HVAC smell after/during rain

[Christianoeb]

My car is 2 years old and they recommend to replace the hepa filter so took it in and complained about the smell. It appears the housing and seal has been updated. Will update after a rain and let y’all know.

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I am in a similar situation with a strong outside smell, still after 3 tesla services that haven't been able to find the root of the problem.

Please share your experience.

 

[funkatation]

ended up replacing the HEPA filter (bioweapon) and it seems to be better for now.

 

[BeeGood]

If your car smells like gym socks immediately after it rains, the filters are not the cause. Over the past 2 years I’ve gotten this smell in my M3 with brand new filters. I even drove with no filter at all for over a month and still got the smell after rain.

Not saying that the filters won’t start to smell over time but they’re not the source. Water is sitting somewhere in the HVAC system and not draining fast enough. You can prove this to yourself by driving in the rain, letting it sit until the exterior is dry and using the app to turn the climate on HI. If you look under the car you’ll immediately see water draining. I’m convinced that the smell is originating from wherever this water is sitting because once it stops draining (this can has taken over an hour of climate on HI), the smell goes away.

So that’s what I’ve been doing. Run climate on high at the end of rainy days with the windows cracked. What also seems to work is setting cabin overheat protection to “fan only” and parking in the sun for several hours so the car gets hot enough for the fan to run continuously.

 

[wgoetzmann]

Check out this thread.......it worked for me.

2021 S Air Filter (Under Hood)15"x15" Element Part Number ?

Does anyone know the part number for the refresh under hood air filter? I found the complete unit number 1750575-80-B but no element number. I get this dog poop smell right when the air starts blowing and it is coming from this filter. The under dash cabin filter doesn't make a difference but...

teslamotorsclub.com

 

[NeuroRad]

If your car smells like gym socks immediately after it rains, the filters are not the cause. Over the past 2 years I’ve gotten this smell in my M3 with brand new filters. I even drove with no filter at all for over a month and still got the smell after rain.

Not saying that the filters won’t start to smell over time but they’re not the source. Water is sitting somewhere in the HVAC system and not draining fast enough. You can prove this to yourself by driving in the rain, letting it sit until the exterior is dry and using the app to turn the climate on HI. If you look under the car you’ll immediately see water draining. I’m convinced that the smell is originating from wherever this water is sitting because once it stops draining (this can has taken over an hour of climate on HI), the smell goes away.

So that’s what I’ve been doing. Run climate on high at the end of rainy days with the windows cracked. What also seems to work is setting cabin overheat protection to “fan only” and parking in the sun for several hours so the car gets hot enough for the fan to run continuously.

The model S is different than 3. The cause in the S is the HVAC filter.

 

[BeeGood]

The model S is different than 3. The cause in the S is the HVAC filter.

From what I can tell, the order in which air passes through each of the components (air duct, fan, filter, condenser) is the same isn’t it?

The smell and the way in which it occurs are the same as the model 3. Admittedly, I’ve never put hands on a model S, but I’m not seeing how the filter would get wet with the car simply sitting in the rain with the climate off, or during an exterior car wash.

EDIT: Nevermind, I’m guessing you’re referring to the HEPA filter (not the cabin filter)?

 

[boonedocks]

From what I can tell, the order in which air passes through each of the components (air duct, fan, filter, condenser) is the same isn’t it?

The smell and the way in which it occurs are the same as the model 3. Admittedly, I’ve never put hands on a model S, but I’m not seeing how the filter would get wet with the car simply sitting in the rain with the climate off, or during an exterior car wash.

EDIT: Nevermind, I’m guessing you’re referring to the HEPA filter (not the cabin filter)?

It is the same. It is NOT the filter. Apparently for the S there is a new filter housing update you can pay for yourself that fixes the problem. I am just waiting for the 2024 mini-refresh to buy my next S which has the updated filter housing

 

[reddogva99]

I had for the past 6-9 months had a nasty smell come out the HVAC when its raining. it lasts for just a couple minutes and goes away but it's awful. Tesla replaced the cabin filter but it made no difference. anyone else run into this?

2020 model 3 owner who had the smell and 2023 model s owner as well that has not had the smell. Water is entering from under the hood. You need to block it and replace the filters. You block it with a rubber dam near the bottom of the windshield and you can place a hydrophobic filter over the air intake under the hood to help prevent it. Smell has not come back in my 3 and never started in the S.

Replacing cabin air filter and cleaning evaporator fins in 2021-2022 MS

Just drove for like 3 hours through torrential down pour this weekend. I popped the frunk right after and there were some small puddles of water sitting on top of my pre filter from amazon that I taped over the intake so the dam wasn’t 100% effective. I didn’t take off the housing to check...

teslamotorsclub.com

 

[21yokel]

For the Model S Refresh - I pulled the under frunk biodefense HEPA filter out, and the vinegar smelly sock/poop smell went away right away. Good news is that while the HEPA housing used to cost $500, tesla sells the filter assembly only for $115+tax over the counter. This is the 15x15" large HEPA filter, and NOT the cabin filter which everyone gets confused about. Just got my order done today and no more nasty smells

 

[reddogva99]

It won’t last. You have to block water from entering the intake with a dam and a filter sock. Read the thread I linked.