AC vents stingy (sulphur like) odour

[pwuser154876941961]

AOA guys
@autophile

I need to discuss an issue of AC vents sulphur like odour in my corolla Altis 2020 if you can guide.
The problem occurred 3 days back while I was returning back from job, as soon as I turned on the AC fan it smelled some sulphur/acid like.. and it vanished after some 10-20 minutes. Next day morning it again appeared and went . Today again I faced same issue but the smell is not constantly there it goes by as time passes. one thing to note that I didnt notice any noise or mechanical/electrical malfunction and AC cooling is same as before..... And this stingy odour is present both with AC turned on or off and exhaust on or off...
One of my friend told me that it could be a faulty cat converter.
I took my vehicle to Toyota Cantt Lahore today and they said that apparently AC filter and drainage is okay and they will open dash board tomorrow to look for ducts.... and they said that cat converter malfunction doesnt affect AC ..... I am worried about opening of dash board panel in a new car.

I hope I am able to convey the scenario.
Thanks

[capsat]

please remove any floor mats from the vehicle right away. clean the interior floor and front under seat with brush and remove any debris.

check for any dampness on floor. inspect the mats under bright light there may be some smelly debris stuck. wash clean those as well dry before usage in car.

close the windows lock the car. in morning start activate ac and check for any possible smell. If all ok, refill with the floors mats drive and check. If smell appear again something bad a$$ is absorbed by mats. wash and dry under sun for couple of days.

[pwuser154876941961]

Already done with this. The car is only driven by me... Secondly this stingy smell only comes while turning the blower on otherwise no odour at all if fan is turned off.

[mehran]

Happened to me when I bought my new car, Honda City. Rotten smell the first few minutes when blower switched on. Smells went away after a year or two. Probably new plastic smell after being in the hot and humid weather ( I was in Karachi then).

[Xulfiqar]

get a camera poked in from the blower motor casing to see if there is something there like fungus growing in there, A leaky AC evaporator coil will also cause smell when turned on, the smell is the oil of the AC system - to identify the smell. go to an ac shop and ask for about 5ml of some ac oil and smell it outside the car to identify the smell.

[haseeb.basharat]

Sulphur like or vinegar like smell?

[pwuser154876941961]

i am not sure but its really stingy like battery water or you can say vinegar like..

[haseeb.basharat]

This worked for me for vinegar like smell last year:
https://www.daraz.pk/products/flamingo-ac-pro-air-conditioner-cleaner-500ml-i203396699-s1403252379.html?dsource=share&laz_share_info=11152660_100_100_600008145281_10108467_null&laz_token=bd1fa4e6290699b3a4e2d2a81745f102
Have to be sprayed from fresh air vent area. You can spray it in the opening right next to wipers.

[Xulfiqar]

Yeah, that is fungus you are smelling. Is your fresh air intake duct closed all the time or do you cycle it from recirculate to fresh often?

[pwuser154876941961]

I use to keep fresh air off all the time except in winters while using heater

[pwuser154876941961]

Thanks bro. I’ll try this

[Xulfiqar]

Why would you do that?

[pwuser154876941961]

Bc by opening fresh air lot of dust particles accumulate in vents and there is always odour of outside atmosphere. So I use it as exhaust off...
And I have already been doing so with my GLi, used it for 4 yrs and never encountered any such problem

[Xulfiqar]

If you keep on using recirculating air, you will eventually cause fungus and bacteria growth in the ac evaporator and heater core fins.

A good practice is to occasionally use fresh air and let the evaporator fully drain before shutting off the fan, Its done by turning off the AC, opening up the fresh air duct and running the blower at full for about a minute or two before shutting off the car when you park.

[pwuser154876941961]

Thanks brother. I followed your instruction and now the odour is almost gone, it comes just for 5-6 seconds now while turning the blower on. I hope itll resolve in couple of days

[haseeb.basharat]

it comes just for 5-6 seconds now while turning the blower on. I hope itll resolve in couple of days

Nope it will increase again. Use the product I shared above. It eliminates all bacteria and fungal moulds.

[supraman2jz]

Where did you spray this?

[haseeb.basharat]

Instructions are given on the bottle. Fresh air vent takes air from the opening right next to wipers. In case of corolla this opening is present right next to passenger side wiper. Just open fresh air vent, set ac on maximum and fill that opening with all the foam. Ac will suck it itself. Leave the car for 15minutes like this and then drive a little.

[supraman2jz]

opening with all the foam. Ac will suck it itself.

Got it, thanks