17 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHMusty Odor From Ventillation System
Leading reported evidence
Run system without re-circulated air
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
They asked that I run the system without re-circulated air for a week.
Leading evidence: 'Run system without re-circulated air' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'real long shot' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check coolant level just in case' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suspected cause
Probably a real long shot, but check the coolant level just in case.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Probably a real long shot, but check the coolant level just in case.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I took it to the dealer and they said that if you run the re-circulated air 100% of the time that condensation forms in the cabin/pollin filter air box and associated piping.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
17 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
2 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
Cabin filter was not the culprit; that was replaced in an effort to improve the problem and there was no improvement.
My '99 996 has a moldy smell issuing from the vent ports at all times. Also, occasionally there are small pieces of foam rubber - looking stuff coming out, as if it has deteriorated due to some mold action or something else active and organic. Anyone have a similar experience and is there any way to attack without removing the whole dashboard and getting access to the ducting??
I have this problem on my wifes mini van too. It has auto AC and re-circ. button.
At times it smells like the car farts. I took it to the dealer and they said that if you run the re-circulated air 100% of the time that condensation forms in the cabin/pollin filter air box and associated piping. If the car is shut off on the right day, with the right temp./hummidity, etc. The air is trapped in the system and collects the funk smell. Then it is blown out when the car is re-started.
To resolve, they had to clean all the pipes and the air filter box. They asked that I run the system without re-circulated air for a week. After that, I should rotate between the recir. air and non-recirc. air. They may have added a ventillation part too but I can't remeber. This is per a Toyota Technical Servcie Bulliten.
Not sure if that helps.
1. Remove the cabin-air filter element
2. Cover Seats with old bedsheet
3. Open all doors and windows
4. Turn Fan on high speed with AC off
5. Spray Lysol Disinfectant (Can) into the cabin-air intake
I use almost half of a tall can of Lysol, at timed intervals.
Spray for about 10secs, then wait 30secs, repeat...and repeat...use judgement.
This will allow the MIST of Lysol to travel all through the air vents, without it accumulating as liquid somewhere along the vents.
You are good for at least 6-9 months. The Lysol could smell strong for a few days though, but that should clean your nostrils in the process.....
Hope that helps.
Could be a leak in the heater core. A small one that would just weep, but keep it damp and moldy. Probably a real long shot, but check the coolant level just in case.
That's what I was thinking. The foam my 99 is doing and I wondered about the filter but know previous 10 year old cars have done the same with no filter. I'm thinking the foam for sealing ducts where the hard plastic joins but not sure. I figure I'll find out on this 996. I want the car to last and be in good shape.
Back to the moldy smell. One way you might check if it's a leaky heater core is to engage the heat and while running the car. Then a while after shutting down check to see if you still have back preasure when removing the radiator cap. If there is no back preasure then I'd figure highly posible a heater core leak. Radiator cap springs do go bad so it might be good to change the cap while you are investigating problems. Then if there is any problem with that heater core get it replaced quick. They can dump lots of water quick and leave you stranded.
Anytime, ANYTIME, you operate the A/C it will condense airborne moisture on the ~10,000 square inches of cooling evaporator vane surface area. When you turn off the A/C, shut down the car, that condensate does NOT majically dissappear.
The microbes that constitute the mould and mildew family thrive mightily, breed profusely, in a damp/dank/dark environment at about 65F +/- a few degrees.
Remove the "damp" part of the equation and your problem is solved.
That can be done as simply as religiously lowering the windows each and every night in the garage.
I would be VERY careful about just what chemicals, ANTI-MICROBIAL/FUNGICIDAL chemicals, I spray into the HVAC plenum area, evaporator and heater core.
You WILL be breathing in the residual vapors for quite some time to come.
