Help with the smell from the A/C....1999 SLE

[Stevarian]

Hi, this is my first visit here, and this is a very cool forum!

I have had my 1999 Silver Solara, SLE V6 since March of 1999, and I love the car. Lately, though, I am getting a musty/moldy smell from the A/C for a few minutes, then it goes away.

I did a search on the net, and found that it is due to small evaporators, and water collecting in them and getting moldy stuff growing in them/on them.

I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if there is a Solara specific solution for this. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Steve

[pythonjosh]

I've got the same thing happening in my 99. Don't know how to clean it tho. I want to remove my entire dash so I can clean the entire ventilation system, but I haven't figured that out yet either. Hope some ppl here know how to help, I'm sure others here have the same problem.
And Welcome!

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Honestly, just ensure that you turn your a/c button to off position (ie. a/c light button not lighter) and the vents to re-circulate (open) and then run the fans on either low/*/**/High (doesn't matter) and let it run for a few minutes before you turn off your car. I do such when i know i'm like a 2 moin drive away from the house and this ensures all the watervapor in vents dries up..which btw is the main cause of the smell. Toyota charges something like 65 for cleaning, but it wasn't a success for my celica (the smell came back)..hence i never bothered with them again. This for me has been a proven solution.

[Stock Solara SEV6]

Mine was actually smelling a little musty yesterday when I started up the AC. I have seen products for getting rid of the musty smell on Motor Week on TV, although I can't recall who makes it. I also heard that you can get about the same results by spraying Lysol down the air intake for the AC. The intake is located by the windshield wipers.

[99V6solaraSE]

mine does that when i first start up the AC then it goes away... hmm i wonder if i hav the same problem.

[Astro]

Yesterday I watched Two Guys Garage and they used a product similar to this:

link

I've never tried it, but it should do the job.

[MrMikeL]

I had this problem on another Toyota, but I think the problem is common to many cars. The condensation from the A/C condensor coil in the ventilation system needs to be able to drain away (you know, that annoying drip from under your car when you park it after running the A/C). That drain may be plugged which causes moisture to remain on the condensor, causing mold & mildew. Have a service tech clean that out for you.

And DEFINITELY take Jai's suggestion: run the fan on HIGH with the A/C OFF for at least 5 minutes before shutting down.

[boneezy]

i had that problem b4 too.. so i took it to toyota and had them kill the mold.. Some $tealers may not have that service.. but never know.. I think its spose to be $184?.. I'm not too sure tho since I had a hook up.. But the results are king.. Your A/C ends up smelling hellla goood, like it was brand new.. definitely worth it.

[Jaimster]

The smell is common on toyota and other cars as well. Ever smell your bathroom after a shower, it's the same effect, it's processed water that has been sitting for a while that you're smelling.

Just roll down the windows, turn on the AC with with the AC button on and Vents Open! Works for me...