TOYOTA OWNERS! Here's How To Fix and Prevent AC Bad Smells

[@thedumbguncollector5546]

You are my freaking hero. My wife’s new Corolla got this. We took it to dealership (Lowe Toyota in Warner Robins) and they said they had never heard of this kind of problem and even tried to blame it on an accident!! that showed up in error on car fax. Literally, they did more work not to work than just addressing it. God I wish you were local.

[@davidt8438]

Yea don’t you just love it when some mechanic say “wow, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard of something like that happening.” Because they know it’s a tedious job that requires attention to detail to resolve it. And they just want to make it go away with a minimal amount of effort.

[@johnb1658]

Lol funny story because acura tried to tell me my engine vibration was caused by an accident because they could tell the door was repainted. It was repainted because of scratches not an accident. They will look for any excuse to not fix things.

[@jollytime0811]

Lowe Toyota of Warner Robins is where I buy my parts locally. However, I would not touch their service department with any length pole. They misdiagnosed an ongoing electrical issue I had 3 times within the span of about 5 months. Learned my lesson, found an independent mechanic, and he had my issue fixed in 2 days. They don't use genuine fluids, specifically the ATF-WS fluid. They informed me they use some aftermarket stuff and claimed it worked better. Lastly, when I questioned services that were recommended to me, the service advisor got kind of hostile with me. Ever since finding this channel and several others, I've just started to learn how to do my own maintenance and repairs. Found an honest independent mechanic, and so-far-so good. Any advice I've taken from this channel has only led me to positive results. Stay away from Lowe if you can help it. I guarantee you know more about cars then those service advisors.

[@thedumbguncollector5546]

@@jollytime0811 I was finally able to switch from the one who would just upsell you on everything you had to fight her every time on everything from filters to brake pads to tires. I just dreaded even talking to her.

[@jollytime0811]

@@thedumbguncollector5546 I think I know who you're talking about. I can't remember her name. I think they try to steer you to the advisors that are best at upselling. That's just my guess. However, I would not go there period. I've had good success with C&G Auto on Watson. He does have some bad reviews, but my experience was positive. I've also had good success with Alex the Car Doctor in Atlanta. I know its a drive, but it can be worth it if you go with somebody, have another vehicle, and plan some other things around it. He's got many great reviews and he has a KZbin channel.

[@jamram9924]

An important note: If your driveway is at an incline, back your vehicle into your driveway. The condensation builds up and will drain slowly but sometimes pool and contribute to mold/spores. This allows the condensation to drain as much as possible. Our import shop uses a very similar product made by BG Automotive. The foam dissolves any mildew and spores in the evaporator. It works very well in our Southwestern Summer heat.

[@derekcasanares4785]

BG seems to make good products

[@JesusSanchez-ik2fu]

You always have very very informative videos brother wish we had a mechanic like you in south carolina. God bless you very very much

[@donk499]

Thanks for this! My Camry got stinky a few years back, cleaned the evaporator with that spray and changed the cabin filter. Now, I always shut off the AC within a mile or so before arriving home, allowing the fan to help dry out the evaporator box. No more musty odors, "the war department" thinks I'm nuts for doing this.

[@chrisbaty3824]

If you live in a dryer climate, like I do, I just make sure to not let it run on recycled AC the last 15-20 minutes of the drive, and that also seems to work fine. Cheers.

[@mikechiodetti4482]

@@chrisbaty3824 I AGREE! I live in Palmdale Ca which is a dry desert. A couple miles from home, turn off A/C leave fan on high with the control on fresh (not recirc) air and one window slightly open. WORKS GREAT!

[@babycakes8434]

What foam did you use and where did you spray it. I don't understand this video, where does he spray it, and I don't have a lift😢 I ozonated my Lexus and it didn't help, so I am investigating further....

[@donk499]

@@babycakes8434 It is some generic automotive AC cleaner. I removed the cabin filter, turned the AC on (not on recirc so it pulls in outside air) and sprayed the treatment/cleaner into the system through the cabin filter opening while the AC was running.

[@m.jautomobile007]

I am a professional car electrician, I love your jobs

[@JoyHoque]

Much Respect brother

[@davidrivas1174]

Man are you located near the state of Delaware?

[@davidrivas1174]

Man are you located near the state of Delaware?

[@RichRawFit4life]

@@davidrivas1174He’s in the Chicago area.

[@cbeserra]

I have always run my Toyota’s with AC off on the last 1/2 mile to my house for this exact reason! 30+ years now. Nice to see the explanation and details, thank you!

