# Mildew in the Lexus

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/mildew-in-the-lexus/28555>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 31, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mildew-in-the-lexus/28555 "2009-03-31T01:14:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Minnesota\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b77776/32.png) [@Minnesota\_Mom](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Minnesota_Mom)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mildew-in-the-lexus/28555/1 "2009-03-31T01:14:12Z")

</div>

Last summer my 2002 RX300 developed a distinctive moldy/mildew smell in the interior. I have  
  
 1.brought the car to the dealer for evaluation  
  
 2.changed the air filters  
  
 3.covered every square inch of the interior carpet  
  
  
  
 I cannot locate the source. Someone mentioned that it could be the water line to the rear windshield wiper is leaking?  
  
 Any ideas?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mildew-in-the-lexus/28555/2 "2009-03-31T01:19:24Z")

</div>

Has anyone checked the vent system for mildew growing in the air conditioning evaporator drain pan?

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mildew-in-the-lexus/28555/3 "2009-03-31T03:22:54Z")

</div>

A clogged AC evaporator drain will cause this odor to develop.

You say this happened last summer. How does it smell now?

Before you answer; every time you use the"defrost" setting, which I’m sure you use a lot in Minnesota, the AC runs.

Now, how does the AC smell?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mildew-in-the-lexus/28555/4 "2009-03-31T03:39:54Z")

</div>

Have your ventilation system “disinfected”, a new service being offered by profit starved dealers. Or set the A/C on “outside air” or “normal” position and use a spray bottle to squirt Hydrogen Peroxide solution into the A/C air intake usually located near the base of the passenger wiper arm. Some people use diluted household bleach but this is a more drastic solution with oder issues of its own…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mildew-in-the-lexus/28555/5 "2009-03-31T11:53:46Z")

</div>

Check the area under the vents in front of the windscreen. It can collect leaves and such and block the drain. I may need cleaning much the same as the other common problem with the A/C evaporator.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Minnesota\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b77776/32.png) [@Minnesota\_Mom](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Minnesota_Mom)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mildew-in-the-lexus/28555/6 "2009-04-02T23:58:30Z")

</div>

During the depth of winter the smell faded; however, I parked the car indoors for several days at 70 degrees, without running the AC and the strong mildew odor returned.