# 2016 Toyota 4Runner - Moldy HVAC **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota\ **Created:** [June 19, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729 "2025-06-19T20:07:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JW35](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e57/32.png) [@JW35](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JW35)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/1 "2025-06-19T20:07:37Z")
Strong ODOR of mold coming from HVAC of Brand New 4Runner sent toyota hundreds of pages of tests and studies Toyota Knows but conceals the problem ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/2 "2025-06-20T01:06:47Z")
> [@JW35](#): > > Strong ODOR of mold coming from HVAC of Brand New 4Runner sent toyota hundreds of pages of tests and studies Toyota Knows but conceals the problem Punctuation is your friend… Your whatever that was has been diverted to Car Talk… Are you asking a question, or making a statement, or just ranting?? Without any punctuation marks, it is hard know… A 2016 (9yo) vehicle is not brand new… So please explain in better detail so we can try to help if you are asking for help… ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/3 "2025-06-20T20:07:06Z")
It’s not BRAND NEW if it’s a 2016. Are you saying that the HVAC system was just replaced?. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/4 "2025-06-20T20:25:53Z")
Since you did not leave a question, I will leave the following for you or others… [Toyota Air Conditioner Smells Like Mold](https://www.toyotaproblems.com/hvac-mold/#google_vignette) And this shows other areas water can be a problem and have a musty smell and how to fix the problem. [MC-10204571-9999.pdf](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10204571-9999.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/5 "2025-06-20T20:58:29Z")
Turn off the AC a few minutes before parking, New cabin air filter? Evaporator drain hose clear and letting water run out? My thoughts.May need a cleaning, 2017 no issues. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/6 "2025-06-21T01:44:04Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > Condenser hose clear I’m sure that was a typo, but it is actually the evaporator drain hose, the condenser is in front of the radiator… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/7 "2025-06-21T02:22:55Z")
Perhaps we can disagree. Evaporator hose sounds fine to me. Probably more understood. Just a hillbilly repair guy. Forgive me. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 5:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/8 "2025-06-21T05:12:57Z")
There is nothing to disagree with, it ain’t politics or weather or religion, it is components of an A/C system, and the A/C condenser is in front of the radiator on most all ICE vehicles and the evaporator is in the HVAC box with the or close to the heater core, you mixing them up is no different than mixing up an A/C compressor and the receiver-drier/accumulator, they have different operations.. Also the condenser is on the high side (head) pressure and hot side of the A/C system whereas the evaporator is on the low pressure and cold side of the A/C system… Here a video I found for you that might educate you a little on how an A/C system works… [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/5/c5c0f594af56e04c038aaaad139ee1b640f1c57a.jpeg "How does Car Air Conditioning Work?-Components and Their Functions -Car AC system") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm0vXRiLTqs) > [@Barkydog](#): > > Search condenser hose and you will find many. Yes you are correct, search it and it will show you many liquid lines and discharge lines/hoses and even some manifold (suction-discharge) hose/lines, but not condensation drain hoses… ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/9 "2025-06-22T01:43:20Z")
I have to agree with @davesmopar on this Using the incorrectly terminology very often leads to incorrect diagnosis and the wrong parts being ordered And then everyone’s time and money are wasted ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-toyota-4runner-moldy-hvac/200729/10 "2025-06-22T02:44:42Z")
Corrected so as not to mislead anyone, my bad