[@williamperri3437]

Absolutely! I do the same thing and I’ll go back and forth from recycle to fresh air. In the city and at lights or if I need it to quickly cool down I’ll put it on recycle but then while I’m driving especially at high speeds I’ll put it often back to fresh air.

[@ahmedalhimaidi9804]

Your channel is big blessing for me I am a mechanic and I been working for my self for over 20 years and I am learning new things from you all the time. I am also teaching young teenager and I tell them they must watch your videos before they can come to work in my shop. Thanks alot for the hard work for sharing knowledge.

[@Cleaning_Hero]

Every 10K - 15K is about how often I change both the engine air filter and cabin air filter, so about every 2nd or 3rd oil change.

[@coloradoboo1071]

I wondered why we’ve never had this problem but then learned me changing the charcoal cabin filter yearly and leaving it on auto 72 is probably why!! Thanks for another educational video!!

[@MrKakuaa]

Long live and prosperous. You have touched many lives.

[@hotdogandahayride9823]

Running the A/C with fresh air in a humid climate is a horrible idea unless the goal is to condense as much water as possible in the evaporator coil and hope the condensate runoff provides a flushing action. I agree 100% with his suggestion to turn the A/C off 5 (or more) minutes from home and keep the air circulating. That's really the only way to dry an evaporator coil.

[@tedjohnson64]

That’s a really good point!

[@TidewaterC]

Running A/C on recirculate all the time is a terrible idea.

[@Home_loan_md]

@elonmusk should program this into Teslas.

[@whitegoodman7465]

@@TidewaterC Depending on the climate but in the warmer places it should always be on after the car is relatively cool.

[@blackrifle6736]

@@TidewaterC *Might work OK in the Tidewater area (Chesapeake, VA) but come to Florida and see how that works for you. Cheers!*

[@BA-gn3qb]

I change my car's cabin and engine air filters every year on my birthday. Yearly gift for my car and me.

[@supermrt]

I use to to this every 2 years ( thats as long as it lasts for me). I was tired of spending 70$ CAD everytime to get this done. So I started to pull the cab air filter and spraying Lysol into the blower which ends up on the evaporator. ( done on high speed) with the AC on. It works like a charm and 1/100th of the cost. Also my RAV dosent smell overpowering for a few weeks.

[@JR-nh4fi]

Can you do this on all vehicles ? I want to clear out bad smells

[@supermrt]

@@JR-nh4fi to some extent, you have to pull the cabin air filter then spray in there or if you don't have one then spray the cowling where the air inlet is ( bottom of the windshield in most cars) - This is done with the blower on, make sure to switch it from cool to heat so you get both sides of the system. I found that the Toyota stuff is very powerful over the no name stuff. So if this is you first time you may need to use the Toyota stuff. but if you ever used the system you will know that your car smells like chemicals for weeks. I would try the Lysol method and if you still smell something try another round of Lysol. If all else fails try the Toyota stuff it's very powerful.

[@JR-nh4fi]

@@supermrt I tried to find the ac drain on my 2007 lexus is350 no luck to be able to reach it.

[@supermrt]

@@JR-nh4fi Yeah thats only needed if you want to spray foam up the drain line, pull out the cabin air filter behind the glove box and pull out the filter then spray Lysol in there.

[@aaronramsey3696]

I thought I was knowledgeable about automotive AC, but thank you, I DID find this video helpful and I DID learn something new! Namely, the tip on Auto Mode programming preventing this problem, drying out the evaporator in the last minutes of driving, and the available cleaning kit. Very helpful for my new-to-me 2020 Tacoma and my 215k 2007 RAV4. Thank you for another excellent video applicable to all us Toyota/Lexus owners who live between the Arctic and Antarctic Circles! 😅

[@gregorygoldbarth7464]

Everything that you shared is definitely sound, and makes sense except for one major item. We can agree to disagree that in Florida the summers are so humid. I’ve always used recirculate and only recirculate. Otherwise you’re bringing in the humidity inside the vehicle and you’re not getting maximum cooling and dehumidification. The one thing I do when I cut the car off is I make sure that the AC is reset back to fresh air so that you’ve got some flow through ventilation to help dry up the evaporator and reduce any smells.

[@mikelevitt7365]

You're correct. If the car keeps recirculating and dehumidifying the same air, the evaporator stays dry.

[@johnjohntheleprechaun7499]

I was doing this yesterday, but didn’t think about pulling the cabin filter first. I wish your video came out 24 hours earlier ! I also thought that it was good to cycle through all vents , including windshield defroster. Now I have little oily spots inside my windshield. Thank you AM , you always have good advice and information. Keep those videos coming.

