How do you fix a funky smell coming from the A/C vent?

Question

It's been doing this for awhile after I put in a new air freshner(probably not the air freshner considering the old one's like two months old)...it's one of those things you attach onto your A/C vent...and I kept the old one around because it's a smiley face and it makes me happy. Whatever besides that could it be something inside the vent that smells weird? I'm pretty sure it's coming from the A/C vent since I don't have any clothing or anything like that in the car. Could it be an indication that something's wrong? If it indeed is the vent, then how do I make it stop smelling funny? By the way I have a 98 Camry LE. Thanks.

Answer 1

I found that my AC smelled better if I turned the AC off about a mile from my destination. Seemed to somehow dry the moisture up and the smell never happens now.

Answer 2

I had a problem like this once. If the smell gets worse when you turn on your A/C then it probably is coming from there. The quickest and easiest thing for starters, which i've tried was to get a cheap can air freshener (the stronger the better) and put it in my glove box and switch the A/C system to draw the inside air. The intake for the A/C is right behind the glove box so the scent gets pulled in alot quicker. If this doesn't help the I agree with the others and you might want to see someone that specializes in vehicle A/C but don't let them talk you into recharging the system. That would only be needed if the system isn't cooling.

Answer 3

There is a product with enzymes sold in a white bottle that will kill urine smells in carpet. You soak the carpet and let it dry, it can take a week or two and during that time it still smells. But once the carpet, pad and underlying wood are dry, it does remove urine smells. I would imagine it should work on just wood as well. If that doesn't work, you can have the floor sealed with poylurethane which will trap the smell and prevent it from going into the room. If the finish on the floor is already in good shape, and its just the smell, you could probably do it yourself on a budget, but this is the kind of thing where a professional can do a nice job for not a lot more than it costs you for the poly at retail. It costs about $2 a square foot to have your floors sanded and have three coats of poly applied. They will look awesome and have no smell from the urine. Some floor people charge $.75 to $1 a square foot extra for the urine problem because sanding makes the urine come out really strong and they have to pay the workers more to work in that condition. But the problem will go away with this treatment.

Answer 4

ok if there is a smell coming from the vent it is from mold growing in the vent.
Here is why. Go to the engine compartment and look at the fire wall. That is in the engine compartment just behind the dash. Now look on the left side of the fire wall for a small tube. It comes out of the fire wall and turns down. This is the ac drain for the condensation from the as. This little hose is plugged up and is not allowing the water to vent out of the tube. Get a pencil and shove it up this little tube.

As the air works it makes water and there is a small tray that channels the water out this vent. When it stops up it does not allow the water to drain and mold grows in this channel. Over time it smells up the car.
If you clean out this hose so the water will drain it will wash out the mold and the smell.

Answer 5

This is a common problem. You have a mildew growing in your air box. The only way to get rid of the smell is to go by a kit that foams up in your airbox killing the bacteria.

Answer 6

Find a shop that specializes in a/c systems and tell them about your problem.I believe it's a form of bacteria that has built up in the ducting and they should have something that they spray into the ducting and it kills the bacteria and it's smell.

Answer 7

i own a repair shop,and whats causing this is three's old leaves and debris gotten down in the bottom of the heater box ,and it causes this smell, my Nissan just did it ,and i took the heater box out and cleaned it all out real good and now it smells normal ,but even after cleaning everything it still smelled for a day or two.but you might try cleaning it out,this is what causes it to do that ,,good luck,i hope this help,s.and have a good thanks giving.

Answer 8

I am not disagreeing with the other technician's answers but nobody has mentioned changing your filter/filters. That couldn't hurt and they are usually in stock at your Toyota dealership.

Answer 9

aw, just pull the screen off the air intake under the hood and pull the dead rat outta there. Not so funny. I've done that!

Answer 10

Put a bag of onions in the back seat this will absorb all the odors.