Smell from A/C

I'll answer this myself since I FINALLY got a useful response from Toyota. Here is what they said, quoted from a Parts Manager (long story),

"The Parts Manager advised that the part # 87139-50100 is a premium charcoal and used for odor maintenance with a high performance. This part is also sourced from overseas which explains the higher price. The dealer advised you don't have to have a odor concern to use this filter, it's really your preference, but that's mainly the purpose for it. The manager advised that the equivalent to this part would be the 87139-YZZ10, which is a premium filter but sourced domestically- meaning made in the U.S. and thus not as expensive as the 87139-50100. Both of these parts are deodorant and pollen filters.


The dealer advised that part # 87139-07010 is solely a pollen filter and does not work on odor. This part is made overseas, not in the U.S."

My own opinion, from looking at photos of the filters, is that the "overseas" version has more material and more pleats. I decided to go with the one I used previously, which is the U.S. one. It won't fix a stinky evaporator in either case, but it will fix a potentially stinky air filter.

 

I realize this thread is a bit old but I had the same issue and found a solution not already mentioned.

After much searching, I found multiple issues reported of the A/C drain hose getting clogged. Water builds up in the hose, stagnates and mold grows. To fix this, pull up the passenger side carpet closest to the center console. The rubber A/C drain hose can be easily accessed without having to remove any bolts or clips. Take a shop vac and suck everything free from the hose. You can use duct tape or your hands to create a decent seal between the two.

This worked on my 2012 PIP and my 2008 Corolla.