2005-2024 Toyota Vehicles Musty Odor Remediation TSB

Introduction

Some 2005–2024 Toyota vehicles may develop a musty odor in the cabin, often stemming from water intrusion. Toyota Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) T-SB-0055-24 provides comprehensive guidelines for dealerships to remediate these odors. This bulletin details the necessary steps for inspecting, cleaning, and treating the vehicle's interior to eliminate the musty odor effectively.

Important Warnings and Considerations

Toyota emphasizes several critical points before starting the odor remediation process:

• Severe Water Intrusion: This TSB is NOT applicable for vehicles that have experienced severe freshwater or saltwater intrusion, such as those submerged in floods, storms, or other major water incidents.
• HVAC Odors: This bulletin specifically addresses water intrusion-related odors ONLY and should not be used for general HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system odor concerns.
• Source of Leak: Before any remediation, the source of the water intrusion MUST be identified and repaired. The TSB does NOT apply if the water leak has not been found and fixed.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Always use proper PPE, including an N95 (or higher) NIOSH Approved Respirator, safety goggles, and protective gloves, as per current EPA guidelines for mold remediation.
• HV/EV Batteries: If servicing or cleaning areas where HV or EV batteries are present or exposed, ensure these batteries are removed first. Refer to the applicable Repair Manual for all recommended safety procedures.
• Dash Panel Insulator: If the dash panel insulator assembly is affected by water contact, it MUST be removed and replaced with a NEW part before remediation. Do NOT attempt to cut out affected areas or treat the existing dash panel insulator assembly.

Symptoms

Owners of affected Toyota vehicles may notice a persistent "musty odor" within the vehicle's interior. This odor typically indicates the presence of moisture and potential organic growth (like mold or mildew) resulting from water intrusion. If your Toyota Camry has a musty odor, this TSB may apply.

Diagnosis and Trigger Conditions

The remediation process begins with a thorough inspection to identify all affected areas and the extent of the water intrusion.

1. Initial Inspection: Technicians must remove all parts surrounding the water leak source to conduct a comprehensive inspection. This includes seat assemblies (front, rear, second, and third row if applicable) and lower trim panels (scuff plates, kick panels, pillar garnishes).
2. Floorboard Inspection: A detailed inspection of the entire interior floorboard area is required to identify all affected areas.
3. Soft Parts Inspection: All soft parts, which have absorbent qualities, must be inspected for organic matter growth and/or staining indicating water contact. These include floor mats, carpet/carpet padding/jute padding, insulated pads/Styrofoam pads, and the dash panel insulator assembly. Any soft parts that have come into contact with moisture and show signs of organic growth or staining MUST be replaced with NEW parts and kept separate from reusable components.
4. Hard Parts Inspection: Hard parts (non-absorbent items like plastic garnishes/trim panels and plastic ductwork) that have been exposed to water or show organic growth must also be inspected. These parts do not need replacement but will be cleaned.
5. Dash Panel Insulator Assembly: The dash panel insulator assembly, located along the base of the instrument panel and floorboard, must be inspected on both driver and passenger sides. If any signs of water contact, organic growth, or staining are found, this assembly MUST be replaced.

Repair Procedure Summary

The odor remediation process involves several key stages: disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, and ozone treatment.

Disassembly

1. Cabin Air Filter: If equipped, the cabin air filter must be removed and discarded. A new high-performance charcoal filter will be installed ONLY after the entire remediation process is complete. No cabin air filter should be present during remediation.
2. Interior Components: All remaining interior components covering the affected floor area must be removed. This includes removing components from the trunk and/or cabin, depending on where organic growth is present.
3. Dash Panel Insulator: If the dash panel insulator assembly was affected, it must be removed and replaced with a new part before remediation. This often requires removing the instrument panel/dash pad assembly and HVAC ducting.

Cleaning Procedure

1. Debris Removal: Any loose debris from the floor pan must be removed.
2. Spray and Scrub: Affected components that will NOT be replaced (e.g., floor pan) are sprayed with a heavy-duty cleaner (such as Spray Nine) and scrubbed to remove staining. This step is repeated for stubborn areas.
3. Disinfectant Soak: The floor pan and other non-replaced components are sprayed with 3M™ Quat Disinfectant product, ensuring the surface remains visibly wet for at least 10 minutes. The disinfectant should soak for a minimum of 30 minutes. Remember to dilute the 3M™ Quat Disinfectant as instructed.
4. Drying: After the soak, the vehicle must be wiped dry, ensuring all moisture is removed.

Reassembly

1. Interior Components: The vehicle interior is reassembled using the treated hard parts and NEW soft parts.
2. Charcoal Filter: A NEW high-performance charcoal filter is installed after the interior is fully reassembled and all interior systems (HVAC, power seats) are confirmed to be functioning correctly.
3. DTCs: Any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are cleared after reassembly.

Ozone Machine Treatment

1. A/C Activation: After reassembly, the vehicle's A/C is turned ON in recirculation mode.
2. Ozone Treatment: An ozone machine is run for 1 hour.
3. Air Out: After 1 hour, the ozone machine is turned OFF, and the vehicle is allowed to air out for 2 hours.

Required Tools or Parts

Specific tools and materials are required for this remediation process:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
  • 3M™ (or equivalent) N95 Certified (or higher) NIOSH Approved Respirator
  • Safety Goggles/Eye Protection
  • Protective Gloves
• Cleaning Materials:
  • 3M™ Quat Disinfectant Cleaner Concentrate 5 (Part Number: Not specified, QTY: 1)
  • Heavy Duty Cleaner (Like Spray Nine or Similar) (QTY: 1)
  • Pump Spray Bottle (QTY: 1)
  • Scrub Brush (QTY: 1)
  • Painter's Tape (QTY: 1)
• Equipment:
  • Ozone Machine (or Equivalent) (Part Number: RBO521011, QTY: 1)
• Replacement Parts:
  • High Performance Charcoal Filter (Part Number: Refer to Parts Catalog, QTY: 1)
  • Insulator Assy., Dash Panel (Part Number: Refer to Parts Catalog, QTY: 1)

Note: Specific part numbers for the charcoal filter and dash panel insulator assembly must be looked up in the Parts Catalog for the specific vehicle model/model year.

Warranty Information

This repair is covered under the Toyota Basic Warranty, which is in effect for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle's in-service date. Warranty application is limited to the occurrence of the specified condition described in this bulletin. The operation code for this service is 743991, "Odor Remediation (Dealer Performed)".

Optional Clearance Test

While not required, if the dealer or customer desires a clearance test, options include:

• Inspector Lab: Create an account at https://inspectorlab.com/, purchase a Breeze-E Tape Surface Sampling Tape from https://shop.discoverbreeze.com/products/breeze-e-tape-surface-sampling-tape, and send a Chain of Custody document with the sample kit.
• Mold Inspection Network: Utilize services found via https://www.amazon.com/Testing-Analysis-Expert-Consultation-included/dp/B016YSY8XQ.

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NHTSA ID: 11005064