Cowl seal

There are a few threads however various answers.

Is this not being sealing purely cosmetic or will it leak?

Threads on TW have stated it will leak by the cabin air box, and some say its purely cosmetic. And there is an additional seal below that small gap.

Furthermore what and how shall I and others with this issue seal it with?




Other threads:


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/o-oh-how-do-our-windshields-seal.138400/#post-27295943


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-cowl-induction-snorkel.731453/page-4#post-27219963


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gaps-between-windshield-glass-and-cowl-seal.686969/

 

It's not a seal, for water more for debris. Look at around wipers, it open. Leak come from drain under it becoming plugged by debris getting under cowl, and flowing over baffle around intake.

 

If you're read and know about the other threads, why are you asking us how to seal it? The answers are in the other threads.

 

Because of the various answers people have given, I am looking for more answers and will then compare.

 

As mentioned upthread, it's more for blocking debris than water. I've had mine off to install metal screen over my cabin air intake, for rodent protection. There's quite a bit of debris than can actually find it's way under this cowling. Especially if you live around trees.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cabin-air-intake-screen-mod.566441/



The visual gap that the OP posted in the center of his cowling against the glass is quite common.

 

So that top layer not being seated doesn’t matter? Is there additional sealant below to prevent water flow directly into the cabin air filter intake?

 

Yes, the bottom of the metal duct surrounding that cabin air filter opening has sealant. You can see it in the picture that I posted previously.

The design of the plastic cowl does a good job at preventing water from directly entering the cabin air filter intake itself. Not saying that it could get water ingress if you purposely directed a hi pressure stream of water into the plastic cowling vents. My cabin air filter has never been wet. Small vegetative debris OTOH will swirl a bit and get into the intake. The screen I installed does a good job of keeping the large debris bits out of the filter.

 

My ‘plastic’ thingy is all smashed on the drivers side from scraping /cleaning off ice in the wintertime. I was gonna look into a new one but just haven’t bothered cause it appears to cause no ill effects and I can only imagine the cost and the fuss to change it.

 

I recognize this is an old thread, but chiming in to state that I do in fact get leakage through my cabin air filter. Primarily when in a car wash. Had it happen once or twice in strong rain. And no blockages under the cowl, so that's not the reason. Need to tear apart to see if the weather stripping isn't sealing right, but this seems like a huge weakness. Heck, they put screw holes on that air intake, which makes me think at one point they designed a cover for it and ended up scrapping it when the trucks went into production. I've taken my truck to a dealer multiple times (under warranty) and showed them my sopping wet air filter, only for them to tell me there isn't a problem. Love my truck but this is beyond frustrating and now I need to arrange an AC repair because my blower motor is failing because it keeps getting wet

 

@DiamBag I had this exact problem when i first got my Tacoma. It wasnt a new truck. But yeah, everytime a lot of water would run down my windshield like from a car wash or hard rain I'd get a puddle in my passenger floor below the AC box. I tested everything until i found water would run just right down my windshield, under the seal and right into the fresh air in the cowling in the above pictures.

 

Did you find a solution? I have the same issue. Wondering if theres a simple fix.

Thanks

 

Yes. I took off that cowl piece, cleaned everything real well with window cleaner or Isopropyl Alcohol. Reassembled it with a fat bead of uv stable RTV and sent it. Over a year now and still going good.

 

Heck yeah. Thanks I'm doing this

 

good luck!

 

If it was flowing like that you might be missing the foam seal strip that attaches to cowl underside it’s only on the passenger side and directly above the intake vent

After removing my cowl that foam strip stuck to the truck… i can see how easy it can be to miss

 

Nah, I had it. Completely dry and flat

 

Mine was so far off it bugged me from an esthetical standpoint.
I just popped the hood, shoved the whole apparatus
towards the glass and through bolted it.
Five minute permanent fix.

 

If you have this problem, get it fixed under original manufacturers warranty. I had Toyota extended warranty (Platinum) and they refused to cover it because
they considered it external trim. Dealer offered to fix it for $700. I told them I had an extended warranty and they submitted the claim which was denied and then
the dealer offered to comp the part and charge $200 for labor.