A\C system musty smell

So I experienced this early on in my 20 OR, and based on searching on this forum, found out that the fix was to run Lysol or other cleaners through the engine intakes. In addition, had to make it a habit to turn off recirc and let outside air blow through system for a few minutes in order to prevent bacterial buildup. That has worked great and the mustiness has completely disappeared, but here's my question.

Is this problem only relegated to Tacomas or Toyotas, or Japanese cars in general? Is there something about the way the HVAC is designed that magnifies this issue? Reason I ask is because I've never encountered this in any other car I've ever owned. Randomly asked a few other people just to see if I've been living in a cave all my life, and none of them have ever experienced it or even heard about it.

Since the summers are so frickin hot where I live, it actually is a pain in the ass to run outside air through the system for the last few minutes of a ride. My wife gives me grief every time I do it. I have resorted to waiting until I pull up in the garage, stepping out of the truck, and turning temp all the way up and letting it blow for about a minute or so. Just seems like a ridiculous thing to have to do every time I want to use the AC.

 

NO. It happened in my F150 and I had to do an AC treatment with like the spray into the ducts and all that.

edit: but I also don't know anyone whos had this issue besides myself and Idk anyone who actually turns their AC off and runs air through it before parking. Not one single person

 

Have you checked your cabin air filter ?

 

Also, do you run your a/c with windows open?

I do that sometimes (because I am a moron) and it will allow moisture to build up in the vents and cause this smell.

 

I do. Because it smells like shit if you don’t.

 

Yeah I refuse to turn off the AC before I get home. I'll just clean the coils every so often. It's too fuckin hot

 

It happened in my 2012 Tundra also. Smelled like a hockey gear bag in there!
Ever since I make it a habit to shut the recirc off unless I need “turbo AC” lol. As long as you park it with recirc off it will be fine. With that off it opens the baffle for outside air allowing the air box to dry. I’ve gotten used to it, but what bugs me is recirc comes on automatically if the temp is left on Lo.

 

Yep that was the very first thing I checked and changed. I'm certain its the water condensation that collects inside the a/c housing. The combination of water and desert heat creates an environment that allows bacteria to produce and multiply in and around your evaporator core. If left unchecked can turn into mold and/or fungus. Running the fan on high heat kills the bacteria.

 

I thought these trucks automatically open the recirc baffle when u turned the truck off?

 

Interesting - so you don't run outside air over it before parking? May have to try that out just turning off recirc right before shutting car off. Didn't know about the baffle staying open. Sounds like that may work since my garage is hot as hell.

 

Try spraying some Lysol spray into the cabin air filter area with ac on . Then turn off spray a little more. Let it sit a few hours .

 

I would think in Palm Springs CA the humidity level is relatively low (i.e. the air is drier), so condensation build-up would be less than what we experience here in New England during the late Spring through early Fall. The A/C in my '06 TRD OR AC was never run with Recirculate ON - never experienced any "gym bag" odor. Of course after running it for a bit and then shutting it off, there was always a fair sized puddle left under the truck.
What I find annoying about my '21 TRD OR AC is that the system will automatically turn the Recirc option on when the ambient outside air temp is at some specific level (haven't determined what that is yet), so I have to pay attention and shut it off. So far after 8+ months with some very hot + humid weeks I have yet to notice any particular odor.
BTW, the A/C performs just fine with Recirc OFF and a relatively low fan setting.

 

This whole outside air before parking stuff is new voodoo for me.

Only smells I've ever had came when the case had debris in it and/or the drain didn't work properly.

But maybe I've not had enough experience yet. Only Fl heat/humidity and 50+ years of driving with AC equipped vehicles......

 

This is the 3rd gen forum. Maybe it’s a new issue specific to 3rd gens? I’ve never experienced it in any other vehicle either.

 

Happens to every car I've ever owned.

$30 GENUINE TOYOTA APPROVED S.E.T. SERVICERITE AC EVAPORATOR REFRESH KIT 00053-00008

https://www.amazon.com/GENUINE-APPROVED-SERVICERITE-EVAPORATOR-00053-00008/dp/B07D3B5JTZ

 

Yea we are currently at about 30% humidity so roughly half of what you get in New England

 

Yea, but other than the digital control magic of some models the basic AC is the same o same o.

 

Same here, hence the reason for this thread.

 

I bought my slightly used Acura in Florida and it stunk when first starting it every time. I replaced the cab filter and dumped 2 whole big cans of Lysol in it 3 months apart and the smell hasn’t been back in two years. I live in Louisville now and it’s pretty humid here.

 

Yeah just thinking if they have different mechanisms that trap more water and just get stanky. Just wondering what makes this such a discussed topic when I (and many others apparently) have never experienced or heard of such a thing.