[@christophers.4007]

great informative video! I have a 2014 GS350 with this same issue but i never knew why. I did research and found to at least sometimes use the fresh air function instead of recirculate, which does help eliminate the mildew smell. I bought my GS used, and i have seen the carfax report which shows the first owner brought the car in for service MULTIPLE times to have the AC checked and cleaned. I bet he sold it because of this issue! his loss is my gain, I bought it with 39k miles, now have 97k nearly trouble free miles on it!

[@timothypritchard5391]

Nice tip on not using the re circulate, I live in south Alabama and the heat and humidity can be brutal sometimes.

[@mikemartin7949]

You are the most considerate, kindest person I've never met, I love your show, I love the way you teach, and most of all I love applying your knowledge to my 2010 Scion XB you have saved me thousands of dollars on suspension alone, I learned why my car burned oil from you, now it burns no to a little bit of oil because I change it using great oil and filter often, never longer than 3000 miles, you rock, and may God bless your family

[@monkeyelvis]

You read my mind. I was looking for this video from you yesterday. I am trying to prevent smells I knew of the Toyota kit, but wanted to see you do it so I know I’m doing it right

[@hiteshadhikari]

Yes u can use ac cleaner kits on other brands

[@raymow9683]

I'm 60 with a 2022 camry XSE. Just when I thought I knew how ac's work you taught me something new. TY!

[@kenty6973]

Thanks AMD. This is exactly what I do to my cars with auto a/c. Set them to 72 and be done with it. But kids don't listen, they get in the car and manually adjust to 65 in summer. I told them it will take the same time and fan speed to get to your comfort zone, but no one listens. I will forward this episode to them. Thanks.

[@TinyandMe]

Thanks CCN - another great video. I actually traded my 2014 Camary after 2 years because of this. The first summer was fine, then the second had the moldy smell. I get frequent sinus infections and didn’t want the risk. I tried the Lysol method, but didn’t fix it, the dealer said they had not heard of it, but said they could clean the system for 100 bucks. Of course when I did an internet search, I noticed it was a common problem, and recurring, so I got an Accord instead. 6 years so far and no smell and always on recirculate. I’m sorry, but this is unacceptable for Toyota, they should redesign the system to drain better. I never had this problem until I got the Camary. BTW - so glad I found your channel, very informative, great delivery, and great sense of humor. Keep the reviews coming, I’m hoping to get a new ride in 24.

[@ComenzandoBien]

This video is super useful because I have had three Toyotas and bad smell problems in all three.

[@josephkelleher8820]

In my 2012 Altima that I have owned since new I have NEVER had a bad smell coming from the air conditioner. I also par k my car in my garage every night. Sounds like a Toyota problem to me.

[@michaelscottland4239]

@@josephkelleher8820 That’s exactly what he mentioned: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpOTl3ecr7tnZ6s

[@dsmdriver2588]

Ive owned 4 Toyotas and live in FL and store my vehicles in a garage and Never had this problem. But i was always told to shut off the AC but keep the fan running the last couple min home.

[@KPHVAC]

I park my car turn the AC off and let the fan run with the AC off for a few minutes. Especially after a long trip! In my area its usually not that hot so I usually switch to fan only for a few minutes before I get home. This always made sense to me since I'm a residential HVAC guy. Good to know I was doing the right thing!

[@joegonzalez5602]

I spray lysol in my intake cowl. Then run ac on high with windows down to air it out for a couple of minutes works every time.

[@perniciouspete4986]

Yeah, I did that to my car, and the ventilation baffles got stuck. All the AC came out the floor vent.

[@supermrt]

Pull the cab air filter and spray into the blower - it works way better.

[@alouiciousjackson5812]

A lot of cars I work on have never had the cabin filter replaced at all, or at least not for years. It's amazing how much debris and dirt gets in there!

[@volvo09]

Yeah, lots of people don't service them. I do it yearly, usually every spring after the pollen is gone. I love cabin filters, if it were not for them all that debris would be sitting and rotting on the evaporator coil...

[@alouiciousjackson5812]

@@volvo09 Yep, exactly. And it does in older cars like my 1993 MR2, 1993 Paseo, and 2001 Solara. It's a total pain to disassemble it every few years and clean it. I end up running on recirculate to minimize it but maybe the product he's describing will do the trick...

[@KPHVAC]

I always heard the best practice was to let the fan only run for a while before shutting off the car. Let some of the moisture dry out on the AC with the fan running.

[@perniciouspete4986]

It was suggested to me to turn on the heat for a few minutes before you get home to dry out the air passages, but that's brutal in the summer.

[@KPHVAC]

@@perniciouspete4986 I'm sure that's best but fan only for a few minutes is what I've been doing for years. I figured it gave everything some time to dry out. Good to know the Auto setting works and to turn off recirculate.

