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Smelly Sienna

21 messages,  Last post on Apr 07, 2010 at 5:33 PM

You are in the Toyota Sienna Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Heating / Cooling, Interior, Van

Messages Page 3 of 3

#12 of 21 Re: Smelly Sienna [wwest] by nja

Mar 11, 2010 (1:27 pm)

Replying to: wwest (Mar 11, 2010 12:35 pm)
>> If you park under cover then simply, but religiously, lower the windows slightly each and every night.
 
I dont have that luxury now. Even if that is the case, how long should I be doing it? Couple of weeks?

#13 of 21 Re: Smelly Sienna [nja] by wwest

Mar 11, 2010 (1:41 pm)

Replying to: nja (Mar 11, 2010 1:27 pm)
For as long as you make use of the A/C on a daily basis.
 
My '01 F/awd RX300 has a c-best option, two actually, that I had the dealer set so that I could disable the A/C compressor indefinitely throughout the winter months. The second one unlinks the A/C from operating automatically in defrost/defog/demist mode.
 
As long as the A/C doesn't operate there is no condensate build up in the A/C plenum and thus no odor. And as a "special" side benefit no instances of sudden windshield fogging during cool or cold weather operation.

#14 of 21 Re: Smelly Sienna [nja] by maxwell10

Mar 13, 2010 (11:40 am)

Replying to: nja (Mar 09, 2010 8:44 am)
i had the same problem with my chevy truck when new.
 
its water not being dried off the ac condensor. they had to install a odor kit dry off unit on my ac condensor,
 
the kit turns the ac fan motor on high for about 15 sec every hour/ 24 hrs per day.
 
but the fan does dry off the condensor and stopped the odor.
 
you must find a way to dry off the condensor,
 
you may have to turn the blower on high yourself each time you drive and let it run for at least 1 or 2 mins.
  
on my truck the odor started in the springtime.
 
good luck, no sprays or baking soda ever stopped the odor, you must dry off the condenser.
 
good luck,

#15 of 21 Re: Smelly Sienna [maxwell10] by wwest

Mar 13, 2010 (8:45 pm)

Replying to: maxwell10 (Mar 13, 2010 11:40 am)
You mean to say evaporator, the condensor is the A/C component mounted forward of the engine cooling radiator. The kit they used was likely the EED from airsept.com and only runs for 15 seconds intermittently for the first hour after the ignition is switched off.

#16 of 21 Re: Smelly Sienna [wwest] by maxwell10

Mar 13, 2010 (10:03 pm)

Replying to: wwest (Mar 13, 2010 8:45 pm)
wwest:
 
am sure your are right it is the evaporator, part of the ac unit that is inside the dash.
 
The GM kit they installed is called a Odor Kit: I got a copy of the tech bulletin for the unit. It was installed in 2000 and still works fine.
 
It operates the fan on high speed for about 15 seconds each hr 24/7. Now that I am retired and do not drive the truck daily, the unit will run the battery down in the winter.
 
But that fan blowing across the evaporator, drying it off, has eliminated the odor problem.
 
My GM service tech said they had installed about 7 of these units on pickups at the local dealership. Not something GM is proud of I guess.

#17 of 21 Re: Smelly Sienna [maxwell10] by nja

Apr 06, 2010 (3:02 pm)

Replying to: maxwell10 (Mar 13, 2010 10:03 pm)
Visited a dealer today. He recommended cleaning the AC evaporator with some kind of foam. Seems they do that in these cases. Will update once its done.

#18 of 21 Re: Smelly Sienna [nja] by wwest

Apr 07, 2010 (6:54 am)

Replying to: nja (Apr 06, 2010 3:02 pm)
Temporary fix, work.
 
Be sure and read the label or the MSDS fact sheet on the fungicidal foam as you'll be breathing that into your lungs for quite some time to come.

#19 of 21 Re: Smelly Sienna [wwest] by nja

Apr 07, 2010 (9:07 am)

Replying to: wwest (Apr 07, 2010 6:54 am)
so, the only way out of this is to install the kit?
 
btw, how much do these kits cost? cant find any pricing on the sellers site.
and does the dashboard have to be open to install one of these? can it be done anywhere else ( read cheaper) or by myself?
 
thanks

#20 of 21 Update by nja

Apr 07, 2010 (1:24 pm)

Well, it didn't go well. Van still smells moldy
 
What do I do next? How do I make sure that its not coming from catalytic converter? How to check for it?
 
If it was evaporator, it should have at least reduced the moldy smell. Correct?

#21 of 21 Re: Update [nja] by maxwell10

Apr 07, 2010 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: nja (Apr 07, 2010 1:24 pm)
nga,
 
does the odor smell like wet clothes mama left in the basket for a few days.
that was the smell in my 2000 model chevy truck and the fan blowing across the evaporator every hr solved the smell problem.
 
we purchased a new house AC/Heat pump unit 2 years ago, it is twice as big as the one taken out. The new unit has twice as many cooling fins and they are closly packed together,
 
each spring during AC startup it has a odor problem, the company gave me some type spray material that I have to spray on to the cooling fins to kill the odor. Same type problem, AC dealer said these new high eff units are all having the same odor problem, its moisture and until they are run a while they have to have a shot of chemical.
 
good luck with the problem.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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