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Do all Gen 2 cars have a mold problem?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by questioner, Mar 30, 2016.

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  1. questioner

    questioner New Member

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    Hello all,

    Last year I bought a used gen 2 Prius from a Toyota dealer. They bought it back from me 9 months later because they could not fix the mold problem in the air con system after multiple attempts. I was getting breathing problems from just using the car and had to get it tested by a mold expert. They found high levels of mold and bacteria in the air con system.

    However I really did like the car. Was I just unlucky or do all gen 2 cars always have a lingering air con mold issue? Please note I didn't mind the smell that was coming from the system, it was the health problems that was the issue. I am very sensitive to mold and I want to be cautious before considering another gen 2 Prius again.
     
    #1 questioner, Mar 30, 2016
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! nope. are you in a constantly moist environment? people that have issues usually shut the a/c off a few minutes before arriving at their destination.
    if you can find one without mold, you should be able to keep it mold free. all the best!(y)
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 30, 2016
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It probably belonged to someone who used the AC a lot, and didn't follow bisco's tip. Might be a sign of an owner who didn't care much about maintenance in general.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Mar 30, 2016
  4. questioner

    questioner New Member

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    Thank for the answers. I followed bisco's tip but maybe it was too late?

    How could it have gotten to the stage that two dealers and myself who tried many cleaning methods couldn't rid the smell? The selling dealer spent 3 hours once trying to sort it out.
     
    #4 questioner, Mar 30, 2016
  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    How many cars in the UK have and need AC? If you have Mould health issues, best to get a car without AC.
     
    #5 JC91006, Mar 30, 2016
  6. questioner

    questioner New Member

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    Can you give an example of such a car?
     
    #6 questioner, Mar 30, 2016
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    My father inlaw has one in the UK LOL
     
    #7 JC91006, Mar 30, 2016
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ford anglia?
     
    #8 bisco, Mar 30, 2016
  9. questioner

    questioner New Member

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    Any modern car?
     
    #9 questioner, Mar 30, 2016
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not that i'm aware of, but i'm not familiar with everything available in gb.
     
    #10 bisco, Mar 30, 2016
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Maybe on your search for cars, you can ask if the AC has been used often. The climate is so cool there, maybe you'll find one with AC but it's rarely been used.
     
    #11 JC91006, Mar 30, 2016
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You go back a few decades, AC was less common. In the summer you ran the windows down. We still do it that way, rarely use AC in the summer, mostly in heavy rain, especially with a lot of bodies in the cabin, for windows fogging.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Mar 30, 2016
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    AC in the winter.......now that's a good idea
     
    #13 JC91006, Mar 30, 2016
  14. questioner

    questioner New Member

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    Good idea.
     
    #14 questioner, Mar 30, 2016
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    My air vents usually have a very foul moldy smell to them when the AC is not on. Once the AC is turned on, that smell goes away. It seems to be in all my cars......even the newer 2015 one
     
    #15 JC91006, Mar 30, 2016
  16. Rocket Man

    Rocket Man Junior Member

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    A/C acts as a de-humidifier, especially in winter. It runs automatically, if the system is set to Auto.
     
    #16 Rocket Man, Mar 30, 2016
  17. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I agree. I use it all the time, summer and winter. Just set the temperature and leave it alone.
     
    #17 JC91006, Mar 30, 2016
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Monitoring with a ScanGauge, I've never seen the AC compressor come on with Auto, if the AC button hasn't been pushed. If I override Mode to be Heat/Defog (air directed to feet and windshield), then sometimes it'll come on. Again, that's with AC button not pushed.
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Mar 30, 2016
  19. Rocket Man

    Rocket Man Junior Member

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    A more exact way to say it is "A/C is enabled, when the system is set to Auto". The A/C computer decides when, and at what speed the compressor runs.
     
    #19 Rocket Man, Mar 30, 2016
  20. questioner

    questioner New Member

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    Why? Is this normal?
     
    #20 questioner, Mar 30, 2016
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