# Musry smell in my 2012 Toyota Camry **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [June 13, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183 "2019-06-13T20:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/1 "2019-06-13T20:22:16Z")
I live near Dallas, and it’s very hot here now. About a week ago, I noticed a musty, funky smell when I got in the car. I had to open my windows AND put the A/C on high, recirculating off, to get the smell to go away. Then I would shut the windows and leave the A/C on open-air circulation. My husband sprayed Lysol in the air vents, but it didn’t really help. Any ideas out there? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/2 "2019-06-14T14:44:51Z")
Carefully check the carpet and trunk for damp areas. You might have a leak or plugged drain. Have you replaced the cabin air filter? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/3 "2019-06-14T14:46:34Z")
Check the cabin air filter and see if it is dirty. It could be the source of the odor. It should be replaced about every 20,000 miles. I’d do this first since it is a cheap fix. If it’s wet, you may have a problem with the outside air inlet for the passenger cabin. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/4 "2019-06-14T15:08:44Z")
my a/c smells musty thru the dash vents and air is routed thru the evap core. when i turn off a/c the dash vent air does not smell musty. i think the floor vents also smell ok when i am in heat mode. i think the hot coolant is always routed thru the heater core so that means the air is routed around the heater core when i have temp set to not-hot? ala blend door? ---
**Author:** ![ecoronel2018\_153119](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@ecoronel2018\_153119](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ecoronel2018_153119)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/5 "2019-06-14T15:57:19Z")
have you changed your cabin filter lately? It’s behind your glove box. Also , check for any debris build up in the cowl vents (between the hood and windshield) ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/6 "2019-06-16T03:07:45Z")
Oh! Thank you very much for the information! How do we get behind the glove box? I really appreciate your response; I got in the car today, and the smell was worse than ever. ---
**Author:** ![gdan29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4bbf92/32.png) [@gdan29](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gdan29)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 3:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/7 "2019-06-16T03:40:13Z")
Check the carpet on the floors, front and back. You could have a plugged condensation drain or leak from the rear window. To get to the cabin filter look in your owners manual or look on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 4:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/8 "2019-06-16T04:46:42Z")
Empty the glove compartment and take off the cover from the right side and back (one piece) grab the cabin filter and pull it out. stop using recirculate all the time, It promotes mold. ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 6:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/9 "2019-06-16T06:45:16Z")
As mentioned, check the filter. Check the drain tubes and make sure it is not plugged. AC drain usually goes down the passenger side of the engine bay. I am sure there are youtube videos on how to change the cabin air filter. After all that, I always turn the AC off one mile before I get home and let the fan run to get moisture out of the system. This has worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 9:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/10 "2019-06-16T09:12:23Z")
> [@Wendy14](#): > > I got in the car today, and the smell was worse than ever. This odor is apparent when you open the car door and before you start the engine? ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/11 "2019-06-16T17:10:32Z")
Sadly, yes it is. 😟 ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/12 "2019-06-16T17:12:33Z")
We did find the filter you mentioned— it was pitch black (never knew it was there before!) and are getting a new one today. But the filter doesn’t smell! So where is the smell actually coming from, any ideas?? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/13 "2019-06-16T17:49:15Z")
Sounds like you have a water leak somewhere. Do you have a sunroof? Remove your floor and trunk mats, press down on the carpet with a paper towel in all low locations, see if you find any water. ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/14 "2019-06-16T18:11:34Z")
No, I don’t. But I do appreciate your input! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/15 "2019-06-16T18:12:48Z")
Thank you. Will do! ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/16 "2019-06-16T18:13:54Z")
Aha! I never thought of that! Will do that in the future, but still have to figure out how to get rid of the smell now! LOL!!! ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/17 "2019-06-16T18:15:03Z")
WOW! What great suggestions from you guys! 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/18 "2019-06-16T18:16:17Z")
Doing that today! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/19 "2019-06-16T18:17:11Z")
Do you park outside, with leaves etc maybe plugging up the drains in frot of the windshield? ---
**Author:** ![Wendy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Wendy14](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wendy14)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183/20 "2019-06-16T18:17:26Z")
Thank you very much! Will look into this. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musry-smell-in-my-2012-toyota-camry/142183.md?page=2)