2007 Prius A/C Vent Odor (smells like dirty socks)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rsrobn @ Sep 14 2007, 01:32 PM) [snapback]512715[/snapback]</div>

That smell is caused by mold growing in the air conditioner coils. The moisture caused by condensation in the coils promotes that. To get rid if the moisture, I turn the heater on high for a couple of minutes before I turn the car off.

Since doing that regularly, I have not had that problem.

Some cars have an automatic system which does that for you after you leave the car. I think Volvo is one of them. Obviously this needs to be done while the ICE is warm to get heat.

Once the mold is established, it will return quickly with the slightest moisture (the spores will germinate). So if you forget to turn on the heat when you park the car and leave the coils dry, the smell will come right back. But mold does not do well in the dry, so there is hope.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ Sep 14 2007, 06:00 PM) [snapback]512728[/snapback]</div>

any damage to the car if you dont?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SureValla @ Sep 14 2007, 02:03 PM) [snapback]512730[/snapback]</div>

No, the damage is to your nose.

(Note that I just modified my post above)

 

Could also explain where the other sock goes.

I concur with the above post. Also make sure to keep the air intake clean as wet leaves in the air ducts will also smell. Check the filter behind the glovebox.

 

>horrid smell

dead mouse? been known to happen

check the air filter, and the air inlet screen under the hood.

 

i thought it usually happened to older cars..but i have my prius for less than a month and i smell it already...so its normal for new cars to have the smell as well?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rsrobn @ Sep 14 2007, 05:32 PM) [snapback]512715[/snapback]</div>

I have the same set-up and same problem, I just noticed... I'll try the heat to kill the mold.

 

When you think about it, an evaporator coil is the *perfect* environment to grow mold and other nasty things: always dark, always very damp, and rarely bothered or cleaned. A brand new e-coil can develop mold simply from the environment. Eg: was the car sitting in a dealer or shipping parking lot with a lot of mold spores in the air?

Once you get mold in an e-coil, it can be *very* difficult to erradicate. A lot of the hookus-pookus sprays only cover up the smell, they don't kill the source. Old wisdom would suggest using laundry bleach, which will absolutely erradicate the mold and whatever else is breeding in the e-coil.

However, sodium hypochlorite can attack the copper tubing inside the e-coil, potentially leading to a failure down the road.

For home use, I've had great luck with a professional HVAC product from NuCalgon, called Evap-Fresh.

http://ftp.nucalgon.com/ftp/prodlit/3-38F.pdf

It's premixed so you - preferably - saturate the e-coil and the housing, then let dry. No rinsing required. However, it contains n-Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and n-Alkyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, so you sure don't want to breathe the mist as it's sprayed in

The hardest part about cleaning an automotive e-coil is they really are *not* designed for easy cleaning. Unless the Prius is different, you pretty much have to remove the e-coil from the car. I suppose if you were very careful, you could drill a hole into the case - avoiding the coil and tubing of course - and then spray in the disinfectant.

You can get the same smell and problem with household e-coils. I noticed a slight odor from the A/C at my hobby farm this summer, as we had a very hot and humid stretch in July. I sprayed on the Evap-Fresh and that cured it. I took a photo if anybody is interested

The e-coil looks clean, but then again it *looked* clean when I had the odor problem. A lot of this stuff is invisible to the naked eye.

 

Yes. I purchased my 2007 Prius in June 2007 and after a short period, maybe 30 days, I began to smell the same odor that you described. It does dissipate after a short while and I do some driving with the windows open so I haven't really pursued doing anything about it yet. It has been on my mind as winter is coming and I will not be doing as much driving with the windows open. Very interesting to hear that someone else is having the same issue. I will plan to bring it to my dealer and see what's up.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vgs @ Nov 2 2007, 10:28 AM) [snapback]533879[/snapback]</div>

Its bad on my 3000 mile 07 too. And getting worse. I was able to buy some Ozium ( anti bac spray) at an Auto store like someone mentioned and practically hosed the vent/ac intake/fan intake system down. All it did was smell like a hospital that was full of dirty socks for a while. Its awful. It does help if after a drive with the ac on you spend the last minute or so with the heat on full blast but sooner or later you have to turn the ac back on and it does stink. I don't smoke...car is immaculate...many air fresheners hanging everywhere...front vent in front of windshield is immaculate. I think the problem is the drain tube which I can grab by laying on the ground right behind the front pass side tire and reach all the way in is probably not located properly in the e coil box. I bet there is a fairly large depression in the box that houses the e coil where condesate is allowed to collect & pool and will not completely drain off. No way of proving it without seeing that e coil assy in person but I have a suspicion the drain tube placement in the box is not allowing 100% drain off. I an see that tube drips really good when the air is on but probably still leaving a pool behind. A pool of mold. And it do stink. And there's no fix. And it sucks.

