So... I have a weird smell. .

I experienced OP symptoms in my FJ Cruiser which has a very similar AC drain location.

It happens every year around Sept.

 

Popcorn and everything?

 

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spray it through the drain hose under the truck

 

Mine did it the first two or three months. It’s gone now. I think it’s all the manufacturing chemicals and crap fresh out of the factory.

It didn’t smell like popcorn though. More of a musty, sour smell.

 

Make sure to leave chocolate on the seats for the homeless. And after they sleep in your truck you will never complain about the A/C smell again.

You may want to burn your truck after!

 

Dirty Mike and the boys said thanks.

 

Larvae smell nasty, popcorn sounds about right, faint, but I guess I could say popcorn. There is alot of mud which has an earthy smell.

Nasty, nasty stuff when it drains.

 

I have trouble thinking that running the heater will solve the condensation problem. The heater core is after the AC coil. This is why you can get warm air on defrost when the compressor is running. The air running over the AC coil when the compressor isn’t running is the temp of the outside air regardless if it’s warm or cold. It might be possible to dry off the AC coil moisture some by just running the fan on any temp. If you live in New Mexico then it might dry out. If in high humidity Florida then not so much.

 

I'll bet the truck was a showroom truck and it sat next to or near the popcorn machine the dealer uses to give free popcorn to their starving hostages, aka customers

 

This. To put it in simple terms, the smell simply migrated over from the popcorn machine. Movie theater butter to be exact. Once it made contact with the coil, it was allowed to multiply on the fins.

 

Damn, I need a popcorn multiplier. I think my 3rd gen is broken.

 

Stinky Taco....... This thread reminds me of my ex wife.

 

That's funny... because your ex wife reminds me of this thread

 

Trucks at the dealership.
Basically told them to check everything listed above ^^^^^

will follow up once I get a call.

 

So. Dealer was giving me the blank stare when I told them what needed to be checked. Condenser Coils, AC Drain, and the cabin air filter.

They asked if I was a mechanic of some sort. I said no. I just have a few good friends that aren’t fucking idiots ( A.K.A Tacomaworld lol ).

They took the truck for about 4 hours. since they could not replicate the smell... which I told them fades after about 30 seconds .... they sprayed some cleaner into the AC, and replaced the cabin air filter.

It works for now. But I’ll try a few methods you guys have recommended.

thanks again fam.
I.L.Y.

 

So I currently own a 2015(90k on the odometer) it’s my 5th Toyota. With everyone Ive turned the ac off about a minute prior to destination or even once I get there and turn the controls to fresh air and ac off and put the fan on high and let it run till no cold air is coming out any longer and not one of my trucks has ever had that musty smell, if you just shut off the ac and leave all that condensation in there it’s gonna be musty no matter what.

 

Toss a dryer sheet in on top of the cabin air filter. That will help mask and eliminate odors from the truck.

 

This is true. I have dealt with this issue so I just let them talk their talk.

 

OP, if you told them to check the condenser coils, that was probably the reason for the blank stare. Anyone else planning to talk to a service tech about this problem, please be aware that the condenser coil for your AC is up in front of your radiator. It's the evaporator coil that is under the dash, turns ice cold when the AC is running and causes the air passing thru and over it to cool the air blowing to the inside of the vehicle AND causes the humidity in the air to condense on its coils, drip down to the pan and go out the condensation tube to under the vehicle. Like a cold bottle of beer on a humid day, the humidity condenses on the bottle and drips down the sides of it. I think this is where people get confused. Refrigerant condenses inside the condenser and evaporates inside evaporator but humidity in the air condenses on the outside of the ice cold evaporator. Just looking to help anyone else who talks to a service tech or mechanic about this problem and doesn't want them to think they don't know what they're talking about. Always go in there knowing the parts that you're talking about... Time for a cold one... Don't want to come off as a know-it-all, just looking to help.

 

Yep has nothing to do with the cabin air filter. It’s been happening long before cabin air filters. Being a former Toyota mechanic I would tell all my customers including family members who have Toyota’s to do as I stated earlier ac off , put dial in fresh air, run fan on high until all cold air is out and just blowing out side air temp. This help dry out the evap core box and keep the musty smell to a minimum or gone, need to do it every time you turn the ac off.