GS450h Stinks when air set to blow downwards

Aras · December 10, 2023

Good day forum. Experiencing an awkward issue. When engine warms up , heating set above 20-22c,and air is set to blow down towards feet, there's awkward smell coming through the vents. It is not mouldy or rotting smell. Its more of a chemical sort of smell. First thought was antifreeze leak ,but fluid level bang on in the same position as it was 10k miles ago. Tried to smell floor mats ,thought maybe something been spilled on them in the past ,but couldn't smell anything similar that's coming through the vents. Tried new pollen filter, tried shifting air recirculation inside/outside, A/C on or off, no real changes. Smell disappears as soon as climate control set to blow towards windscreen or face. Anyone experienced something like this ? Cheers

westo3 · December 12, 2023

Have a similar problem although the smell I am getting is more of a rotton smell than chemical. Have noticed that it tends to wear off after a few miles and the smell is l getting less each time I take the car out. As I live in the country I can only assume it might be some small rodent that has got in somewhere and died in one of the heating ducts!

GMB · December 12, 2023

We had a VW Up! for a year, now that just plain stinks.

Aras · December 12, 2023

4 hours ago, westo3 said:

Have a similar problem although the smell I am getting is more of a rotton smell than chemical. Have noticed that it tends to wear off after a few miles and the smell is l getting less each time I take the car out. As I live in the country I can only assume it might be some small rodent that has got in somewhere and died in one of the heating ducts!

If smell disappears after minute or two that's mostly mould on AC evaporator. I had this with loads of cars,SAAB,MB,AUDI and one Lexus few years back. Few miles before reaching home, try to turn the AC off but leave climate control blowing to dry the core. It doesn't solve the problem entirely but next time you start the car there's much less or no bad smell at all. Also its possible that AC drain is clogged up and condensation has nowhere to escape from hvac system.

My issue is a bit different, it stinks only when blowing warm/hot air ,only when towards the feet ,smell is not consistent but pretty much never stops.

Aras · December 12, 2023

5 hours ago, GMB said:

We had a VW Up! for a year, now that just plain stinks.

I've got to drive honda jazz till my lexus been left at the garage few months back ,i don't know what was wrong with it, but i never seen a car with such a bad interior smell

GMB · December 12, 2023

Usually a spilt drink with milk in it.

Aras · December 13, 2023

19 hours ago, GMB said:

Usually a spilt drink with milk in it.

Would be an easy fix, but i tried smelling mats themselves and they don't stink ,gives out just an average car smell. I was hoping that its something been spilled on the floor, but cant find no evidence. Also, if you leave the car on a hot day ,there's no smell when entering car.