Bad smell after AC off?

I noticed a pretty bad smell after I turn the AC off. It seems to last quite a while but does go away after 20ish minutes. I've tried changing the air flow from inside air to outside air and open a window to try and blow out the system.
I also notice it if I start the truck with the AC on however it only last a minute or so.

Anyone else notice this and is it normal?

 

Body Odor?


Seriously though, is it a chemical (off gassing) kind of smell, organic or what? Something spilled or get damp?

 

It's more of a musty smell. Like a damp basement but worse.

Nothing has spilled that I know of.

 

Check the rubber outlet hose under the front passenger side that allows drainage from the AC Evap tray. If it's clogged with debris/spider webs or if routed wrong and pinched, the water does not drain and gets nasty. It'll also back up and go onto your pass front floor when it overflows.

Some people use a wire or compressed air to clear it.

 

check for obvious crap on cabin filter


check for clogged evaporator drain hose

 

Where specifically does the drain hose end on the passenger side?
I know there are drain hoses on each side for the sun roof.

 

just forward of the front pass floor pan/firewall.

You should see it stick down below the frame if you look under the vehicle.

 

Try turning off your AC about a minute or two before your destination and let the fan blow on a higher setting. This helps prevent condensation that can cause musty odors. It might help.

 

Did not see anything under the frame.
Did see this sticking out the firewall, is this it?




Also the cabin filter was dirtier than I thought it would be:

 

I have driven with it off and the fan on high for 10 miles and it doesn't go away.
It appears to have to sit over night for it to full go away.

 

Toyota uses/sells this.

AC refresh kit

$44 00289-ACRKT TOYOTA AC Refresher KIT

00289-ACRKT this is for cleaning evaporator core/box/condensate drain

I'm sure there are similar products on the market for less. But before using, vacuum the sludge out of the bottom of the evap case via the drain line.

It's wet dirt/debris rotting that you smell.

 

I agree with @NAAC3TACO I run my blower with no A/C or re-circulation with the windows down before I arrive. I was told moisture builds up and gets a bit musky.

 

I believe that's it. Shove a coat hanger or blow air up into there to be sure it's not clogged. I've seen some people add hose to it if it's not long enough and draining into your frame. I don't know if that's the case with a 2016.

Spider webs are a big cause of the clogging. All it takes is one evening for those bastards to get in there and make a nice web that stops the flow of water and then you've got a wet floor and nasty smell.

 

I've got the same smell. Seems like it was worse when it was new but maybe I'm just used to it now. I got about 7, 000 on mine.

 

Toyota/Lexus has been battling this for years now. New models on the Lexus side even have a setting that opens up the re-circulation door when you shut the vehicle off to allow fresh air inside the cabin. Do what Digitalbravo said and you will never have an issue. It allows the condensation build up on the evaporator core to evaporate thus allowing the core to dry. If you constantly have it on re-circulation, all that moisture just builds up then has nowhere to evaporate to causing the odors when you start the vehicle.

 

As mentioned I have shut off the AC and enabled out side air.

 

Nasty filter. I change those out twice a year. It helps.

 

My fault, did not see that. I was reading too fast. Maybe try a new a/c filter with de-activated carbon in it? Those always cut down the smell quite a bit. It's a little pricier but well worth the money.

 

Subd
I just started having this problem on my 2nd gen.

 

Highly recommend the kit Clearwater Bob suggested from Toyota. You could easily do it in an hour at home. Just make sure to wait till the foam is fully drained before you turn the HVAC on. Otherwise you will be wiping your seats and dash down for an hour getting rid of the "snow"