The car stinks

[jambo101]

This week my 08 sedan has started smelling like a sewer, car is clean and nothing rotting under the seats, i suspect mold growth in the ventilation system but its just a guess, Any one experience a similar issue and how did you resolve the problem?

thanks

[CTScott]

There are many threads on her about stinky AC issues.

There are two primary causes - Debris and condensate in the airbox or fungal growth on the AC evaporator.


For the evaporator issue, some have had temporary success with the AC ventilation cleaning systems, but the root cause is an issue with the aluminum used for the evaporator within the box under the dash. On two of the Yaris that I rebuilt, I disassembled the dash and AC system and thoroughly cleansed the evaporator and then used Coricone 1700 Sealer to seal the aluminum which is a non-ferrous metal sealant that will not sustain fungal growth.

[Kar98]

The cause for mine to stink last week was a bottle of glass cleaner leaked out and drenched the floor in the rear. Luckily it was a warm day in the 70s and just parking in the sun with the windows open dried it all out.

[bronsin]

Running the AC on RECIRC air stinks up all the cars Ive ever owned so I keep it to a minimum.

Also run the AC on FRESH as much as possible and with just the fan when AC isn't necessary.

[jambo101]

I havent run the A/C since September.
The air control has been on fresh since i bought the car as i never quite figured out what the point of recirculate was.
The problem seems to have been resolved by spraying Lysol into the air intake the car now reeks of something called Mountain Waterfall.:biggrin:

[IllusionX]

I havent run the A/C since September.

The air control has been on fresh since i bought the car as i never quite figured out what the point of recirculate was.

The problem seems to have been resolved by spraying Lysol into the air intake the car now reeks of something called Mountain Waterfall.:biggrin:


Recirc is very useful near farm areas of you don't want to smell cow poop. Lol
I use it in the summer for quick cooling and put it back on fresh

[rossman]

I had an issue with a small leak in my trunk (hatch back).....the water build up had a mold smell over time.

Had the leak fixed and dried out the trunk...the smell was gone.

[Kar98]

I havent run the A/C since September.
The air control has been on fresh since i bought the car as i never quite figured out what the point of recirculate was.

To get the car cooled off fast in Texas in July, and not to let other people's exhaust fumes into my car during rush hour in Dallas. :headbang:

[screenprinter]

Doesn't the Catalytic Converter cause a smell like Sulfur?

[Kar98]

Not since the first generations of cat converters many decades ago. Certainly not with a 2008 model.