Has anyone cleaned their AC Coil?

The Toyota decision to default to recirculating AC has lead to many a stinking AC system.

As some of you know, replacing the cabin air filter does NOT fix this issue.

My system has stunk since day one thanks to stupid test drivers who never blew fresh air through the system before the truck was turned off.

I’ve made four requests to dealerships to clean my system and they’ve continually rebuffed me.

I read in the service manual and it seems like a bit of a process to get to the AC coil to clean the bacteria off of it.

Have any of you done it? I was hoping to get some feedback before I dived in.

Thanks all.

 

Spray Lysol into the intake for the air conditioning while it's running. Also make sure your drain isn't stopped up.

 

I have read some posts about this product

$18 nextzett 96110515 Klima-Cleaner Air Conditioner Cleaner - 10 fl oz

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002Z2MKO/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Can't remember who, possibly @LarsonFan ?

I don't have this problem, but I put a can in my Amazon cart in case I did.

Also, this thread might help:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/info-about-air-conditioner-odor.33246/#post-521619

 

This is a great product, https://www.bgprod.com/catalog/climate-control/bg-frigi-clean/

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BG-Frigi-F...uZX2r~-:sc:USPSFirstClass!62868!US!-1&vxp=mtr

Frigi fresh is what I use.

 

Mine has had the manure smell since I bought it new also. Told my service advisor and he said to bring it in and they would need to take the dash out to clean the a/c condenser. I'm not going to do this because I know I'll get my truck back with the hard plastic interior all gouged and scratched up. Who is to say that the problem won't return anyhow? I have been using Frigi Fresh twice a year and I'm planning on trading this truck off next summer to another poor unsuspecting soul.

 

haven't had any issues with mine... yet. my 2014 corolla and the wife's 2015 highlander had the same problem after their first summers. i tried everything... nothing was a permanent fix. i hate the damn a/c systems in toyotas with a passion.

anyone know if there's a way to reprogram it so the recirculating a/c isn't the default?

 

I’ve been told we can change it with the Carista app and module.

As for maintenance, the key in my opinion is turning off AC and pumping outside air on high through the system for multiple minutes. If I was using recirc, I will also switch the recirc button on and off multiple times.

That said, it takes cleaning the coil to truly get this solved after there is mold/bacteria in there.

 

Thanks for the tips @LarsonFan and @eurowner!

I will look into this. Where do you spray it? Into the intake?

EDIT: I watched a frigi-clean video, thanks again.

To me I wonder if this is lipstick on a pig, I worry that the bacteria on the coil will continue to fester.

 

Dealer cleaned mine. Smell returned within 2 months.

My buddy's tundra has the same stank odor

 

I used Klima Cleaner. It didn't help.

 

I turn the a/c on high cool and shoot 2 blasts 5 seconds long directly in the fan under the cabin filter. Let it circulate through your a/c for a minute or 2 then shut the a/c off and with the fan on high shoot 2 more 5 second blasts directly in the fan under the cabin filter. Let it circulate for a minute or 2. All done... I do this in the spring and fall. You may have to treat it again after about a week. I have to do mine 2 different times.

If you are worried about bacteria continuing to grow, it likely will. Your concerns is why I'm planning on trading my truck. Damn shame I have a new truck with this issue.

 

I don't think that is the problem because I make damn sure when I turn the a/c on that the recirculating light is turned off and my truck still stinks to high heavens. I have never owned a car/truck in my 55 years that has this issue. Sometimes I wish I would of kept my 2015 Colorado.

I'm not going to bother making sure the re-circulation button is off this next spring. It does not seem to matter with my truck.

 

I leave mine on recirculate and don't have any smells. I'm thinking you have a leaky condenser or something.

 

We'll look for him/her in the New Member thread.

 

My '99 4Runner doesn't have paper filters and it doesn't stink. No issues.

 

Had the same problem in my 2005 Dodge Ram. Virtually impossible to clean the coil. I used Lysol like was already mentioned every couple of months and this helped. I also do not like the fact that the stupid AC system defaults to recirculate when turned on. Anybody have an idea why Toyota did this?

Does anyone know if they can reprogram this via the Techstream software at the dealer so the ac system won't default to recirculate?

 

I would say use the LYSOL treatment in the intake vent at every OCI

 

Others have recommended some other products which are probably good as well, but I've always just used simple OZIUM, just spray it through your A/C intake vents and let it recirculate for a few minutes. We use it all the time in the car business even helps get the stench out of smoker's cars.

Between multiple wet dogs going to dog beach and lots of wet towels/wetsuits from surfing my trucks get SMELLY. After a vacuum/wipe down and Ozium treatment always smells super fresh.

 

can someone snap a pic of where the intake vents are? where to spray a disinfectant?