ldc

For some reason whenever i floored my car (to over 60mph), 8/10 times i get this foul smell coming pressumably from the vents.

Does anyone know what this smell could be? Is it fuel related?

RXSF

does it smell like feet? or rotting feet?

well, its because you must have had the recirculation light off, the one with the car and arrow. that lets wind come in for air, and sometimes you will get that foul smell. air even comes in at 30 mph but you must have only really felt that air at 60. every car ive come upon has this smell. the water from the aircon isnt leaving the car properly thus molding in the vent area, thus creating that smell. You can try some of those sprays, or just turn on the aircondition for a few minutes and have it run, then turn it off. the smell should be gone...for some time.

ldc

I'm not sure what the recirculation lights you're referring to...and yes it's the rotten shoe smell.

VikH

iTrader: (5)

A/C draws hp from the engine. The new cars nowadays will automatically shut off the A/C when under WOT for best performance.

When you run your air conditioning with A/C off you will find this same dirty sock smell when you are at WOT. This smell is caused by mold in the system. To get rid of it you can try running the system on max heat with A/C on for a few minutes. There are several other remedies for this problem if you do a search.

P.S. I just noticed our avatars look identical

ldc

Will give the a/c heat a go and see if it works.

Yep same avatar/cars, just different time of photo taking.

Ichigo

i had this same problem and asked the dealer about it at glendale lexus and the jerk tech told me to buy an air freshener. Guess Ill try the heater trick...

b3dlam

I believe there is a TSB for this...related to a "rotten egg" (i.e. sulphur) smell when the engine is under high load. I cant remember what the fix was, but it only affected certain lexuses...

hth

Bichon

This is not entirely applicable to the IS, since we have a variable displacement compressor. Rather than turning off of A/C, the computer sheds much of the parasitic load by reducing the compressor displacement. Notice that you don't get a face full of warm air when you tromp on the gas?

Your suggestion of running the heater is still a good one.

The TSB is for an odor coming from the exhaust, not the A/C vents.

ldc

From memory, i read that the exhaust odor occurs on European cars mostly, e.g mercs.

I'm not sure if the lexus has the smell coming from the exhause be then aqgain how can it fill up the cabin from there?

skurks507

have you changed the cabin filter recently?

t.is350.h

iTrader: (3)

I asked van nuys lexus and they replace it for me for free and I think they spray some colone on it. At first it smell ok....after awhile it started to smell bad again. I think we have to call and ask lex. corp.

b3dlam

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...howtopic=15769

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showth...?threadid=5640

i cant remember where i saw a whole bunch of TSB's related to lexus cars, but i am pretty sure there was one. Whilst it may be related to the catalytic converter, the smell is noticeable even when the car is moving, so its unlikely to be the smell out from the exhaust pipe entering the cabin. When the car is at a standstill after a high load (e.g. accelerating briskly up really steep hill), the smell is very noticeable, with the window down. IMHO, i think the smell you described is related to the links above.

2c.

narfy

it's usually mildew, mould and bacteria you're smellin'... usually built up on the heater core and AC evaporator...

take out your dust and pollen filter, set your heater/ac to work on recirc mode, turn the heat and the AC on to max... fan on to max, and use wurth de-odourizer, or ultra shield air conditioner treatment, or lysol, or fabreeze auto and spray inside the gap where your dust and pollen filter goes... then keep the system running for a few minits after...

then put your dust and pollen filter cradle back in (no filter) and with the fan set to draw air in from the outside, find the inlet (base of the windshield on the cowl panel) and spray more of your product into there... let it run for a few more minits with the windows open, and then put your dust and pollen filter back in...

that should make teh smell go away good...

T0ked

iTrader: (2)

Generally, the rotten egg smell means its coming from the cats. Whether your cats are bad or your dumping too much fuel at WOT, you should get it checked out. The fact that you smell it when your driving leads me to believe the latter.

RXSF

arent mold spores poisonous?