2010 CX-9 bad A/C smell

[djc6]

I have a brand new 2010 CX-9 Touring, purchased about six weeks ago. This week it was finally warm enough (mid 80's / 90's) to warrant using the A/C for the first time, and it has a very pungent odor when you turn it on.

Is this normal for a new car? Any other CX-9 owners experience this when the car was in its first months of ownership? This is my first new vehicle, so I've never experienced the 'new car smell' until the CX-9. It smells fine without the A/C running - i.e., only the fan on, heat on, etc.

 

[drchuck]

Actually this is a Ford problem also. The solution seems to be to turn the AC off for the last couple of blocks before you park, and allow the condensation to begin to dry out around the evaporator coil. I also have a Stormy Blue 2010, so am glad to be here and to find this wealth of information.

Chuck

 

[ceric]

"Ford problem"? I would say this is fairly common to all.
You go to any automobile forum, owners complain about the same issue.

My wife's Prius has that issue also.
Check PriusChat.com for example. Search "A/C odor" for threads.

 

[drchuck]

A/C Smell

We have a 2009 Prius (Package 5 with Leather) and no problems with this issue. I came from Ford, and that's brand I know. I'm not an expert that seems to have to answer every post that comes in - unlike some others - but Ford in particular suffers from A/C odors, and recommends the owner give the units some time to get a little fresh air before parking the vehicle. That approach will probably work across the board.

Just for fun, I'll add this: In seminary, I learned (in one of the many counseling classes) that trying to make others look bad is simply covering up insecurity.

I belonged to Prius Chat for about a year before I got tired of the "intellectualism" on the forum.

 

[ceric]

I don't know how you can conclude that CX9 uses Ford's A/C system.
Is that a fact or you are guessing?

We all know the engine is a variant from Ford.
For that matter, I found more Toyota parts on CX9 than Ford.
By "Toyota parts", I mean parts from companies that supply to Toyota as well.
To name a couple, "Aisin" (transmission), and "Denso"(many electronics such as SmartKey and navigation).

I use my CX9 almost everyday. I have no issue with A/C smell.
I, too, am tired of PriusChat.com since the Toyota gas pedal scare. Those guys are becoming Toyota fanetics. I don't go there any more.

The A/C smell is likely caused by parking a vehicle for a long period of time in a humid environment. This could happen to any A/C with air ducts. Change air filter often and run the A/C a bit are solutions I would offer.

 

[Davicho]

My solution that I have always done and seems to work just fine is run my A/C in recirculating mode until desired temperature is reached, there after, I switch to fresh air mode and leave it like that even when I park, this way fresh air enters the evaporator case and dries out any condensation, which is the cause of bad moldy smell.

I also leave the fresh air on when the A/C is not on to get some fresh air into the cabin. I know that this dirties the A/C filter more but I rather replace the filter more often then have a smelly, moldy A/C system.

 

[Davicho]

This could happen to any A/C with air ducks.

...perhaps we should order our CX-9's equipped with an A/C with air chickens instead...

LMFAO...sorry ceric but you left vulnerable to this...LOL

 

[ceric]

...perhaps we should order our CX-9's equipped with an A/C with air chickens instead...

LMFAO...sorry ceric but you left vulnerable to this...LOL

Didn't know we have a spelling police here.
I need to install a "radar detector" for that....

 

[drchuck]

I don't know how you can conclude that CX9 uses Ford's A/C system.
Is that a fact or you are guessing?

We all know the engine is a variant from Ford.
For that matter, I found more Toyota parts on CX9 than Ford.
By "Toyota parts", I mean parts from companies that supply to Toyota as well.
To name a couple, "Aisin" (transmission), and "Denso"(many electronics such as SmartKey and navigation).

I use my CX9 almost everyday. I have no issue with A/C smell.
I, too, am tired of PriusChat.com since the Toyota gas pedal scare. Those guys are becoming Toyota fanetics. I don't go there any more.

The A/C smell is likely caused by parking a vehicle for a long period of time in a humid environment. This could happen to any A/C with air ducts. Change air filter often and run the A/C a bit are solutions I would offer.

Now, c'mon, I didn't say anything about Ford and Mazda using the same, or joint venture systems. I said Ford in particular has that problem also. The Ford recommendation is to run on "vent only" for a few minutes before you stop the engine. The problem with the Ford design, and perhaps everyone's including Mazda, is that the evaporator is in the firewall, and it cannot disperse condensation without a free flow of air across it. It cannot get a flow with the AC on, because the ducting doors are closed in order to recirculate. Going to vent allows fresh air to pass through the evaporator (and dryer) and eliminate the moisture. Now you may ask is this guy an AC expert? No, but I am the guy who paid an independent garage 1200 smackers to replace the rusted out evaporator - in my Expedition, because he didn't allow the thing to dry off once in awhile before he killed the engine. I believe Davicho had a great answer - let some fresh air in. I also believe wet air chickens are going to smell worse than wet air ducts!

 

[Davicho]

i also believe wet air chickens are going to smell worse than wet air ducts!

l_m_f_a_o_!

 

[djc6]

Well, after a few more weeks of ownership, we're up to about 2500 miles. The A/C smell is virtually gone. It was never a musty/moldly smell - I should have been more specific. It was a plastic/chemical/solvent smell Like perhaps there was some off-gassing inside the ductwork that got pushed into the car when the A/C kicked on.