Hello All,

I found this forum while trying find some information on the issues my Camry is having.

Just a little history.... I have owned my 07 camry LEfor 1.5 years with 30k miles. Here are the issues already fixed
1. Both front side curtain air bad covers replaced since they kept popping out.
2. Complete steering rod replaced.
3. Battery leaking and had to be replaced.
4. Engine cradle bracketfrom battery acid leak replaced dude to excess rust
5. Transmission shifting issues- had to be reprogrammed (Fluid topped up- Dealer blamed factory for not filling properly)

Issues not fixed
1. "Crunch" sound from back shocks going on speed bumps on cold days
2. Rattle in front right dash and rear left behind driver
3. Horrible mold smell from AC
4. Rattle from engine compartment when pressing gas pedal around 1500rpm (sounds like two tin cans hitting each other-soft sound)


I have had issues with this car from the first week I owned the car with me having made over 20 trips to the dealership to get issues fixed. Now I am fed up of the dealership. So I decided to try to takle this one issue at a time starting with the foul smell from the AC.

The smell is really bad when I thurn the AC on for the first 20secs or the smell lasts for about 45 minutes when I just use the "fresh air" without the AC while driving down the road.(Mold stench) Toyota tells me this is normal due to humid Houston conditions. I dont believe them cos I am the only person in Houston that I know that has mold smelling AC.

I have tried spraying Ozium and lysol and have gone through many cans of sprays. I have sprayed from both the outside vent and from inside the car in the AC vent. No results.

does anyone know how to get rid of this smell?

Please HELP!! Any advice is appreciated

RoWil

 

Check the air intake vent outside the car just in case leaves or other such items items have falling in.

The climate control system should have a replaceable filter, check this.

The A/C evaporator inside the car has a drain pan connected to a hose going out the bottom of the car. Its purpose is to drain off the condensed moisture from the evaporator. The drain hose can become clogged, the result is things start to grow. Although this typically happens of older cars, perhaps the line was never clear from the factory.

Others have complained about the rear clunk on the newer cars. In older cars this was normally due to worn suspension bushings, suspension links, bad shock mounts.

Have you talked to the dealership owner about these issues?

 

Issues not fixed
1. "Crunch" sound from back shocks going on speed bumps on cold days
2. Rattle in front right dash and rear left behind driver
3. Horrible mold smell from AC
4. Rattle from engine compartment when pressing gas pedal around 1500rpm (sounds like two tin cans hitting each other-soft sound)

I have cleaned out all leaves from the vent. I replace the cabin air filter every 15,000 miles, I dont know how to check the pan under the evaporator but the car leaks a lot of water when the AC is on so I assume the drain hose is open.

I have complained to the dealership about the first three. They say they lubed everythingand tightened all the bolts in the back suspension, they say that something is getting tight when it is cold causing the noise. But the noise is still there on cold days.

About the dash rattle they put some 'sort of glue' in the front right speaker cover but the noise is still there. I just got fedeup of driving back and forth to the toyota dealership.

When I mentioned about the rattle under under the hood, the service manager told me to bring the car back and leave it all day so that they can test it for all the rattle noises(Gullo Toyota- conroe,TX)

They say the AC smell is normal due to Climate conditions and provided me with a very very small can of ozium spray to spray in the AC air-intake vents.

I'm just fedup of going to the dealership and them giving me the run-around instead of fixing the issue.I live one hour from the closest dealership and its a big hassle for me. This is the first toyota I have owned and probably will be the last. The only reason I bought this car is because of 'reliability' but with battery, airbag, transmission, shocks, steering, trim and AC issues, I say Toyota has failed.
I even opened 2 cases with toyota but all they do is tell me to goto the dealership. Once, I got an appointment and took the car in at 8 am in the morning on Friday. They asked me if I could bring the car back on Mon morning since they did not have the right people(TOYOTA Certified Vibration Noise Specialist I guess).(FRED HAAS TOYOTA, Spring,TX) 1.5hrs drive from my house! I'm just fed up of the dealerships

 

You are not the only one with the A/C smell, see link below:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/se...archid=1350393

Is the rear noise a tick around the upper part of the strut mount? This would be in the left or right upper rear deck area.

Was the engine rattle there sense you first owned the car.

 

wow!!!--- I did not know soo many 07-08 camry owners had this issue!!!... So I say.... FACTORY DEFECT!!!!...... I have owned plenty of cars before and this is the first one to had this horrid eye-watering smell. I think I will stop spending my money on lysol and ozium and see if the summer heat will kill the mold.

Just a thought.... do you think if I remove the AC fuse for about 2 weeks and just run the fan evreytime I drive will help?...this and the Texas heat combined should help kill the mold because of the lack of moisture?

You are right!!! It is a 'CLICK!!!" sound coming from behind the driver but I can tell from where? how do I make sure this noise is coming form the upper part of the deck area?

The engine rattle I noticed around 5k miles. I have 33k now and is still there. It only come when the engine is fully warmed up and I have driven for atleast 15 minutes. Its a very soft noise but I can hear it 'clearly' when I drive through the parking lot with windows rolled down. RPM at approx 1500 and foot on gas pedal softly.

 

Unfortunately the evaporator when working causes the moisture in the air to condense on its fins. This is much like an ice cold drink where you see water moisture condensing on the container. As such the problem may start all over again when you again use the A/C again.

You might find the evaporator and then determine if you could spray something just ahead of the unit. The climate system should have an air re-circulation feature that draws air from inside the car. If an air filter ahead of this you can remove it and spray something that will now directly impact the evaporator fins.

I understand your frustration in having to live with and diagnose these types of problems on a new car. No doubt this is one reason Toyota has slipped in quality ratings, disturbing for a company known for many good cars.I don't know what to suggest.

In pursuing the matter you can voice your concerns to the Toyota customer service at the US Headquarters, the more complaints the more initiative for them to take action. Note: Any threat of legal action tends to turn off any hope of Toyota support as they think they have already lost you as a customer.

I have been suggesting owners write directly to the President of Toyota. Yes, doubt if this will do any good but really wonder if this person realizes the extent of frustration his or her customers are going through. Upper management often tends to become isolated from problems and only hears what their yes people tell them.

As to the tick noise, have someone drive the car while you listen for the noise. The upper strut mounts are on each side and below the rear deck. This deck typically has the rear speakers mounted in it. If you look at the rear suspension and find the struts, you will see the upper mount is high in the chassis and well forward of the trunk.

Listen for a tick as if something is loose in the mount and now moving up and down when jostled by a bump. The bulk of the suspension parts are around tire level and thus these noises would be lower in the chassis.

I will do some more checking on the engine noise. Do you know which model engine you have?

The older 4 cylinder engines (different model) often sounded like a diesel when under load at lower RPM. This appeared to be the injectors. Often when driving with window down next to a wall this sound would seem very loud, but was normal.

 

The engine is a 2.4 L 4 cyl (2AZ-FE)

I'm just curious to know how the bad fuel injectors will cause the 'noise' in the previous engines?

I also notice the engine noise in my car is more distinct when driving up hill or when the AC is on. Do u think its the same issue?

Thanks for all your help so far toyomoho

 

Not bad injectors, just noisy. But suspect in your case might be valve train noise.

If the rear suspension noise is a click and from the upper strut mounts Toyota has a service bulletin on this and should fix it under warranty. They will not do it however unless you complain and are very specific about the noise, area of noise, etc.

 

Is valve-train noise bad?..I notice it more and more when the engine is fully warmed up and I have driven around for a while.
What causes valve-train noise? and does it cause permanant damage?

 

Check your messages for the reply.