My Toyota Tacoma A/C Smells!! Here's How to Get RID of it (easy + DIY)

I've owned a few different models of Toyotas that have this problem. I had the odor return after a short time even after using the condenser system cleaner you used. I've solved the issue doing a few things: keep the recirculate off as much as possible, make sure to run just fresh air in the vent for a few minutes at end of trip to equalize the temperature in the system to ambient so you reduce the amount of condensation when you turn off vehicle and most importantly hook up a shop vac to where your cabin filter is located (I fit cardboard cover on cabin filter opening to get tight fit of shop vac for maximum suction) while mostly covering up the exterior intakes and have the vents open inside. There is accumulated gunk in there that the condenser cleaner will never get out. Using the shop vac and then keeping moisture out of system ongoing I've fixed the problem.

I got a new Tacoma about 2 months ago. You give a lot of good information and present it so that first timers can follow it. Thanks!

Hi Chloe, first off. Thank you for all your help and hard work. I’m new to the Tacoma world and you’ve been the GOAT since I’ve gotten it. Being a care enthusiast for Honda Civics, I can see you care and move carefully when explaining. I’m just here to say….Thank you Thank you Thank you, incase we (the ones who watch you) don’t say it enough

Pro tip: Turn the syatem off a few minutes before you arrive at your destination. It gives everything a couple minutes to dry out before it sits parked and gets funky. 👍

I've seen this on some other sites, but yours is the first to actually show where the drain is supposed to be. I've had this smell in my Tacoma before, but not this year for some reason. Our last Camry had this same issue, I wish I knew then about how to clean it out. Thank you for all you do on here!! BTW, coupon at SparksPart took, but they don't ship to my area, Tucson AZ. Oh well.

My taco came with the musty smell from the factory. At 10k miles I’m so stoked to watch this video.

What has always helped my AC vents to smell normal is after you run your AC either fresh air or recirculating air is when you park run your vent fan on high with AC off with fresh air for about 30 seconds with outside air and it will prevent moisture sitting in your vents.

Thanks Chloe,your info is always on point/informative and easy to understand.

Thanks Chloe for the tips. I like the extended drain hose idea to get the water off the frame. But 1 thing I would of done differently is this. When spraying the stuff up the drain hose, I would of temp disconnected the longer hose you added and tried to hook up the can directly to the factory drain hose. Reason for this is so the fluid does not have to travel so far before it gets to where it needs to be. And it might even travel farther into the AC system due to starting out closer to the innards of the AC. Maybe this is something to keep in mind for the next time you clean your system. Again, thanks for all you do for the Toyota Tacoma army.

I don't own any Toyota cars/trucks, but still find your channel interesting.

I have a 20 Tacoma and one of the first things I did, within a few weeks of getting it, was to put in a drain relocation tube on it, similar to what you showed. I also have noticed that funky musty smell sometimes when running the A/C and was always concerned where it was coming from. Also I recently figured out it was only when the recirculation was on, so it seems this video is confirmation of that! I thought maybe the drain relocation tube was plugged or causing it to backup in some way and that maybe was the cause. (Kind of) glad to know that isn't the issue and it is just common to not only Tacomas, but Toyotas and maybe even many other JP vehicles, based on comments here. (Though my wife's Corolla has never had this problem, so YMMV.) Definitely saving this video for future reference. I'll start with replacing my cabin filter and trying to remember to run it with the A/C off for a few minutes before turning the truck off. I am so used to just leaving it in "Auto" mode though, that will be hard to do. Thanks for the tips and other content on your channel!

Awesome, I learn new things to do with a car every time!

Nice body shots. Quick double punches! Great info. Thanks

Thanks Chloe! I think some of these steps might be due on my 4Runner. I just replaced the cabin filter a few days ago and it was pretty embarrassingly dirty.

Thank you for the information I appreciate the truck gems Chloe keep up the good content 💪😎

Hi Chloe, I am from Barbados. I don't have a Tacoma, I have Hilux and I find your videos very useful even though some are not applicable to my location. Nonetheless, keep up the great work. Cheers!

Thanks for the tutorial. My Ram smells bad even after changing the filter which the dealer chose not to change since 2018. I guess I'll have to ask them to flush the coil if they ever figure out the battery drain and other problems it has. Lucky I got the extended warranty. Lot's of love from the 305 ❤

Gonna go order two kits rn. My wife's car's AC has always been a lil funky. Not terrible, but juuust enough. And, of course, one for my Taco :) Thanks for this!

Excellent information Chloe pretty long video but very informative thank you for sharing.

The CaliRaisedLED A/C drain relocate hose was the very first mod I made to my brand new 2022 TRD Sport. I previously had a Gen2 Tacoma with an extreme frame rot nightmare.