Chemical smell coming from Heating/AC vents

Hi all,

I have a 2008 4Runner with 215,000 miles on it. After sitting for 2 weeks recently, I started it up, and immediately noticed a faint plastic smell coming through the AC ducts.

I didn’t think much of it for a few days, but then one morning, it got very strong, and smelled more like burning plastic for a short period. Since then, it has had more of a chemical smell, almost like Carburetor Cleaner, and it won’t go away.

The smell exists whether the AC is switched on or off, but it’s most noticeable if air is flowing in from the outside. In other words, if I turn the ducts to ‘Recirculate’, the smell more or less goes away.

At one point, I thought it might be the blower motor burning up, so I replaced that, along with the cabin filter, but it made zero difference.

I took it to my local mechanic, and he says he can’t find anything wrong with it.

I’m stumped….

 

Is the "fan speed" working properly? I think there is a resister that controls "fan speed"?

 

Or you let the dealership change your oil and its over full?

 

it works normally

 

No, I’ve done all my own maintenance since new.

It started suddenly after a 2 week vacation, where the car sat unused.

 

Hmmm, have you considered a coolant leak starting inside heater coils for cabin heat?