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2010 Prius AC strong smell

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Leleknowsnothing, Jun 29, 2024 at 4:17 PM.

  1. Leleknowsnothing

    Leleknowsnothing New Member

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    Location:
    Yuba City
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    N/A
    So I was driving and I felt something cold under my foot it didn't last long but shortly after I started smelling something from my AC. I popped my hood and couldn't visually see anything wrong but specks of white by the AC filter. It was strong I don't know fluid it was since I'm probably the dumbest person in the chat. I know nothing about cars and I'm also poor so if I can get some kind of idea of what could be wrong so I can go about this the cheapest way possible that would be ideal. Any and all help is appreciated.
     
    #1 Leleknowsnothing, Jun 29, 2024 at 4:17 PM
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Most likely whatever you're smelling is something that's coming out inside the car because most people are riding around with the recirculate mode with the air conditioning on full blast in this kind of weather so you're not pulling outside air into the car to be cooled for the most part so you shouldn't be pulling outside air wafting up from the engine and the cowl generally speaking so the funky smell you're smelling may be being released inside the cabin like out of the air conditioner evaporator which would not be a good thing
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Jun 29, 2024 at 10:01 PM
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Can you post a picture? (You may need 5 posts before the site’ll allow posting pics; workaround is to post a word or two 4 more times.)
    You felt something cold, in the driver’s footwell? Also wet? What was the smell like?

    couple of possibilities I’m thinking of:

    1. mould in the evaporator (the AC radiator in the dash).

    2. rodents.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Jun 30, 2024 at 5:40 AM
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