AC Smell

Ozium is awesome!! When you start smelling "Cheez-wiz and Butt-cheeks" it's time to use the Ozium. Run the AC on full blast (outside air). It needs to be sucked in through vents near the lower part of the windshield, spray generously. Then let the car "marinate" for awhile, preferably overnight.

The Ozium will at least help the situation.

 

Do you take the cabin filter out before you spray the Ozium in the fresh air intake?

 

I usually don't.

I also always use the fresh-air mode on the A/C. I never use the recirculate even though it always defaults to recirculate, I've trained myself to always press the outside air mode on the A/C. This is key.

 

On mine I took the cabin filter out and sprayed Frigi Fresh directly in the fan under the cabin filter. I ran my a/c on high/cold. It worked great the first few times I done it. But not so much last year. And I was like you I made darn sure the outside air mode was on.

 

Wish there was a way to stop the recirculation mode from automatically engaging.

 

Yeah I know what you mean. Hoping it is not like that on my Honda CR-V.

 

Yes, every Taco I've ever owned has had this problem and it's a well-known issue... there is even a dedicated Toyota procedure for fixing it and it more or less is what I will describe below.

To fix it: Turn your fan on high, engine on, AC on, fresh air enabled, windows down and spray a 50:50 mixture of 90% Isopropyl Alcohol and distilled water (or just straight 70%) into the intake vents along the outside front of the windshield near the wipers. I don't like to use Lysol because of the lingering smell and additional chemicals it contains. Give it a good dousing and then turn the engine and fan off and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. Restart, turn the fan back on and let it blow on high for another few minutes until the alcohol smell subsides.

To keep it from coming back: When you are using your AC, make you dry the system out before reaching your destination. Do this by running the fan for a couple of minutes WITHOUT the AC on and fresh air ENABLED to help dry the evaporator. I haven't had any more funky foot type odor from mine since I started doing this. Also, make sure you keep your cabin air filter clean.

 

when you do this you got to remove the cabin filter, then spray the Lysol/Ozium thru the intake on the outside window cowl,fresh air button ON position, AC running full blast,air recirculate ON position, and C filter door closed without C FILTER. This way the spray will circulate thru all the pipes/tubes,fan and sytem and kill the fungus/bacterias. do half a can first then the rest if necessary.

 

Assuming you want to tackle this instead of the dealer... here is my 2 cents. (Note, this is the half-ass solution, but I am not taking my evaporator coil out of my vehicle to clean it.) Did this operation on a Subaru, which are known a bit for this too.

First Make sure your A/C is fully charged, capable of blowing nice and cold when idling. I would say when 80F outside in the shade with Recirc On and Doors open and Fan Max it should be less than 50F coming out of the vents after 10 or 20 mins running constant. I notice odor issues are definitely more prevalent when A/C isn't working right. I think the vehicle isn't making enough water to really flush the coils clean.

After checking or fixing A/C cooling, then use a foaming evaporator coil cleaner designed to be injected thru the A/C drain.
I have previously used

$13 Lubegard 96030 Kool-It Evaporator and Heater Foam Cleaner

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007PHD0S/ , like 2 or so cans at a time. You want to completely immerse the entire coil in that foam using both cans at the same time (generally). Note, I don't know how the coil is situated on the Taco to know where it will go, etc.
(There are other products, including a subaru brand https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Subaru-SOA868V9315-Climate-Cleaning/dp/B00TSGYKIU/ )

No guarantees it will work well for you. It has worked on Subaru's for me in conjunction with getting the A/C cold and capable of really flowing alot of condensate water.

 

To me its crazy you have to worry about this with 1 year old truck. Especially a very clean one. Thank you all for the input, I'll keep you updated.

 

I tried this but I could not get the hose up past the firewall. I don't know if there is a screen in there or what. All I know I was sad it would not work.

 

I was damn sad myself.

 

Interesting, as I said I have used on Subaru's, but don't know on the Taco for sure.

 

I had a 02 as well and just bought 95 that both had the classic old "Toyota" smell. I just ran the Meguiar's Air Re-freshner and odor eliminator and was pleased in the 95. Not too strong after it air's out. With my 17' it seems like it will be a potential occurring issue. Some people have air fresheners that will run you out of the truck and I don't really want to be that guy haha. Will try odorless solutions first.

 

Like I said before, it's a well-known, well-documented issue... plain bad engineering on Toyotas part. There is even a class action suit against the Camry for this exact issue.

 

my GEN2 doesn't automatically engage into recirculate

 

Antifreeze will produce a sweet smell. If it is a skunky odor it is probably moisture/condensation. Run your hands under and on carpet to see if moist. I put in-channel vent visors on and keep windows cracked during the day to keep aired out as I hate a musty smell. Run hands under seat and any place that water could intrude. A good way to get odors out of anything is rent an ozone machine. We use them to get smoke smell out of burned houses. Works very well.

 

my GEN1 and hi lux truck never had a bad odor like the GEN2 got me thinking maybe its the paper cabin filter that attracts the funky odors its positioned right above the fan that circulates the fresh or recirculated air, ive read somewhere that people put a strip of that BOUNCE fabric softener sheet across the top of the CF to help filter a fresh scent, might try this myself.

 

After having many vehicles and working on many vehicles in the muggy hot south keeping the windows cracked is the best preventative.

 

I've had the same issues, but ozium seems to work well.