[@mikehand2668]

It’s what I do

[@tonydavis190]

​@@perniciouspete4986heat may help some, but the evaporator housing where the moisture accumulates is the first thing in the air path, so it's before the heater core.

[@namegoeshere2903]

As CCN says: after using A/C, go: A/C off, fan full on (coolest temp) until the incoming air is ambient and dry feeling, turn fan down gradually. I rarely use recirculation mode for A/C. I've never had an issue.

[@ronkemperful]

Good prevention comment! With both of my Prius, a 2003 and a 2009, I would smell the sour, vinegar smell coming out of AC vents, usually a few weeks into hot weather. So, I got in the habit of always running the fan only for about 3 minutes to dry the evaporator, as I approached home. Never had any smell 👃since. Oddly, with my Subaru or Nissan autos did I have any issues of odors.

[@philthyrich1433]

MY 2011 AVALON LIMITED LOVES YOUR CHANNEL ❤❤

[@JosephThiessen]

Just purchased a used Prius and the smell was horrible. My allergies went nuts. Grateful to know this is an issue with my car and how to remediate the situation. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!

[@bennydontplaythat]

Did you get it fixed?

[@gman6081]

I have had my 2012 Toyota Corolla-S with a 5-spd manual since its birth....now 178000 miles. It is not garage kept. I have always changed my cabin filter twice every year, once after pollen-fest in June and then again in December. My Corolla developed this smell in 2016 and has reoccured a few times. My cheap solution was to carefully spray Lysol foaming bathroom cleaner into the cowl intake and do the dryout cycle you mentioned. Worked every time.

[@lam3317]

Thanks Ahmed for another excellent review. What I like about my Lexus ES 300h is that with the Auto function on it detects pollution so if your behind a car with a lot of fumes it will automatically switch to recirculating mode then once the air is clear it will switch back to fresh air mode,love it,this avoids having to keep fiddling with it and forgetting it in Recirculating mode.

[@amarsta]

GM had a service bulletin on this in the late 1980s. Solution was to splice in a module that runs the blower for a bit shortly after turning off the car. It never occurred to me I could do it myself when approaching home. That's a great tip

[@drdiabeetus3061]

I’ve used this product on two different cars. It truly works! I’ve tried other off the shelf products, none of them work as good as this kit.

[@pranabeshdutta9100]

I have a RAV4 XLE 2022 and had exactly the same situation. A strong moldy smell start coming when turning on the ac. So, I went to the Toyota authorized service center for a scheduled 24,000 km servicing and mentioned this problem. The technician found moldy cabin filters but they did not replace them with a charcoal filter. I always run AC in auto mode at 20'C and recirculate the air and park my car in the underground parking lot. This video has some really very helpful tips & tricks and I will follow those tips and tricks and will definitely share the video with my fellow Toyota user friends.

[@YellowRoseDrones]

I just changed my cabin air filter in my 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid to prevent such problems. 33,000 miles on it already. I leave my AC in Auto mode, 72, but sometimes adjust the fan speed.

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Living in a usually non humid desert, Turning off the A/C, leave fan on high, control on fresh (non recirc) air, window slightly open, for about 2 miles from home. WORKS GREAT!

[@frankalexander5401]

When my wife picked up her new MB, the service advisor told her to keep the AC “on” all the time to prevent bad smells, mold and mildew buildup in the HVAC system. She has and so far so good.

[@scoot77777]

Very good presentation on how and why the A/C smells and how to correct the problem 😊 nicely done ✅

[@alouiciousjackson5812]

I drove a 1993 MR2 turbo for years, and I learned that trick pretty quick. You had better switch over to fresh Air for a few minutes before shutting the car off!

[@MartinStockel-k6f]

As always, another great instruction video on how to fix and prevent AC bad smells. I have had this problem on one recent vehicle I had. I would like to know if you can use the Toyota cleaning kit on other makes of vehicles such as Chevrolet, Ford, etc.

[@hiteshadhikari]

Yes u can use them on any brand, why it happens is natural plus not changing filters which causes moulding etc etc

[@MartinStockel-k6f]

@@hiteshadhikari Thanks for the helpful info!

[@esiu74]

This is excellent! I don't have a Toyota/Lexus but an Acura. When I bought it (used) it didn't have the smell, but I park in the garage and we have fairly humid summer in Toronto. One summer later the smell began to develop and I tried all Lysol and Armor All but only got rid of the smell for a few days and the smell would return. I found the Toyota kit at the dealer and it got rid of the smell for the rest of the summer. A couple of weeks ago I turned on the A/C compressor to lower the cabin humidity and the smell came back much worse and I have no idea why (I even turn off my AC and let it run before I turn is off). I'm so excited that I found this video explaining a lot of the missing steps and nuances (including the Auto function) that seem to be missing in the official Toyota instructions. Hopefully this time around the fresh air will last longer). In case anyone is looking, here's the official Toyota video showing how to connect the tube to the drain tube: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4PcY2aKe9WAaqs

[@RC-ld8oj]

Use Ozium air sanitizer. It worked great for me after i used the ineffective Toyota system.

