patchcd

Help !!! I have a 97 ES300 with 130k on the clock. The car is a pleasure to own and drive. Since spring,I get a musty smell when I turn on the vent or air. After 5 minutes or so this goes away, but I cannot stand it anymore. I changed the cabin air filters last year so I dont think it could be that. Does anyone have some advise that might help?


Thanks, Tony

EJC

Change the cabin filter, it's been a year as you said

I would also spray the system with vent cleaner or lysol to kill any mold in there. I spray through the vents under the hood, the cabin vents and into the filter housing while you have the filter out.

patchcd

Thanks friend !!

eyezack87

iTrader: (4)

1Z Klima Clean works well too. I apply every 6 months to a year depending on how I feel

PeterR1

I have that problem w he '96 I recently bought. I'll be removing the air intake grill (plastic piece under wipers). It gets full of rotted leaves and other crap, holds moisture and grows nasty mold. I'll also clean out the drains and passageways under there, then dump some mold killer in too.

mpringle

Where is the cabin filter located?

PeterR1

Access is next to the gas pedal. There's a great how -to post for replacing them here somewhere.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

I get that smell as well in my 97... Where do i get the cleaning products from to spray into the vents? Is there really Mold that builds up in there?

Thanks

I checked a long time ago and i never had a cabin filter in the ES?

patchcd

I found the cleaner at ******************.com and cabin filters at SuperiorCarCare.net.- check around but I could"nt find the cleaner anywhere local. Good luck!

llcoolpass

the vents? that's stupid. that's going to do very little. the stuff is growing in the part of the system where the moisture sits

swifty562

had same probem with my 2000ES... i replaced the filter and spray alittle of air freshener on the filter and wam bam! its kool.

also, because the fan blower sits on the passenger side, it picks up any smell around that area. for example, i would place like those frabic softners right at the foot well and it smells good.


1 year can make a lot of difference, depending on your use of recirculating the vent or taking air from the outside.

EJC

Not really.
The primary concern is the air box. But mold spores are blown all over the place. For a short while I was allergic to my SC430.

I spray all vents, intakes, and the airbox.

rlx101

1 other possibility is, dont laugh, wind shield wipers. check them and make sure that they dont have any mold on them. this may be the case if nasty smell comes back even after you treat the air paths(wipers may re-introduce the bacteria back into the clean system)

FunnyGuy

iTrader: (1)

i sprayed LYSOL to kill bacteria and it kinda helped...

patchcd

I"m back with an update. I replaced the filters and used an entire can of klima-cleaner and the car smelled great for a few days. The scent lasted for a few days but the musty odor came back in about a week. I pulled the center vent covers out and found a screen blocked any acess to the vent passages. Any cleaner sprayed into the center was wasted! Today I sprayed another can through the sides and the floor openings. I "m not sure where the blower motor is but I suspect the fan could be covered with mold and gunk,hopefully this application lasts longer.