Musty Smell

[mgreenb561]

I have a 2015 3.8 sedan. Purchased in January, it had a musty smell coming from AC vent, really only on startup. I used a vent air freshener (mostly through input) and replaced cabin filter (old one did not smell noticably bad), and it went away. Came back after a few months; sprayed it again and went away.

Now it is back. I am in So Florida and it is the rainy season. I can be spraying every 2 months (or just move to Arizona) but I'd like to get to the root cause. I'd suspect water is getting into air intake, but I'm really just grabbing at straws.

Any thoughts / suggestions are appreciated

 

[EdP]

I have a 2015 3.8 sedan. Purchased in January, it had a musty smell coming from AC vent, really only on startup. I used a vent air freshener (mostly through input) and replaced cabin filter (old one did not smell noticably bad), and it went away. Came back after a few months; sprayed it again and went away.

Now it is back. I am in So Florida and it is the rainy season. I can be spraying every 2 months (or just move to Arizona) but I'd like to get to the root cause. I'd suspect water is getting into air intake, but I'm really just grabbing at straws.

Any thoughts / suggestions are appreciated

Do you see water drip when you park after using the AC?
There is a drain for the water from the AC evap coil. Make sure it is not blocked and letting water accumulate. Not sure how to clean the ducts if they do have mold in them but others may jump in on that.

 

[mgreenb561]

Yes. It is draining.

 

[EdP]

Yes. It is draining.

OK. that's a good thing. I did find a couple of methods that can help.
How to Use Lysol to Clean Bacteria Out of Your Car's Air Conditioning System

How to Eliminate Odor from a Car Air Conditioner

 

[kocyk123]

Does it smell like vinegar by any chance? I had the same thing when I use to carry Rain-X in the trunk of my car. It would always smell like vinegar on the startup. I removed the Rain-X bottle from my trunk and the smell was gone. Had the same problem with my 2013 Azera. Back then I didn't know that it was the cause of the smell.

 

[mgreenb561]

No it smells moldy. I am using armorall freshfx vent and duct cleaner odor neutralizer... it works great.........but it has come back every 2 months. I'm hoping to fix the root of the problem rather than just get rid of the smell

 

[biswasd]

i have the solution for your - you're not going to like it b/c it's not a permanent fix.

1> the car defaults to "recirculation" mode when starting the a/c on a hot humid day (indicated by the button in the climate controls that shows a looping arrow).

2> you have to manually run it in fresh air mode (indicated by a straight arrow) for a few minutes on startup before switching to recirculation mode. the mildew smell happens due to the fresh air vent being closed and standing water / condensation mildewing in the chamber hence the smell upon startup.

3> There is no way to change the default setting .

4> our 13 lexus does the same thing - annoying as hell

 

[EdP]

i have the solution for your - you're not going to like it b/c it's not a permanent fix.

1> the car defaults to "recirculation" mode when starting the a/c on a hot humid day (indicated by the button in the climate controls that shows a looping arrow).

2> you have to manually run it in fresh air mode (indicated by a straight arrow) for a few minutes on startup before switching to recirculation mode. the mildew smell happens due to the fresh air vent being closed and standing water / condensation mildewing in the chamber hence the smell upon startup.

3> There is no way to change the default setting .

Are you sure?
I never run in recirc mode. It starts and stays on fresh air. I see no reason to ever recirc unless you happen to be driving through an area of bad odor. Besides, you never know when you or your passengers had the garlic beans for lunch. You don't want to recirculate that.

You have a point though, recirculating may worsen the situation.

 

[biswasd]

My 15 genny seems to start in recirc on most days when there is high humidity outside. I have to manually select fresh air immediately upon starting the car....smell then goes away..

 

[EdP]

My 15 genny seems to start in recirc on most days when there is high humidity outside. I have to manually select fresh air immediately upon starting the car....smell then goes away..

Now you made me go check. Started in FA. I have it in AUTO mode and temperature set to 72. I don't remember changing the temperature since about a year ago. In winter I had it at 70, summer 72. Moved south so it missed last winter.

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[mgreenb561]

i have the solution for your - you're not going to like it b/c it's not a permanent fix.

1> the car defaults to "recirculation" mode when starting the a/c on a hot humid day (indicated by the button in the climate controls that shows a looping arrow).

2> you have to manually run it in fresh air mode (indicated by a straight arrow) for a few minutes on startup before switching to recirculation mode. the mildew smell happens due to the fresh air vent being closed and standing water / condensation mildewing in the chamber hence the smell upon startup.

3> There is no way to change the default setting .

4> our 13 lexus does the same thing - annoying as hell

 

[mgreenb561]

That's it. Makes perfect sense.

I was worried that rain water was going into intake. Switching to fresh air every once in a while is nothing f me

I'm in south Florida so I still actually prefer recirc as default

 

[Andyj]

I noticed that our 2015 starts in recirc mode as default and I usually switch it to fresh air. Since we are in So Cal no humidity problems no smell so far.. Now I wonder if the default is the previous setting.

 

[glennk]

Check the evaporator drain plug. Maybe get a pipe cleaner and see if you can dislodge any debris that maybe clogging it.

 

[G-740422]

I have a 2015 3.8 sedan. Purchased in January, it had a musty smell coming from AC vent, really only on startup. I used a vent air freshener (mostly through input) and replaced cabin filter (old one did not smell noticably bad), and it went away. Came back after a few months; sprayed it again and went away.

Now it is back. I am in So Florida and it is the rainy season. I can be spraying every 2 months (or just move to Arizona) but I'd like to get to the root cause. I'd suspect water is getting into air intake, but I'm really just grabbing at straws.

Any thoughts / suggestions are appreciated

I have same year and problem..Hyundai dealer customer service rep says must run heater for 20 min with three windows closed and one window cracked 3 inches..try i fresh air mode...

 

[mgreenb561]

I have same year and problem..Hyundai dealer customer service rep says must run heater for 20 min with three windows closed and one window cracked 3 inches..try i fresh air mode...

I can do that too. I'd much prefer a minor design flaw to to a defect that can't be detected. FYI on my vehicle, mode defaults to wherever it was when car was turned off.