2007 Prius A/C Vent Odor (smells like dirty socks)

[rsrobn]

Hi All,

For about the past 30 days or so when I start up my Prius in the AM, there is a horrid smell coming from the A/C. The smell goes away after 1-2 mins or so and won't re-appear until the blower is off for a period of time.

The car went into the dealer about 2 weeks ago because of the odor. The dealer sprayed "Fridgie Fresh" into the system which only masked the odor for a day or 2.

I'm taking it back on Monday. Has anyone else had odor issues? Any idea what it could be?

The car is garaged at night, driven daily and parked in an open lot. I would think if it was a mold, the fridgie fresh would have lasted more than a few days.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Allannde]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rsrobn @ Sep 14 2007, 01:32 PM) [snapback]512715[/snapback]</div>

Hi All,

For about the past 30 days or so when I start up my Prius in the AM, there is a horrid smell coming from the A/C. The smell goes away after 1-2 mins or so and won't re-appear until the blower is off for a period of time.

[snip]

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
[/b]

That smell is caused by mold growing in the air conditioner coils. The moisture caused by condensation in the coils promotes that. To get rid if the moisture, I turn the heater on high for a couple of minutes before I turn the car off.

Since doing that regularly, I have not had that problem.

Some cars have an automatic system which does that for you after you leave the car. I think Volvo is one of them. Obviously this needs to be done while the ICE is warm to get heat.

Once the mold is established, it will return quickly with the slightest moisture (the spores will germinate). So if you forget to turn on the heat when you park the car and leave the coils dry, the smell will come right back. But mold does not do well in the dry, so there is hope.

[SureValla]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ Sep 14 2007, 06:00 PM) [snapback]512728[/snapback]</div>

That smell is caused by mold growing in the air conditioner coils. The moisture caused by condensation in the coils promotes that. To get rid if the moisture, I turn the heater on high for a couple of minutes before I turn the car off.

Since doing that regularly, I have not had that problem.

Some cars have an automatic system which does that for you after you leave the car. I think Volvo is one of them. Obviously this needs to be done while the ICE is warm to get heat.
[/b]

any damage to the car if you dont?

[Allannde]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SureValla @ Sep 14 2007, 02:03 PM) [snapback]512730[/snapback]</div>

any damage to the car if you dont?
[/b]

No, the damage is to your nose.

(Note that I just modified my post above)

[patsparks]

Could also explain where the other sock goes.

I concur with the above post. Also make sure to keep the air intake clean as wet leaves in the air ducts will also smell. Check the filter behind the glovebox.

[pewd]

>horrid smell

dead mouse? been known to happen

check the air filter, and the air inlet screen under the hood.

[sea-horsea]

i thought it usually happened to older cars..but i have my prius for less than a month and i smell it already...so its normal for new cars to have the smell as well?

[fairclge]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rsrobn @ Sep 14 2007, 05:32 PM) [snapback]512715[/snapback]</div>

Hi All,

For about the past 30 days or so when I start up my Prius in the AM, there is a horrid smell coming from the A/C. The smell goes away after 1-2 mins or so and won't re-appear until the blower is off for a period of time.

The car went into the dealer about 2 weeks ago because of the odor. The dealer sprayed "Fridgie Fresh" into the system which only masked the odor for a day or 2.

I'm taking it back on Monday. Has anyone else had odor issues? Any idea what it could be?

The car is garaged at night, driven daily and parked in an open lot. I would think if it was a mold, the fridgie fresh would have lasted more than a few days.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
[/b]

I have the same set-up and same problem, I just noticed... I'll try the heat to kill the mold.

[rsrobn]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fairclge @ Sep 18 2007, 06:51 AM) [snapback]514200[/snapback]</div>

I have the same set-up and same problem, I just noticed... I'll try the heat to kill the mold.
[/b]

I must just be mold. On my last drive I put the heat on "HI" for 45 mins or so. The smell is gone for the time being. Thanks for the suggestions.

I have read that this is an issue with the newer smaller and more efficient air conditioners. As mentioned, some of the manufacturers run the blower after you leave the car to combat the issue. I hope Toyota is addresses the problem.

[jayman]

When you think about it, an evaporator coil is the *perfect* environment to grow mold and other nasty things: always dark, always very damp, and rarely bothered or cleaned. A brand new e-coil can develop mold simply from the environment. Eg: was the car sitting in a dealer or shipping parking lot with a lot of mold spores in the air?

Once you get mold in an e-coil, it can be *very* difficult to erradicate. A lot of the hookus-pookus sprays only cover up the smell, they don't kill the source. Old wisdom would suggest using laundry bleach, which will absolutely erradicate the mold and whatever else is breeding in the e-coil.

However, sodium hypochlorite can attack the copper tubing inside the e-coil, potentially leading to a failure down the road.

For home use, I've had great luck with a professional HVAC product from NuCalgon, called Evap-Fresh.

http://ftp.nucalgon.com/ftp/prodlit/3-38F.pdf

It's premixed so you - preferably - saturate the e-coil and the housing, then let dry. No rinsing required. However, it contains n-Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and n-Alkyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, so you sure don't want to breathe the mist as it's sprayed in

The hardest part about cleaning an automotive e-coil is they really are *not* designed for easy cleaning. Unless the Prius is different, you pretty much have to remove the e-coil from the car. I suppose if you were very careful, you could drill a hole into the case - avoiding the coil and tubing of course - and then spray in the disinfectant.

You can get the same smell and problem with household e-coils. I noticed a slight odor from the A/C at my hobby farm this summer, as we had a very hot and humid stretch in July. I sprayed on the Evap-Fresh and that cured it. I took a photo if anybody is interested

The e-coil looks clean, but then again it *looked* clean when I had the odor problem. A lot of this stuff is invisible to the naked eye.