Strong Mildew Odor ? Possible Water Leak ? 2007 Access Cab

Over the last couple of years, I have been noticing a progressively worsening odor, in my 2007 Tacoma Access cab. I get the smell of "mildew", when I first get into the truck, and start it up. I have checked and changed the cabin filter. The smell was not coming from there, as I had once expected. I have now determined that the smell is coming from the doors. I can smell mildew quite strongly, if I put my nose down around the window crack (where the window goes down into the door).

So, I am wondering if anyone has experienced this, and is there a drain, somewhere on the doors, that may become clogged, and hopefully, can it be cleared ? I'm thinking I have water accumulating down in the bottom of my doors. I also notice this more during the summer months, and especially right after a rainy spell, or after I wash the vehicle.

 

Somebody has got to have experienced this ???? Right ????

 

Yes. On the bottom of the doors. Not hard to find, should be able to clear.

If trouble clearing, may have to remove door panel, get down inside the door and remove goop/sludge, etc that may have built up.

 

make sure your A/C evaporator drain is clear also. if not, the evaporator box will fill up with condensation and become stagnant, and if you run it long enough, it can spill onto the passenger floor.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. The smell is definitely coming out of the door. I believe that the drains must be stopped up. I'll check them tomorrow ! Are they towards the front, back, or middle of the door. What is the approximate size of the drain ?

 

The drains should be along the bottom edge of the door. There should be three or four openings. It would probably be a good idea to open the door and clean inside if one of the drains are plugged if nothing else than to clean and dry it off inside to prevent rust.

 

Any suggestions on getting inside the door. Does the interior panel just snap off and on ? Also, do I need to remove the arm rest first ? I'm not so sure I know exactly how to do all of this, without tearing something up ?

 

Remove door panels here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjhYKzE_yBg

 

Ok, next question.....

No need to remove the door panels. I looked under the door and found the drain holes (3 of them - front, middle, back). The bottom of the door is clean, there is no trash, dirt, leaves, insects, etc, in the holes. They are completely open and unobstructed. Ignition key, or screw driver easily pass through - there's nothing there ?

So, why would if have a strong mildew odor coming from my doors. If I roll either window (driver or passenger side) down, and smell right above the window slot, the odor is very strong (?). The truck is not wet or damp, anywhere that I can see or feel, on the doors or on the carpet. I am perplexed !

 

The panels themselves might have gotten wet at one time, and need to be cleaned/shot with Lysol, or maybe even replaced. BUT, only if you are totally sure it's not the carpet that smells.

 

My 2010 recently started having this issue. Still haven't figured it out. Plan is to leave parked with the windows down. It's 111 in Vegas this week. Should dry things out

 

Two things to check: I discovered in mine that the plastic liner inside the door panel actually collects/traps water at the bottom - I removed a couple inches of the butyl caulk at the bottom to let it flow out. Also, there is a padding attached to the door panel that may be getting wet and staying wet. The panels are easy to get off once you know how. I've done it several times now.

 

The smell is definitely coming out of the window slots. I can't smell anything on the floor (carpet), anywhere, plus I can't see how the smell, should it by chance be the carpet, could possibly find it's way up into both doors. Also, I thought there was a plastic barrier, to keep the inside panel from getting wet.

 

You might just have to pull the panels to visually inspect them..

 

Aren't the interior panels protected by plastic, from the water that may pass through from the window slot to the drain holes ?

 

I think so, but short of actually looking inside to visually check, it's hard to tell WHATS going on in there to cause the smell.

 

I understand, but I really hate to destroy the plastic barrier to get inside the door....

 

I understand, but not too many other options...

 

If you look at the video, if you pull the panel carefully, you won't hurt the plastic barrier

 

Is there anything on the other side (outside) of the plastic barrier, that would hold, or soak up water ? If the interior door panel is dry, there shouldn't be anything else, should there ?