[@GoTMLGo1967]

How much was the kit from the dealer?

[@multiluxem2218]

Also, it is important to check the filter used. The previous filter I used does not have a good seal on the edge, which allows some mildew, dirt, etc. to pass through and cause the bad smell. After switching to a better filter with a better seal on the edge, that smell slowly disappears and hasn't come back.

[@khh6243]

AMD, Thank you for this video! I have bought this kit for my 4Runner in the past and applied the cleaning foam and deodorant completely in the wrong way - all in one shot. I thought I just wasted my money because I did not get the best results. I will try it again in the future with your instructions and suggestions!

[@The__Watchmen__]

I like what you say at the end "May the Lord bless you and keep you" 👍🏾. People are scared to say things like that nowadays, for fear of 'offending' someone/ group.

[@asianskywalker]

This man is a legend. I have this issue with my Lexus is300h.

[@p6102zrfxe]

I've been looking for this video for a long time. Excellent timing, I planned to clean the AC tomorrow. Thank you.

[@stevevlahos1]

My 18 Honda accord constantly puts the AC in recirculating mode. I drive 50 miles one way to work and practice the steps of turning off the AC. I STILL GET SMELLS. I replace the cabin filter every 6 months due to the smell. Took it to the dealership, and the smell never really truly went away. What I found that fixes the problem for an extended period of time, is using a can of Lysol, then letting it air out for a day.

[@egx161]

Good tips. Re circ on and off. 68-74°F Also, I remove my cowl and clean out all the leaves and debris.

[@walter.bellini]

Thank you, AMD Great information about a problem that most people might have experienced during car ownership, I learned about this with my 2000 Lexus GS300. You made another wonderful video showing how to replace the evaporator and had a great opportunity there to show where the mold and bacteria live and where the foam would go in and clean everything out. Since my GS300, I have always used the charcoal filters and changed them every year and a half, and mostly always use fresh air in all my cars when using A/C, and like others mentioned here, turn off the A/C while driving home the last 20 mins to help air dry the evaporator box. What I also do at the end of the summer season, when I know that I won't be using the A/C as much, I take out the filter and turn on the fan to high, and spray in some basic Lysol Spray for a few minutes into the cowl intake to help kill off any active bacteria in the pathways and evaporator box. I do the same process of using Lysol on my windows A/C units to help kill off the musky smell that sometimes accumulates as well.

[@gogutzy]

My Toyota dealer recommended this at my last maintenance visit, worked great.

[@jdlien81]

I've been trying to learn more about this problem and how to solve it for quite a while. This is the best video I've seen explaining it so far. Now if only someone could specifically show me how to access the condensate drain in a 2019 Mazda 3, that'd be amazing. It must be like the vehicle in this video where it's over the transmission and not easily accessible from underneath.

[@AmericanSirenProductions]

I find it amazing how DIY Toyota’s are and can be. I own a ‘21 Corolla and I’ve done a few things to it myself and this will be my next thing to do. Thank you so much for your videos!.

[@VideoCanuk]

In Step 2 why not spray directly into cabin filter location... that's where the fan is located that draws air in from the outside. This will permit a higher concentration of chemicals into the internal vents of the car.

[@stargazeronesixseven]

I suffered headaches if sitting inside a confined spaces with little fresh air circulation like inside a stuffy car , so I usually like to use the fresh air incoming mode ... & like to roll down the windows a bit when travelling through some places with a lot trees of greenery to air the car cabin from bad air! Remember to roll up the windows & locked all doors when reaching the city or a traffic light for safety reasons! 🙏 Thank You So Much TCCN for this valuable tutorial to maintain Clean Air inside our car cabin! 🌷🌿🌎💜🕊

[@tickled41]

Omg thank you so much. This worked perfect on my Toyota 2001 corolla. When popping the vent back in, it worked better for me to fit in one side first (forward facing rather than downwards like he instructed) then popping in the other side with the aid of the screwdriver as OP noted. 🎉

[@tdelta3664]

Not a big fan of StealerShip after purchase items. Done this with great skepticism. Followed this Great result. No smell and a/c cools better 2020 4Runner.

