Here's something you can do as a preventative measure:

When you're a minute or two from your destination, switch off the A/C and let the fan continue to blow. This will raise your coil & ducts to near outside temperatures so they won't be cold and collect condensation after you've parked. This will prevent the growth of mold, and it'll stop smelling.

 

Also on not so hot days when you can do with out the A/C turn off the REC button let FRESH AIR in the core and blow out the vents. Even slightly warm air that you do not mind will KILL the mold dead In there and DRY vents out before it gets there. And OPEN the windows in the driveway if your outside in garden or cutting grass or garage over night. This will do it too. MOISTURE will stay trapped in a CLOSE UP CAR even in hot sun. It is called a STEAM BATH then. And the seats and carpet will suck it all up only to be drawn back into the A/C Core when you turn it on again. A never ending cycle in HOT HUMID weather.


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I have 2010 Soul and have done all that you guys have suggested with zero success, is this a problem that's germane to Kia's. I've never experienced this another auto.

 

I do not know how bad yours is. So I can not comment on weather you will ever get a 100% daisy fresh car 12/365 or not. But I have had many BMW/Toyota/Volvo/Peugoet/Ford/GM/Mazda/Kia/Chry-Dod-Jeep/Isuzu/ Suzuki/AMC vechs over the last 36 years. And drove family members cars that were if not one of those Nissan/MB/Audi/VW/Jag/SAAB/ROLLS ROYCE. None of any of them was ever fool proof fresh 12/365. Yes even the THREE (74/84/2002 ROLLS! All vechs had various traits (ductwork) and good and bad days. But in all cases doing what I suggested and others did to you, cut down the start up bad air blast if and when it ever did happen by 50%. So if you think of it as a HIGH (very high over a whole year infact) of 30% of time it might do it, and then cut that down by 50% (or more, I think to be safe not over estimateing) you get a real world 10-15% of the 100% of the time it will do it for a min or so at start up. I would be very safe in saying in my opinion that is no real problem, but a minor issue 36-45 days a year at most for yes again 2-5 mins. 325 days a year smell free. But you know your mindset and expectations in life. If your annoyed, your annoyed with the car then so be it. No one is going to tell you different or what you want to hear. Nor would we try to.

The worst vechs were infact the Three ROLLS when they did it. As they were prone to sit too much in a cool garage till used and had the wonderful UBER THICK! "Wilton WOOL" carpeting and obscene padding and bedspread like "over mats" (Rolls for floormats) sucking up all the moisture in the air. Not to mention the REAL WOOD Dashs or parts of them. Cycleing back and forth thru Damp and Dry seasons. The 1966 3.8S Jag had a musty issue for the same reason but not on a large scale. But it did not have A/C either. Black leather seats/doors and carpets and walnut/leather dash was fun in summer to climb into. The center arm rest was a pure JOY! not to be missed in life. The 1960 3.8 MrkII with red leather was no walk in the park either.


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BlaFam942 and Bruceviv it would be a big help to members if you could fill our your profile as to your location and drive details, something like this might be related to where you live.

 

conwelpic, I live in Houston. The cars had this problem when we purchased them a year ago. Are you familiar with this device: UView: MiST™ In-Car Air Quality™ Service

 

Sorry this is it
UView: MiST™ In-Car Air Quality™ Service