When I first start the car in the morning or after work and have the AC running there is no smell. However, on my way home from work if I were to make a quick stop in a store for 10min and start the car again, every time I get this musty smell coming from the vents. I feel it would always smell whenever the AC is running if some sort of fungus is growing in the HVAC system. Anything I can do to remove the occasional smell in my 2022 RX?

 

Treat HVAC system with

Toyota AC REFRESHER KIT, Part Number:00289ACRKT or similar product.

 

Blocked A/C drain hose. There's a longer thread on this subject somewhere on this forum, which basically leads you to the kit recommended by @k2imperial.

 

Thank you, I'll report back on how it works.

 

 

I usually paid Lexus to do this but it’s been hit or miss.

anyone ever try the weird foam down the vents method before?

https://youtube.com/shorts/mYa8YfiLOCw?feature=share

 

Personally what's worked for me is just lysol spray.

1. take the cabin filter out
2. put the plastic cap back on
3. put the fan on full
4. spray lysol into the intake cowl, some vehicles may have the intake cowl under the hood as well.
5. for some good measure, take off the plastic cap and spray some lysol into the hvac box as well

This seems to get rid of the smell for 4-6 months.

I have bought the toyota hvac cleaner as well to give it a shot when it gets here.