George Hsieh

I think I got a problem with my ac!!! but I am not sure if it normal or what, last week I turn on my ac and you can tell right away that it smell like water that has been sitting in my car for a while, and today I try it again it still smell, I let the air run for like 30 mins without the ac, the smell doesn't seem like going anywhere. can anyone tell me what could be the problem???
I hardly use my ac, like once a day for 20 mins...
I live at hawaii ac is not always needed..
thank you

steviej

iTrader: (1)

sounds like you got moisture or condensation build up in the duct work. Sometimes puddling will happen. The dealer should be able to flush it. If the moisture is in the same duct work used by the heating system, try running the system on HOT through all hoses and vents to help evaporate the moisture.

There has been a recent thread talking about changing the a/c filter. There was a nice description on older filter replacement.

sj

ayonnebay

I don't know what year your ES is, but I had the same problem with my '98. I mentioned it to a friend who had a '97.

He asked if I ever turn it off the AUTO setting. I said yes, and, in fact had started doing it a few months before.

He said the Lexus tech had told him to ALWAYS leave the AC on AUTO. I switched it back on AUTO and haven't had the problem since. (That was two years ago)

j2tha0e

***tip to anyone that has the musty ac prob***

buy a bottle of extra strength febreze.

close all windows

spray hella febreze in the car. (not leather or glass)

put a/c on (hot) and (recirc)

leave car running and heater on for 10-15 mins.

that should kill whatevers in the vents/filter.

George Hsieh

thankz you all, by the way mine was 98' too. but I didn't run it with auto but it didn't seems to work, and I haven't try to run the hot,, I will try to do it today and see how it went.. thankz

Brad681

I too have a similar problem with mold smell in my ventilation system in my 2002 ES 300. Dealer told me to spray Lysol type spray into vent intakes (located under windshield, under hood) with system running to kill the bacteria. Tried, worked some. Dealer then sprayed something they called Fridge Fresh, seems to have helped.

I'll try the Fabrese option posted earlier. Will also recheck to insure my drain hose from system isn't clogged.

I remain open to any other suggestions as that smell can certainly take the fun off the drive experience.

titanskj10

yeah it sounds like you might have to change the air filter. if its a newer model i cant help you with that. not sure but i think that the air is purified but a charcol thing.

PHML

iTrader: (33)

George Hsieh:

I got this smelly problem too.... Check this TSB..... Dont go to Servco Lexus as this is NOT under warranty.

https://www.clublexus.com/Informatio...0/ac001l01.pdf

Good luck.

Peter

Brad681

Peter, I followed your link and got a service bulletin about "A/C heat indicators". I don't see where that addresses the moldy smell problem. Are you sure that was your intended link?

I'm quite interested as I'm fighting the mold smell at present with little success.

Thanks,
Brad

George Hsieh

thankz for all the help for all of you guys. but it just seems like the smell won't go away.. you know how I feel with your friend sit in your car in the rainning day and you have to turn your ac on,, but it smell like ***** in you car............. don't even want to go there....

ayonnebay

here's the link:

https://www.clublexus.com/Informatio...0/lac00197.pdf


But, as I said, once I started leaving my AUTO button "ON" all the time, I never had the smell again...........But, if course, if a drain is clogged, it should be cleared.

Walt