AC/Ventilation Foul Odor

JRCBJC

MEMBER
TOYOTA CAMRY

1999 Camry LE, when first turning on the AC or ventilation (outside or recirculation) there is a foul odor eminating from the air outlets. The drain tube seems to be open (water of the ground under the passenger side of the car). It has been suggested the cabin filter has mold but I can't find any source that indicates a cabin ventilation filter to get moldy etc. This usually happens every summer but resolves in the winter so I'm assumming it is AC source. Please help by telling me how to rid this by DIY methods if possible.
Thanks
This is my first time so I may be in the wrong pew.

1 Reply

GARFIELD

MECHANIC
197 POSTS

I am not sure it your car has a cabin air filter or not, but if it does then I would try and change it first. Does your car have a recirc position and fresh air positon on the controls, if so you may want to try turning the controls from the recirc to the fresh air position before you turn the car off. I had a honda that I left the controls in recirc all the time and noticed a foul odor coming from the vents when I would turn it on. I found that some moisture was standing inside causing the odor. I started turning the controls to fresh air a minute or so before getting home and within a couple of weeks the odors stopped. Another option is that you may have some mold that has starter on the ac evap coil and short of having your ac discharged and removing and cleaning it you may try so lysol or ozium sprays to try an kill or neutralize them.