Mildew Smell after rain & car wash

You can't see the sealer. It is covered but the trim. That sealer on the light is where the tech didn't do a great job at cleaning up after the job was done.

 

I had thought it was this too, however, after truck sits through a rain I'll get in and it smells right away without either AC/heat turned on. Cabin air filter is dry as well.

 

This is also what the service technician told me today. I feel I can put the 3rd brake light behind me as a culprit for water intrusion.

 

What did you all do during that detailing. Carpet cleaner?
What cleaners and where did you use them. Wondering if something didn't dry out good from the detailing.

 

When I detailed last I just gave the interior a good vacuum, no carpet cleaner or liquid was used that wasn't first sprayed directly onto a microfiber towel.

 

check the cabin air filter. I had water get into it and since you had to pull all that junk out from under the hood, I would look there

 

Got it. You either have a hidden leak somewhere that has been there long enough to cause the stink, or an accumulation for rotting leaves and junk in a cavity somewhere. One other problem spot to inspect is the cavity in the fenders just in front of the doors. Open the doors and pull the rubber seal panel aside. On my truck the fender cavities were filled right to the top with crap, and the bottom third was basically muck. Obviously it had been accumulating for seven years since the time it was built. Clean out anything you find. I think you said you already checked under the plastic cowl trim under the windshield. Leaves, pine needles and other debris gets in there by the openings for hinges, and block the drains over time. Gently pour some water in that area and see how long it takes to come out behind the front tires: it should be immediate. If it's coming out slower than you are pouring it in: investigate why. Good luck. You'll find the source.

Other than that, pull up the carpets next to the seats and see if you have a waterlogged carpet or insulation mat. These will get worse and worse over time and will never dry out unless they are removed. Gently pull up the edges of the plastic sill plates next to the seats and lift up the carpet. The sill pieces should pop right out.

 

I will try both of those ideas this evening, I appreciate the support with this. Will loop back around and let you know what I find out (Or not find out)

 

Sounds good! The best part of these threads in when the culprit/solution is reported. Water leaks can be a nightmare to find, especially since even a tiny one can wreck havoc over time. They can also travel a long way and end up soaking an area far from the source.

 

I think someone mentioned the evaporator cleaning kit that Toyota has. Also check to make sure that the evaporator drain tube. Make sure it hasn't come off. It's on the passenger side, toward the firewall. We have had a few that the internal drain in the evaporator box, wasn't drilled out completely/had plastic flash still in it, that would cause the box to leak water. But those all came in with customer complaints of water dripping on the floor.