Smelly vents when ac off

August 20

Hi all, I’m new here so excuse me if this has been asked before. I have a 2020 rav4 just over a year and approx 5/6 weeks ago and awful smell has begun to come from the vents when the ac is off. It’s like cat urine.

I’ve tried all the recommended fixes- change cabin filter, disinfect system from under windscreen, check ac drain hose, etc. but nothing has worked or is showing any improvements. I’ve been back to the dealer and they’ve sanitised the new cabin filter and the vents. They then did a ‘bom’, which also didn’t help.

I checked the fresh air inlet from beneath the windscreen, I took out the fan and checked any components I could see with the fan taken out- all parts look brand new.

What’s strange to me is all the online smelly vent issues are with the ac on but mines with the acc off. Hopefully this triggers something someone can suggest for me to try?

Thanks

August 21

Hi,

I can give you a suggestion that might help you and usually always helps.
Kill the bacteria with heat.
Set your hvac settings to maximum high temperature, turn off AC, auto mode off, air intake from outside, fan speed 2, start the car and leave it on for 20-30 minutes, all windows should be only open one inch.
You can take some dettol aerosol spray and pump few times into the air intake grill located under Wiper Blades gutter.
After you complete that procedure best settings to use in your car all year around are as follows

AC - ON

Auto mode - ON

Recirculating - off

Temperature set to 22C°

Eco mode -off

If you feel you need more heat or extra cooling just play with temperature sets up or down even by 1C° the car will do for you everything. Keep ac on all the time and don’t play with it on or off.
In one week time your car will not smell bad anymore.
If continues to smell repeat heat procedure.
Good luck