I live in South Florida (pretty humid for 8 months of the year) and just got a 2010 Prius IV with solar package. Does anyone think that the humidity that comes into the cabin from the solar fan will do damage to the interior? Thanks tm
:welcome: No, the humidity is in the air anyway so I wouldn't expect additional or accelerated damage.
Depends on how much moisture comes out of the air and condenses on the surfaces inside the car. Excess condensation lends itself to mold... It's exacty why so any folk are complaining about that "Funky" AC SMELL, thats mold!
It might if the car were sealed up for awhile. As long as the air is circulating, it shouldn't be a problem.
If mold gets established, it can destroy anything (make it so unhealthy as to make it unusable), and a high moisture level, at or near condensing, is mold's friend. If the A/C does not drain and dry well enough, and mold gets established, that can be a major problem. Is there a way to access the A/C drain pan and system to "clean" it (perhaps flush it with clorox)?
I've got a bit of an issue in my 2013 Prius II. I live in a pretty humid place on Lake Ontario, and the car has gotten a bit "funky" despite upholstery and carpet cleaning... I'm wondering if the Prius-specific, tightly fitted Weathertech mats I put in might possibly contribute to mold in the carpet below from trapped moisture. Cabin air filter is changed regularly. I'm looking for suggestions... I may remove the mats, shampoo everything again, and then try to leave it open over some dry days... Or maybe, right after shampooing, put a dehumidifier out to it and suck all the juices out. Maybe I should put a dehumidier in it once every few months? do not know. Any advice appreciated. In winter, it gets very foggy on the inside of the windsheild as well.
The usual "dirty sock" syndrome in most cars is the ac evaporator, particularly when it has fungal growth, has dried and then gets wet again from normal ac condensation. First be sure the cabin filter is clean and not full of leaves or nesting material. Second get a Toyota or similar evaporator cleaner with injector tube to flush from the bottom of the condensate drain up into the evaporator. This works but may have to be repeated every year for a while.
