I have a dead animal smell coming from the vents (all -- front, middle, read seat vents). Itwas present a few months ago, went away over the winter, and is now back so I am assuming it is either an animal or AC issue. I checked the cabin filter behind the glove compartment and it is clear with no smell on the filter at all. Where do I go from here???
tyrenta
Either rodent problem or AC Evaporator. Check out this video for AC evaporator cleaning on a Prius, but concept is the same.
Two different reasons to pinpoint out:
1/ Keep AC off completely for a few hours or a day, then just let fan running on higher speed.
If there is:
a/ rodent smell, then dead rodent could be laying in the vent tube. Check vent tube from the front of the windshield to the cabin filter (rarely the case, but happen to someone I knew).
b/ no rodent smell or very little smell, then next step is to check the AC evaporator.
2/ Turn AC on high for 10-15 minutes and if the terrible smell even more like dead rodent. AC evaporator must be dirty wet food born algae growth (?). Access to the AC evaporator to clean with many different AC cleaning liquids that are made/recommended by Toyota...or I've myself used diluted alcohol spray (ratio: 2 alcohol + 1 distilled water) whenever needed from the air vent to clean everything out for sanitary reason. Make sure set the air vent open outside through inside and removing out the cabin filter before spraying. Place the absorbed fabric to catch any liquid residue running down the vent tube inside the glove compartment.
I am sure others who can give many better suggestions.
1/ Keep AC off completely for a few hours or a day, then just let fan running on higher speed.
If there is:
a/ rodent smell, then dead rodent could be laying in the vent tube. Check vent tube from the front of the windshield to the cabin filter (rarely the case, but happen to someone I knew).
b/ no rodent smell or very little smell, then next step is to check the AC evaporator.
2/ Turn AC on high for 10-15 minutes and if the terrible smell even more like dead rodent. AC evaporator must be dirty wet food born algae growth (?). Access to the AC evaporator to clean with many different AC cleaning liquids that are made/recommended by Toyota...or I've myself used diluted alcohol spray (ratio: 2 alcohol + 1 distilled water) whenever needed from the air vent to clean everything out for sanitary reason. Make sure set the air vent open outside through inside and removing out the cabin filter before spraying. Place the absorbed fabric to catch any liquid residue running down the vent tube inside the glove compartment.
I am sure others who can give many better suggestions.
I bought a really handy boroscope that connects to a USB port on my laptop. It's 10M long (really long) and has LED's on the end as well as a video camera. The cord is quite stiff and can get into some really serpentine spaces. Cost about $20 on fleaBay.
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