

 

[WhiskeyTango]

My first post to answer your question. A the dealership, we had a foam that was sprayed into the drain for the evap. case. It would expand and fill the case completely. You then had to wait about 15-20 min. for it to drip out. Then start the vehicle and turn on the heat to help dry it out (leave the a/c off). Worked on every musty vehicle (including my sons '00 Dakota) and never had a recurrence. It came from our distributor (S.E. Toyota) but I'm sure there is something comparable on the market.

Tim

Does anyone know of a comparable product or have a diagram/picture of how to get to the drain plug on the evaporator coil?

 

[cfranck1]

Check you local Home Depot and or Lowes.
I bought one at my local Lowes in the seasonal stuff. Haven't used it yet, so I can't comment on how it works. But I've used them at work here at the dealer and those kits work good.
Just after you use this stuff, spray some antimicrobial (lysol)(other products) spray to kill what's in there.

Lowes Product

Home Depot Product

 

[Illestreker]

so where exactly are you supposed to spray this stuff?

 

[cfranck1]

My first post to answer your question. A the dealership, we had a foam that was sprayed into the drain for the evap. case. It would expand and fill the case completely. You then had to wait about 15-20 min. for it to drip out. Then start the vehicle and turn on the heat to help dry it out (leave the a/c off). Worked on every musty vehicle (including my sons '00 Dakota) and never had a recurrence. It came from our distributor (S.E. Toyota) but I'm sure there is something comparable on the market.

Tim

It sounds like you used BG's Frigi Clean (check picture)

so where exactly are you supposed to spray this stuff?

Take a look at this thread, gives you and idea on how to do it and how it works. A/C odor fix


I do sell the 2 part kit here at the big dealer ( Frigi-clean,Frigi-fresh) (check picture) for around 50.00 plus t/s

 

[Ex-ToyTech]

Very similar to the BG. Probably just repackaged in the S.E.T. boxes.

Tim

 

[Ed_C]

Very similar to the BG. Probably just repackaged in the S.E.T. boxes.

Tim

It could've also been DWD2 brand. Same type of treatment as BG Frigi Clean
,injecting a foamy chemical into the evaporator/heater box through the AC drain tube or drill a hole into the box and thread on the fitting in the picture.

Although I don't recall DWD having a second can,cfrank1 is Frigi Fresh a "bomb" style spray,where the nozzle locks open once you squeeze it?

 

[cfranck1]

Although I don't recall DWD having a second can,cfrank1 is Frigi Fresh a "bomb" style spray,where the nozzle locks open once you squeeze it?

No, the "Fresh" is NOT a odor bomb. The sprayer is only a momentary sprayer. Spray as much or as little as you like.