Does bad smell need regassing?

If the air conditioner produces uncomfortably cold air when the temperature is set to MAX COLD and the fan speed is on high, then the system does not need refrigerant recharging. It just needs to have the evaporator cleaned to get the mildew removed.

 

Sounds like you need the full service then including having the refrigerant recharged. However the fact that the refrigerant is low probably means that the system has a leak which needs to be found and fixed.

 

Romario, Email the dealer where you bought the car from telling them the AC does not work correctly and needs re gassing along with a sanitisation.
Tell them you will give them 14 days to respond after which point you will get the work done. You will then take them to the small claims court for the cost of the work and any out of pocket expenses (could be car hire costs). Also tell them you are sending a "cutesy copy of the email to Toyota".
You could also mention that you have been in touch with "trading standards", and that they are interested in the results.
I guarantee that will bring results.

John (Britprius)

 

Assuming that is what the term "regassing" means.

The fact that mold or mildew is growing inside the duct work has no connection to the refrigerant charge......or lack thereof.

How old is this used vehicle ??

 

Could mould be growing on the AC's cooling fins, reducing its effectiveness?

You can DIY check the system's state of charge, by watching the sight glass while the system's running. There should be just occasional fine bubbles, then a swirl of bubbles, just when it switches off.

 

try baking soda on your cabin fliter.

 

Any good pics on the mildew removal procedure? I had the Toyota cleaning (just a teargas-like canister that they throw in the cabin and charge you 50€ for, does NOTHING to get rid of the smell).
A new active carbon filter also didn't help.

 

I'm pretty sure that Toyota has a "recommended" procedure......maybe more than one......and THAT is not one of them.
You need to "encourage" your dealer to look into it closer.
I suspect it is not a real common problem where you live.

Did they at least check the AC drain hose to be sure it is not plugged up ??

 

No... Not that I saw.

And this Toyota dealer, throwing in 10W40 oil claiming it is what Toyota NL recommend is still 1000 times better than all my local Volvo dealers (~5 in a 30 mile radius) that I have handled my V70...

 

have you tried a charcoal cabin filter?

what about the hv battery tubes? are you sure the smell isn't from them?

 

of course, for the purchase, or the a/c service?

 

they probably will. why not tell them you're returning the car unless they pay for the a/c to be fixed?

 

OP bought the car in April and it is now August. It would be highly unusual for a car dealer to accept cancellation of the transaction four months later.

 

true, i thought maybe it was agreed that they would fix it when he made the purchase.