[@truonghthe]

Thank you for tip and tricks in the video. Unfortunately I can't afford to turn off the A/C 5 mins away from the house, since I living in Houston TX and lately the temp has reach over 105F. I do leave all of my car climate control in auto setting, funny you mentioned the temp control. I put mine at 68 during summer and 72 during winter. Please keep put up great education video. Thanks

[@pyrocl0]

Check your condensor drain if you have a smell. And when you detach it, prepare for water to come pouring out. Just did my 2013 Toyota Venza. The drain hose was completely clogged.

[@Timetrends-n5t]

Had the odor in my 2012 Prado here in Spain (Summers are 40-47 Celcius) , bought a spray can of alcohol and with the AC on max and car closed I sprayed the alcohol in the inlet vents below the wipers, let it run for a bit and smell gone and never returned. I always have it on Auto and manage the Recirculation actively because when it is soo hot it will stay on Recirculation all the time, maybe because the interior is large i.e. the airco system doesn´t have enough capacity. Thanks buddy! Love your channel but it´s very US oriented

[@andyspark5192]

Agree on your recommendations . I do it for years because it's just makes sense.

[@AbubakariSadiqueIbrahim]

You are good at your work. Thanks a lot for always making a video for many of us in Africa. I came across your channel only in few days ago but trust me am learning a lot to run my small shop.

[@danieltovar6151]

Today I did everything in the video on my 2019 RAV4. Mainly because my car had a factory defect in the roof rails and there was moisture and mold. After the repair at the dealership, the smell continued. Waiting for the results. We live in New Jersey.

[@HeyYall398]

I wish I had a physician like you. You would also make a great doctor! Excellent explanation and presentation.

[@user-fr3hy9uh6y]

Good video. I use a room ozone generator. Place it in the car and turn it on . The ozone will kill all the mold and mildew. Like most things, don't sit in the care while it is running, but the ozone will recombine into O2 quickly after you turn it off.

[@vmobile890]

I seen where recommended to roll down windows and let the air recombine for a hour or more to be safe ?

[@new2000car]

The ozone generator is really effective. But it breaks down all the rubber in the car I heard, deteriorates it, including glue that holds the seats together.

[@singachuotodiy]

Hello AMD, great video. About 3-4 years ago I asked you about the need to change compressor AC regularly, and thank you for your answer, it's save me a lot of money. I live in Indonesia, hot and high humidity here, AC is a must for a year long. Fresh air is usually off, some people make permanent closes the ventilation, because of the big trucks and the polution is not pleasant. Car AC Shop specialist here is common, they offer complete ac tear down, wash the box, evaporator, change dryer, change refrigerant and ac compressor oil. 😅 so thanks for your answer about the need to change ac compresor oil. Here evaporator get block by 'mud' (dust+condension turn to mud like) is common thing. So about 4 year ago, I do regular cleaning to my evaporator, using cheap boroscope to see the condition, spray some cheap foam ac cleaner, sometimes just using dish soap+water and spray it to evap, let it drain. Do it to my suzuki aerio and toyota avanza (daihatsu made), it's never bad smell, very cold air blast. With cheap maintenance

[@alexdesamsonow822]

Thank You Again AMD! I never realized that you need to turn off recirculate mode on the A/C to prevent excess moisture build up. Your Channel is awesome!

[@Oyasumi52]

I bought the side window clear plastic louvers for my Toyota so I can leave the windows down a crack to cross vent whilst sitting on my drive for days and keep the rain out as well. I can not recommend these highly enough. 😉 I only ever used the internal circulate function when driving in a smokey outside atmosphere. I never thought of using it to first cool down the cabin quicker, good suggestion for next summer.

[@scelest321cx]

You inspire me to become an automotive technician and become a Lexus/Toyota tech I just finished school

[@soloflight1975]

I just spray 1 can of lysol disinfectant on the air intake with fan on and let it dry overnight windows open. It works for me and much much cheaper and easier

[@Knightfall23]

Just did the same to my GS and it got rid off the bad odors.

[@stendecstretcher5678]

I do the same here in Australia with a can of Glen 20 spray disinfectant. Works every time, never had a bad smell in both my Toyotas and Hyundai. Been doing it that way for years.

[@nostradamus7648]

Use 2/3 of the can on the outside air intake with the AC on full blast with the fresh air setting. Then, pull the cabin air filter out from inside your glovebox and spray the rest through the opening while it's full blast on recirculation. Better dispersion and attacking the problem that way.

[@josephgarcia3767]

​@@nostradamus7648spray a 2nd time on the air intake or in the area where I would've removed the air cabin filter?

[@nostradamus7648]

@@josephgarcia3767 Through the cabin air filter opening with the AC on recirculation full blast.

