Aircon Smell

[NemesisUK]

5 hours ago, wharfhouse said:

In addition, automatic air con, IMHO, is designed to be on full-time and I would have thought be engineered to maintain itself as much as possible in this mode

Exactly this. I set the desired temperature and set everything on auto that includes recirc, fan speed and air distribution and rarely every change anything (maybe temp if my passengers request it). My experience with SEAT, Mercedes and Lexus is that these systems perfectly maintain themselves, quickly settle to the desired conditions with the minimum hysteresis. I have never had strange smells from the climate control.

Yes most a/c compressors shutdown at approx 5c to prevent the evaporator from freezing up but if one keeps the inside of the windows properly cleaned, misting is only a transient thing at first start-up.

[matt8]

My air con is getting particularly smelly at the moment.

I've seen a video which makes sense, spraying some foaming cleaner into the condensate pipe to clean the condenser and get it smelling fresh again. However, getting to that pipe is challenging!

Can anybody recommend how to best access the condenser, or have any instructions on how to clean the air con system, DIY? A quick search of air con specialists yields only the big players who I wouldn't trust. Halfords, Kwik fit, etc.

Do Lexus dealers offer this service?

[DavidCM]

The simplest answer to this is to turn off the Aircon a few minutes before stopping the engine.Keep the fan on fairly high and that will blow the chilled air out and stop it condensing in the vent ducting,so it won,t smell musty.

[NemesisUK]

31 minutes ago, DavidCM said:

The simplest answer to this is to turn off the Aircon a few minutes before stopping the engine.Keep the fan on fairly high and that will blow the chilled air out and stop it condensing in the vent ducting,so it won,t smell musty.

I've never done this and I have never had a smelly aircon either. That said I never turn off the a/c either, summer or winter.

Personally I'd check the central a/c drain isn't blocked and also check the condition of the cabin air filter(s)

[Illogan]

2 hours ago, matt8 said:

M

Do Lexus dealers offer this service?

I had my aircon system cleaned, flushed and refilled with new gas at Lexus Sheffield last week, (purely because at eight years old, I thought I'd give it a treat) And I swear it's 2<>3C cooler now (and in this week's weather I've appreciated that!)

£79 inc VAT

[Bluemarlin]

My experience is the same as Peter's. I set the climate control to auto and the temperature I want, and then I leave it on year round. I don't think I've ever turned it off in any car I've owned, and have never experienced any smells.

[wharfhouse]

3 hours ago, Bluemarlin said:

My experience is the same as Peter's. I set the climate control to auto and the temperature I want, and then I leave it on year round. I don't think I've ever turned it off in any car I've owned, and have never experienced any smells.

Totally agree - never switch it off just leave on auto - never had a problem with any car in the last 20 years. 

[Las Palmas]

5 hours ago, DavidCM said:

The simplest answer to this is to turn off the Aircon a few minutes before stopping the engine.Keep the fan on fairly high and that will blow the chilled air out and stop it condensing in the vent ducting,so it won,t smell musty.

That is what was recommended many years ago. Used to work in a company servicing these.

Now I think that just leaving the thing on permanent is the best. As well as the easy thing to do.