 

I had seen a car magazine tv show like 10 years ago on some a/c tips about this.

1.) about a minute or two before you arrive at your destination just turn the a/c compressor off so it will dry.

2.) If you have developed a slight issue one way to get rid of it (again a slight issue) is to turn your vent (A/C off) on the highest setting while parked and get a can of the Lysol Air freshening disinfectant Spray (the one that kills 99.9 % of germs and bacteria) and spray in the air vent screen (located between the windshield and the hood) Just spray 3 or 4 light squirts. The fan will draw it in, repeat and follow up in a day or two.

This is a problem with most every car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(morpheusx @ Nov 9 2007, 08:43 AM) [snapback]537207[/snapback]</div>

I never had this problem with any car but the Prius -- and it stinks.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusmaybe @ Nov 9 2007, 08:26 PM) [snapback]537525[/snapback]</div>

My mom's 95 Saab 900 was bad and so is the wife's 01 Beetle.
Give the tips a try. Especially the turning off the A/C button your last 2 minutes on every trip, it works.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(morpheusx @ Nov 9 2007, 08:43 AM) [snapback]537207[/snapback]</div>

Not a slight issue. Not a problem with most every car either.Like my post said tried that....Ozium is more powerful than Lysol....spraying stuff in the vent is not going to fix an ongoing problem. It just then stinks like dirty socks soaked in Lysol. I tried it but its like spraying stuff in your home AC vents when what you actually have is the condensate drip pan clogged up or gone moldy on your home air handler. I am well aware of that maintenance issue as I have allergies and I keep that pan clean and my house smells great. If I could get to the E Coil on this car I could fix it or maintain it. Its a bad design. Have owned alot of cars and none of them has had this problem to this degree and based on how many people I have see post here and other places (try Googling it) complaining about this issue it's not just me. I only have 3000 miles on my car! Don't smoke..no dogs or kids in it..garaged. The only time it stops stinking is with the AC on. After 2 minutes smell is gone as I assume the mold is now covered in condensate.But after a long run with the AC on...at the end of commute in desperation I put the heat on HI for 2 -3 minutes hoping to burn off ANYTHING. I then park the car and go to work. 6 hours later when I get back in the car it reeks of mold. I can smell it clearly in the vents with the car off. I never did get to experience the new car smell in this car. It went right to moldy. I love this car but its killing me.
One thing I have noticed that I have never seen on another car is after a half hour with the AC on and set to inside re-circulate I have noticed that the vents themselves are really wet. Check out your car please. if after about 30 minutes of nice cold air on take a good look at the vents themselves. Mine are dripping wet. Never noticed that on another car. Its obviously condensate its blowing out. Doesn't matter which fan setting although it usually ends up being on low as the car does have damn good ac. It cools great. Just stinks. Cabin Filter is perfect. Check it every week. Where is all that water going to go in the vent system? I'm stumped. Wonder how many people have to complain before Toyota does something. Bad design.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drifty'sDad @ Nov 9 2007, 08:30 PM) [snapback]537586[/snapback]</div>

I have never seen that happen in three years, but then, it is not as humid here as in Florida. Did you check to see if the air conditioning drain is plugged up?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drifty'sDad @ Nov 10 2007, 12:30 AM) [snapback]537586[/snapback]</div>

That is very good evidence that the drain hole is plugged and the evaporator is filling with condensate. Take it to a dealer and get it blown out, and then regularly use the drying trick described above. That should end the problem.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Nov 13 2007, 11:37 AM) [snapback]538914[/snapback]</div>

It also helps if you don't leave your running shoes in the trunk after a workout at the gym.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Nov 13 2007, 11:37 AM) [snapback]538914[/snapback]</div>

Thank you.....but I have layed on the ground with the AC on and can touch the tube and its draining really good. Water poring out of there. There's a plate directly below the tube blocking any direct ground to tube assault so its hard to push anything up the tube which I'd like to do as I have some compressed air cans like they use in computer repair but cannot reach the tube. Also the tube is at a wierd angle out of the firewall...not shooting staright down but at a slant almost 45 degree's. I can grab it
and its firmly attached there at that angle. From a ground position I can only get one hand in there.
I also checked the vents in front of the windshield. I looked down in there on both sides and its mint new clean
in there. I did a test and poured a small amount of water on each side into the vent and the water vented out each side right behind the front wheels instantly. Checked pass then driver side. Really quick drain. No blockage there. I flushed them out any way.
I'm going to take it to the dealer which I hate as they always either scratch the car or get grease on the interior. I'm sure they'll spray some crap up in vents (did that) and then blow alot of smoke up my skirt. Not looking forward to the dealer visit as I tried to chat up 2 of the techs there last time I went to get a oil filter and neither talked English.Man, does my car stink. Meanwhile my 2001 truck smells fine. :blink: