Car bad odor anybody else experience this

[Kraig Wilkinson]

It would be helpful to members if you,all would state your locations.
Guess I’m lucky to live in Phx. a area with extremely low humidity so have not in my 4 years of ownership had the mildew problem.

I am in South Dakota area, no smell in my 15 5.0 Ultimate 33k. Smells like leather/new car smell?

 

[Suburbazine]

Have you used this? Minimal reviews and $90 doesn't make me want to jump right on it...

No, not this specific type. I had to go find what I used, it's worked well enough and costs less too. You'll want more than one can, though. I've used NuCalGon in the past but it hasn't worked as well, but it does have a made-for delivery tube that will snake through vents/ports.

Amazon.com: FJC 5914 Foaming Evaporator Cleaner - 16 oz.: Automotive

Buy FJC 5914 Foaming Evaporator Cleaner - 16 oz.: Carpet Cleaners - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Spraying anything at the intake under the windshield fixes nothing- if that solves your issue, you need a new cabin filter.

 

[AUGrad]

Rather than cut holes in anything, I removed the glove box and thermistor and sprayed FJC 5914 foaming evaporator cleaner in the thermistor hole. Pictures below. Just did the fix today, so time will tell on how long it lasts.

This picture is of the general area.The thermistor is to the left of and behind the glove box.


Disconnect the the wire.


Then just rotate the thermistor counterclockwise about a quarter turn and it will pull out. Insert the cleaner hose and spray:


I waited the 20 minutes per the instructions on the cleaner, then reinstalled the thermistor and a new in-cabin filter. So far, it smells great.

 

[DV_hat]

Rather than cut holes in anything, I removed the glove box and thermistor and sprayed FJC 5914 foaming evaporator cleaner in the thermistor hole. Pictures below. Just did the fix today, so time will tell on how long it lasts.

This picture is of the general area.The thermistor is to the left of and behind the glove box.
View attachment 30835

Disconnect the the wire.
View attachment 30836

Then just rotate the thermistor counterclockwise about a quarter turn and it will pull out. Insert the cleaner hose and spray:
View attachment 30837

I waited the 20 minutes per the instructions on the cleaner, then reinstalled the thermistor and a new in-cabin filter. So far, it smells great.

I've been trying to figure out a way to get down there without drilling thanks for sharing this.

 

[carguy75]

I just use charcoal embedded cabin air filters which purify the air out the vents. Works to get rid of the AC odor in my Genesis. Learned that trick from other luxury cars(Mercedes for example) I owned that came with charcoal cabin air-filters stock.

 

[Herna05]

Tried this yesterday and installed a new charcoal filter as well. Dispensed an entire can of klima cleaner into the thermistor opening. I drove around today and the air was definitely better. Will keep checking if the musty smell comes back. Hopefully not!

 

[EdP]

Tried this yesterday and installed a new charcoal filter as well. Dispensed an entire can of klima cleaner into the thermistor opening. I drove around today and the air was definitely better. Will keep checking if the musty smell comes back. Hopefully not!

Make sure the drain tube is working properly too.

 

[AD2677]

Hello

I have a 2015 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 awd I sometimes get a terrible odor in my car after hours of all windows rolled up and I get into my car and it smells like mildew or burp or just straight up bad breath at times. Could anybody tell me what's causing that horrible smell. And how do I get rid of it without just adding a air freshener.

THANK you

I spray Lysol at air intake while running AC in full blast, then change to heat on full blast as well. It seems to fix the odor for couple months at a time.

 

[carguy75]

Tried this yesterday and installed a new charcoal filter as well. Dispensed an entire can of klima cleaner into the thermistor opening. I drove around today and the air was definitely better. Will keep checking if the musty smell comes back. Hopefully not!

You should be good to good now.

I never have an issue with weird smells with charcoal embedded cabin filters. They used to be really rare(and expensive) a decade ago as aftermarket replacements for cars that did not have them stock. Now I can buy one for all my cars for around $10-$15 each on Amazon.

I also use charcoal embedded home AC filters as well in my heat pump units. Removes cooking odors fairly quickly in the house.

 

[salvageking]

I also have a 2015 Genesis Sedan which was having a bad moldy sock smell when the HVAC would initially turn on.
I took a boroscope camera and found some pooling water in the evaporator core. Under the car, it seemed that the surface tension of water would hold extra moisture in the evaporator drain at the rubber boot. I pulled the rubber bit and then chopped it off.

I think this has made at least 70% improvement in the odor after one day. I'll ozone the car soon and hope that kills or neutralizes some of the mold thats set up shop so far. Draining the moisture is key - as bombing my car with Lysol and then having to sit in it for hours doesn't seem like a great idea.

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[AD2677]

Hello

I have a 2015 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 awd I sometimes get a terrible odor in my car after hours of all windows rolled up and I get into my car and it smells like mildew or burp or just straight up bad breath at times. Could anybody tell me what's causing that horrible smell. And how do I get rid of it without just adding a air freshener.

THANK you

Mine is same model and year, had the same odor issue. I used a whole can of Lysol, AC on highest setting, spray 1/2 bottle at air intake on outside, bottom of the windshield, driver side; then switched to heat highest settings and sprayed the rest of the can. Do it slowly at both applications. It works, May have to do it couple times a year, but it does work. The most likely issue is the drain plug underneath the car, I didn’t attempt to clear it. Best of luck.

 

[DV_hat]

I also have a 2015 Genesis Sedan which was having a bad moldy sock smell when the HVAC would initially turn on.
I took a boroscope camera and found some pooling water in the evaporator core. Under the car, it seemed that the surface tension of water would hold extra moisture in the evaporator drain at the rubber boot. I pulled the rubber bit and then chopped it off.

I think this has made at least 70% improvement in the odor after one day. I'll ozone the car soon and hope that kills or neutralizes some of the mold thats set up shop so far. Draining the moisture is key - as bombing my car with Lysol and then having to sit in it for hours doesn't seem like a great idea.

View attachment 31809

View attachment 31810

Is this the drain looking from under the car?

 

[2015g5.0]

I also have a 2015 Genesis Sedan which was having a bad moldy sock smell when the HVAC would initially turn on.
I took a boroscope camera and found some pooling water in the evaporator core. Under the car, it seemed that the surface tension of water would hold extra moisture in the evaporator drain at the rubber boot. I pulled the rubber bit and then chopped it off.

I think this has made at least 70% improvement in the odor after one day. I'll ozone the car soon and hope that kills or neutralizes some of the mold thats set up shop so far. Draining the moisture is key - as bombing my car with Lysol and then having to sit in it for hours doesn't seem like a great idea.

View attachment 31809

View attachment 31810

Update? Did this work?

 

[2015g5.0]

Make sure the drain tube is working properly too.

Update? Did this work?

 

[2015g5.0]

I've been trying to figure out a way to get down there without drilling thanks for sharing this.

Did this work?

 

[2015g5.0]

Tried this yesterday and installed a new charcoal filter as well. Dispensed an entire can of klima cleaner into the thermistor opening. I drove around today and the air was definitely better. Will keep checking if the musty smell comes back. Hopefully not!

Did the Dealership (Hyundai) provide the charcoal filter? If not where did you get yours?

 

[salvageking]

Update? Did this work?

Pretty much.

 

[DV_hat]

I finally tried the thermistor hole last week and so far the cars been odor free. Even after sitting for a few days there's no moldy morning breath smell when I get in sothis method seems to have actually gotten the dirt/mildew out. I think the dealership application just masked the odor for a few days.

A few notes:
I ended up using this product that was much cheaper and readily available from my local home depot, got 2 applications for the price of one kool-it can and did one through the thermistor hole and a second through the top vents.

AC-Safe Air Conditioner Foaming Coil Cleaner AC-921 - The Home Depot

Keep yourself cool and relaxed on hot summer with addition of this AC Safe Air Conditioner Foaming Coil Cleaner.

www.homedepot.com

replace the spray nozzle with a vinyl tube and you got pretty much the same thing for about $8 and don't have to wait for delivery. It smells a bit soapy but it went away after about an hour of AC/heat cycling.

Big thanks to AUGrad for sharing this

 

[dcrob95]

I also have a 2015 Genesis Sedan which was having a bad moldy sock smell when the HVAC would initially turn on.
I took a boroscope camera and found some pooling water in the evaporator core. Under the car, it seemed that the surface tension of water would hold extra moisture in the evaporator drain at the rubber boot. I pulled the rubber bit and then chopped it off.

I think this has made at least 70% improvement in the odor after one day. I'll ozone the car soon and hope that kills or neutralizes some of the mold thats set up shop so far. Draining the moisture is key - as bombing my car with Lysol and then having to sit in it for hours doesn't seem like a great idea.

View attachment 31809

View attachment 31810

Can you point out where this location is? or does the car need to be on a lift or at least to on ramps in order to access this location?

 

[Herna05]

Read the post from July 19th. I added the cleaner thru the thermistor and so far the smell is gone.