Smelly A/C?

[Riviot]

Then I pulled my truck out from the garage to the driveway which has a SLIGHT incline and then everything dripped from underneath.

Where underneath?

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[Austiopath]

As far as I'm concerned nobody has properly documented how to do an Evap coil foam cleaning on R1T/R1S. There's no videos on the internet. People have their techniques here but it sounds like they're all hoping it reaches the evap coils (And also hoping they didn't flood part of their car). I've had the vinegary smell for almost a year. Last time Rivian service changed air filter and it didn't do anything. Don't feel confident enough yet to do this fix myself.

 

[Riviot]

As far as I'm concerned nobody has properly documented how to do an Evap coil foam cleaning on R1T/R1S. There's no videos on the internet. People have their techniques here but it sounds like they're all hoping it reaches the evap coils (And also hoping they didn't flood part of their car). I've had the vinegary smell for almost a year. Last time Rivian service changed air filter and it didn't do anything. Don't feel confident enough yet to do this fix myself.

FWIW, there's an FSAM for it. I didn't request this, they added to my upcoming appointment.

 

[Austiopath]

Thank you for the heads up. Have they attributed this drain plug issue to the smell. Will they also perform a cleaning when they fix to eliminate the residual mold?

 

[Riviot]

Thank you for the heads up. Have they attributed this drain plug issue to the smell. Will they also perform a cleaning when they fix to eliminate the residual mold?

No idea to either, I'll ask questions next week.

I've tried both the "blast the heat for 10 minutes" method and "flood it with foam" method. The former heated my garage real good and worked for a month, the latter dripped into the floorboard and I learned how to remove the driver/passenger undercladding to get it dry. It never dripped outside the vehicle. Still smelled afterwards.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

This is what I now recommend for Rivian R1. I wasn't able to find any way to access it for cleaning that assured me the chemicals would not get into the blower motor (can cause premature failure). This method works and the only cost is a few electrons.

They are likely replacing the plug to address the issues they have had with water getting into the floorboard of the vehicles. Of course, moisture doesn't help reduce smells so a better drain valve certainly can't hurt.

 

[Austiopath]

Thank you @Electrified Outdoors. I tried the heater method a couple months ago. I think it worked for a couple weeks but the odor returned. Nevertheless I’ll probably do it again today as a holdover to my next service appt where I’m really gonna pressure Rivian to look into it. Thanks!

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Thank you @Electrified Outdoors. I tried the heater method a couple months ago. I think it worked for a couple weeks but the odor returned. Nevertheless I’ll probably do it again today as a holdover to my next service appt where I’m really gonna pressure Rivian to look into it. Thanks!

Good luck. Also, and you probably already did this, but I change the fresh air intake (cabin filter) once a year.

 

[Austiopath]

@Electrified Outdoors do you recommend on using outside air or recirculate mode? Looks like you’re using outside air in the video.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

@Electrified Outdoors do you recommend on using outside air or recirculate mode? Looks like you’re using outside air in the video.

I used outside air.

 

[Austiopath]

Ran it for 2 hours full blast on outside air. Got the cabin up to 100 degrees. So far it smells pretty good. Will keep everyone updated!

 

[Voronbrg]

So I spent the better part of an hour looking where I could get access to the evaporator coil. Rivian put the blower inbetween the dash and firewall with a turnstile freshair/recirc . I tried putting my scope in the recirc intake in the footwell without any luck. I'll order an articulating tip so I can look around better but it's still before the blower motor.

 

[Atomic]

So I spent the better part of an hour looking where I could get access to the evaporator coil. Rivian put the blower inbetween the dash and firewall with a turnstile freshair/recirc . I tried putting my scope in the recirc intake in the footwell without any luck. I'll order an articulating tip so I can look around better but it's still before the blower motor.

Any luck? Getting to the point of the year where this happens consistently despite the obvious fixes.

 

[roketdog]

I’ve had my R1S for about 2 mos and 2500 miles now. I’m now starting to get a dreaded smelly sock/ vinegar-y smell when operating the A/C. I have dealt with this in my Tesla Y and it’s a known issue with them but haven’t heard of it with rivian yet. Anyone else dealing with it or know the fix?

My daughter’s model y had this issue. Roll down windows and run heat on highest temp for 10-15 minutes. If that doesn’t fix the smell, try this or something close to it.
https://a.co/d/05Gu2PZm

 

[Austiopath]

Update from me the OP: still no solution. Brought it in to Rivian Service last fall. It wasn't at its most offensive but still noticeable. They stuck a camera somewhere in my air intake to show me it wasn't dirty. It's just so frustrating because it's the type of problem that does go away (mostly) once you run your car for like 15 minutes, so there's always some plausible deniability that Rivian Service can take. I'm not saying they're gaslighting me, but I'm sure whatever the true root cause fix for this is pretty expensive and labor intensive. They were nice and told me I could swing by again (without an appointment) if it shows up again. Just probably need to start making a log and stopping by often when I'm witnessing it.

A couple months ago I used one of those A/C duct sprays (removed air filter and sprayed in there... of course evap coil is inaccessible). Just masked the odor for several weeks with its incredibly strong smell but didn't fix root cause. Once that spray's scent died down the vinegar/musty/foot odor was back.

Sucks that my otherwise wonderful $90k vehicle smells like a locker room half the time. Makes me prefer driving my Chevy Blazer EV more since its A/C system smells like fresh mountain air.

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