Weird smell in truck with AC fan on

In case the cessation of flatulence doesn't solve the problem, check your AC drain hose.
Pull the carpet back under the right side instrument panel. It goes from the HVAC through the right side floor.
If the hose is twisted or pointing up instead of down, moisture can collect in your HVAC and get moldy - smell like rotten eggs...

 

You need to drill a 1/4" hole in the HVAC box itself. Insert the hose there and fill the entire box up. Then I plug the hole with a small screw.

 

I saw a video on that but the guy used a rubber plug instead of a screw.

 

Either way works fine. But the stuff does work for sure. All the mold crap (or most of it) drains right out the drain tube.

 

I'm hoping my '19 SR don't have that issue. But if it starts smelling like cow manure like the '16 SR5 did I'll know what to do.

I even saw a video where a guy took the blower motor out and stuck the hose in the evap box that way. The hole sounds easier though.

 

These threads don't always take off like you hope. Not sure why the ass thread is raging on, but hey, you never know.

 

My OR developed a musty/sour smell in the AC within the first couple weeks of ownership. Had a Subaru for 13 years that never developed the smell.

Frustrating that Toyota can’t figure this out but I hardly ever use the AC even in summer, so I’m not too put out.

 

Agreed!!

I am 50 years old and have been driving since I was 15. Fords, Chevys, Dodge, Jeep, and more. Have never had an automobile AC system that stinks like this Taco does. WTF???

Have never had to adjust ac settings in any vehicle with hopes of avoiding a musty, moldy smell. And if it's mold... isn't that an environmental issue with possibly quite serious implications?

Luckily, the smell goes away fairly quickly. Seems it's worse when changing to (or from) A/C and Heater.

 

Could be a dead mouse in the blower housing. Lift the windshield cowling, see if the cabin air filter has a hole chewed through it. If not, at least cover the opening with 1/8" hardware cloth, so it doesn't happen.

 

I noticed a cow shit odor coming out of my vents this morning when I drove into town. This truck was built SEP. of 2018. Not even 9 months old yet. I made sure I kicked the recirculate off everytime I turned the A/C on. Buddy had a 2017 TRD Sport and he never switched the recirculate button when he turned his A/C on it was on whatever the system had it on. He ran his A/C till he got to where he was going then shut it off. He never had any issues with odors in his A/C.

I'm not going to bother switching my recirculate button off anymore. I'll run the a/c till I shut the truck off. Might as well..

 

^^post 13 is correct

 

It is. I’ve been sneaking in your truck and doing it too.

 

In my neck of the woods you have to clean the cabin air filter every three months (I have a washable K&N) because of the tons of tree pollen that gets sucked in!

 

If I knew those K&N washable filters would fix my issue...I would be glad to wash one out every 3 months.

 

Don’t know if it would fix your issue but I do know it sure smells better after I clean the filter.

 

It must be Friday already

 

Anyway you can send me a picture of where to drill? I'll need to take it to a local shop and point out where I need the hole drilled.

 

That’s what I do. I have never had odor issues since.

 

I think it has allot to do with what part of the country you live in and your driving habits. I live in town and drive to Walmart, gas station, laundry mat. If I were to shut my a/c off before I get back to the apt. and let the fan run, I might as well not use it at all.

 

I used to have to do this with an old Audi i had growing up, i would blast the heat (yes in the middle of a 90 degree summer day) open all the windows and let it run for about 5 minutes, that will dry everything up. And it seemed to get rid of the musty smell for a few weeks. Or as others have suggested, turn off AC before you get home and let it air out. Its hard to remember though, or if you are driving with someone else and they say "wtf you trying to kill me?"