[@johnnyyutronich1434]

Great video. It explained a lot. I just went to the deal for a minor care for my Prius prime and they wanted $200 to deodorize the AC. My car has 45,000 miles and doesn't have any problems. I live in Los Angeles, and its parked outdoors, and the humidity is very low. Sounds like a dealer scam. I said no.

[@John1Brady]

Great advice! Just ordered a 4 stage carbon plus filter from Amazon for my 2004 Lexus LS430. Fortunately I do not have an odor problem but it great to know how to prevent it!

[@billiebobbienorton2556]

We can send you a box of odor problems if you would like.

[@patricklildhar3843]

Out of all the American, German, and Japan manufacturer I owned, I never had a problem with My 20+ year old Toyota from New by doing preventive maintenance as you described. Did the same on other manufacturer, but something still ends up failing.

[@vinilv1]

Thanks AMD, I have a 2019 RAV4 and it’s smells like piss when I have the AC on. All other brands I have no issues. I change the cabin air filter too and still have it. I just think Toyota is a lazy manufacturer and not just about being “reliable”. My notion of Toyota being reliable got thrown out of the window after 75000 miles on my 2008 Toyota Camry. But thank you for this video and all other informative videos. God bless!

[@brandonpaulin1595]

This dude deserves free Toyotas for life.

[@Marty1857]

Another great video! Thanks for the tips! In southern Texas, heat and humidity can be brutal. I've noticed this smell start in my 2011 Sienna, but years ago I was told by the Toyota mechanic to just leave it on "fresh air", and even turn off the a/c and let it idle for a few minutes prior to turning off the engine. I followed that advice; the smell went away; I haven't had that problem since. My vehicle stays outside, so it cooks pretty thoroughly in the Texas sun for hours every day. I think this is why I haven't had that smell return. I may hit the "recirculate" button whenever there's fresh skunk roadkill around, or in bumper-to-bumper traffic, because I don't want those smells inside the cabin, but otherwise I try to avoid it. If the a/c is working correctly, "recirculate" doesn't speed up a/c cooling that much (at least, not in a cavernous Sienna) and once the cabin is cooled, it doesn't work better than "fresh air". Thanks for explaining the process for a disinfection of the a/c system. I might try that myself soon, just to stay on top of the issue.

[@ronnymb67]

I'm in Texas and I normally run my automatic climate control at 72°. The last week or so where it's been 100 to 105°, I've run it at 71° and it's ice cold. My system will also as you said, run recirc for the first minutes maybe 10 minutes to cool it down and then eventually switch to outside airon its own. I too was in the car repair industry for over 25 years so I always over maintain. Because of the air quality here I change my cabin filter twice a year and at least twice during the summer months - once in the middle of summer and once near the end - I will actually spray Lysol through the fresh air intake while the fan is on high speed just as it preventive measure. I typically use the fresh linen scent in the white can. Same as you described except I don't use half the can lol. I'll do 5 or 10 bursts of about 5 seconds, leave it running for 15 or 20 minutes with the fan blowing on high, then throw in a new cabin filter if it's time.

[@mattalbin5668]

Dear Ahmed, as a Toyota fanatic I just love your channel and content. I thought I was the only nutter out there, turns out I’m not. 😊 Appreciate your attention to detail and you taking care of the cars and the clients. Greetings from a fellow ocd. My rides are a 2019 Land Cruiser Prado and a 2023 Prius IV (not the Plug-In).

[@coloradoboo1071]

Lots of us Nutters out here!! My family has 6 Yotas (2008-2021) and Ahmed is a huge blessing!!

[@daveb495]

It seems that the factory fix should be to add programming to the HVAC module to run the cabin blower for a few minutes after shutting off the vehicle. It wouldn't have to be at the highest setting, just simply time out after a preset time. Just my opinion.

[@ammanpandde5097]

German cars have this but then it drains the battery in the long run

[@hirolla74]

I sprayed 1/3 can of Lysol disinfectant spray on the air vent intake (but never took out the cabin air filter). It makes it kill mold but never had smell/mold problems. Next time I change out air cabin filter, I'll do this.

[@HR-wd6cw]

Very good points in this video. Had my AC system recently cleaned by the dealer using this method and tools (they were having a $50 special so Iwent for it). Took care of the bad smell pretty much. Too bad you can't disable recirculate on most of the newer vehicles as I was told this is automatic, so I make it a point to turn it off immediately upon starting the car (if the AC is left on) and just leave it like that unless there is perhaps a bad smell outside, but then only switch on recirculate momentarily and then back to fresh AC. Luckily I cught the issue before it became a huge problem (some people reported moldy water dripping onto the carpet requiring replacement of the carpet, so I didn't have that luckily.) But oddly, with mine, the smell went away quickly after the car started when I had the issue so it must have been pretty minor. Now it's pretty much gone. I still need to clean out the vents though to make sure nothing is trapped in there (with some Lysol spray). I live in the midwestern US so likely this year being a really bad year for heat, is what made me notice it (may have been an issue in previous years but there weren't as hot as they were this year so that's likely why I smelled it this summer. But again, will just routinely clean the AC system (maybe once a year since it's an easy job) as a preventative measure or if smell the smell coming back.

[@ieandro]

2004 Camry XLE has auto climate control and ive never used it. I will start now. Thank you,

[@leealtmansr.3811]

Setting the temperature depending on where you live. I was laughing 🤣 when you stated you temp ranges 😂. In the Southwest 75~78° is cold... But I do understand your suggestions. Great video 👍

[@butchfajardo8832]

Thanks a lot again for your tips! Here in the Philippines, we only recirculate because of dirt and pollution outside!

[@Lotfatb8]

Today was my first day for watching this particular video. I am taking time out of my day to thank you AMD, for another very informative video. Some people just do their jobs which is ok, but you go that extra mile with the golden nuggets of valuable information included along the way, PRICELESS!

[@thewholeeventhorizon]

This such an important video for GX owners. This exact thing happened in my 22 gx. I only used recirculate and max ac, the perfect recipe for this happening along with the fact that the GX ac is an older design. I traded it in for a 23 gx so could get the off road package and I wondered if the smell would happen again and now know it would have. I just went and put all settings like Mr Nut instructed and I'm looking now into some kind of AC for my garage or at least a dehumidifier. Thank you so much and God Bless!!!

[@TastySurrealBowl]

If the conditions that can create the mildew are all in place, it can happen in all makes, even when the car has programmed functions to help prevent it. This is a topic that sales people should cover with all new car buyers. It’s so easy to see that your recirc has switched itself to outside air and just reach up and hit recirc and unknowingly override the built in preventative programming.

[@michaelscottland4239]

I am a professional watchers of your videos and You Are Awesome.

[@WCTubeful]

Love your video when talking about common issues not necessary repairs. This one seems not a DIY as I have to raise the car up. I usually just use Lysol spray on to air filter compartment (filter removed) with fan a high speed. Seems to work.

[@venchenzo4493]

I used this on my volvo, worked like a charm!

[@shawnbl2048]

Great advice. My 2020 camry hybrid had that smell bought the kit online and followed your advice to the T and worked great. Only struggle was dam this car sits low to the ground. Rhino ramps only lifted car a bit but was about to get to hose to spray up the drain hose. Thanks you were a great help 👍

[@soccertl]

Maybe that is why I never had this problem. I never use recirculate. We live in AZ which gets really hot but we like the fresh air to come in instead of recirculating the air inside the cabin.

[@estebancamachomartinez724]

AZ is dry, we don't have that luxury here in Florida so recirculation is always on

[@mikej238]

Good info, I have a 23 R4 Hybrid. I will always use auto now that I watched this info. I was playing with the recirc button and turning off the AC a few blocks from home

[@paulmullen8228]

My dad was a HVAC tech and he always switched off his AC in the car 5 to 10 mins before parking to help dry the system. I had an old Volvo s60 that sometimes i came back to the car in summer and the ventilation fan was running by itself for circulation.

[@wallace3953]

WOW!!! Thank you, Thank You! This is the First Vid on this matter that actually makes perfect sense! You really know what to do and you are great at showing reality....esp. the prevention methods......

[@angloedu5499]

I have a friend who is a professional car detailer, he said rule number one, to keeping a good smelling car, never smoke anything in the car, even Djarum Clove Cigarettes from Indonesia. The next thing is to vacuum and then steam clean the interior and even trunk and front engine bay if possible. The best is to leave the car doors open and sitting in the sun for about an hour to naturally sanitize its interior. It leaves the car smelling nuetral without any chemical Perfume spray smells.

[@mistercano]

Even though I have an appointment with you to clean my A/C box, I’m glad I watched this video. 😂 I actually haven’t been using AUTO mode at all on my RX. I’ll start doing that.

[@LexusJDM350]

I have exactly this problem on my 2015 GS350. Scotty Kilmer said to spray some lysol disinfectant in the ac vents and it kinda worked after I also changed the cabin filter.

[@jeffmiller2433]

Our 2017 Corolla does this. It’s honestly sad that after all these years they can’t get it right. I used the Toyota cleaner kit, ( expensive ) and it worked for 3 days. Even my 2011 Ram does not suffer from this dreaded foot smell with no dry out procedure before you get home.