Air intake box fills with water while raining

Howdy! First post. Just bought this 2003 Tacoma. The air intake pulls in a lot of water while I’m driving in the rain. It has about a half an inch of standing water and the bottom of air filter gets wet with just 10 minutes driving in the highway.
Is there some way to fix this without a snorkel. Anyone else have this problem? Thanks!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld
Replace your cracked air box
Or
Missing fender liner

 

You don't need a snorkel. You have a leak somewhere.

Does it get water inside just sitting in the rain, or only when driving?

The airbox pulls air from inside the fender (tube going from air box to side of fender). You probably don't have an intact fender liner and the tire is tossing water inside.

 

This, check the liner, the intake is basically right above the centerline of the tire. When I did my SAS and had to remove that liner I built a guard for it out of a licence plate, a less redneck solution would be a new fender liner on a stock truck.

 

It only happens when I’m driving in the rain and flings water and dirt into the air box tube. Does the fender liner cover the air intake tube to prevent water from getting in?

 

That's exactly what it does.

Do you not have one at all?

 

I’m guessing not. Here is a photo of the fender and the air intake tube.

 

Yep, that round plastic clip (is what used to hold it in place.

I don't really have a good pic of what mine looks like, but it's just thin plastic sheet that's molded to the shape of the fender. You can buy them (maybe used are best from a wrecking yard) or make your own without too much trouble.

 

I see. Thanks guys! I’ll see if I can find a new or used liner. Much appreciated.

 

In the mean time, any suggestions for covering the hose but letting air still pass through?

 

Might be able to just remove the snorkel piece, and let air in directly from the engine compartment. That's basically what my "cold air" intake does.

Then cover the hole in the fender (where the intake tube/snorkel goes) with some plastic sheet or something.

 

Flex patch or Duct tape

 

I wonder if it will still get enough air if I cover it in duct tape?! Ha! Maybe poke a few holes in it? Worth a shot. Thanks.

 

Wrong thinking......

pull the air box OFF the piece that enters the fender. Just allow the air box to pull air from the engine bay until you manage a repair. Meanwhile, cover the HOLE in the fender with a few lengths of duct tape.

Don't start cutting holes in the intake air duct work or air filter box or the plenum......

 

I’ll give that a try. Thanks. I meant I would put duct tape over the air intake hole in the fender and poke a few holes in the duct ape to let some air pass. Not the best plan.

 

I did the Elbow Mod where I removed the factory "backward snorkel" and the box draws cold air from the inner fender area. Never gets water in the box even in heavy rain. Obviously that liner is very essential. I would get that liner done straight away before even allowing hot air from inside the engine bay up the intake.

 

Thank! I ordered a fender liner. $18. Hopefully it lasts.

 

The liner is essential, knew a guy that nearly hydrolocked his engine going through a big puddle after he removed the liners to clear 35" tires. Stalled and wouldn't start. Only thing that saved him was his air filter that was drenched, after we pulled that out it started right back up.

He has a snorkel now, but in your case you just need a new liner

 

The fender liners also keep mud and debris from getting into the inside of your door jambs. I cut my liners where they meet the pinch weld to clear 33s and it lets a lot of mud into there now

 

It's too bad you couldn't heat and then form those liners to accommodate your tires instead of cutting-I wonder if that's possible.