Blocking off Fresh Air Vent

I had thought of maybe sheet metal, but that would maybe start to rattle and with drilling/screws would start to rust. Since I line the bottom with cardboard to prevent gumming up the vent door opening. I figured I could always, if needed remove the foam so the vent could operate and smell everyone's exhaust fumes like it was before.

 

Hey, give it a try. You may like it. If not, pull out the foam and try something else.

 

Hanlon's razor

 

This forum now needs a double facepalm emoticon - for these occasions when a single facepalm is no longer adequate.

 

So i hate to say it, you're gonna break something, probably the blower motor. I noticed you have an '05, which means you probably have the same HVAC system i do in my '08. Ive noticed that if you turn it on Defrost, or a Foot/Defrost Mix, that it will automatically disable the recirculated air, and automatically kick the A/C on, whether you have the AC button on or not, it automatically comes on. so it's gonna try and pull fresh air through the blocked up fresh air intake. i'm 98% sure that it wont let you enable the recirc air when on defrost mode. good luck keeping your windshield clear in the winter.
-C

 

I've been using it for over a week now and have used all the vent functions fresh, defrost, and recirculation. They all seems to work find, I smell no more exhaust gas fumes. Wish I had done it much earlier!

 

One of the reasons they intentionally allow some outside air to come in is to avoid build up of CO2 in the cabin. Now, if the windows are open or if you're just taking short trips, then its no problem. But in your case youre not opening windows.

If you take long trips with many breathing bodies in the cab make sure to vent fresh air into the cabin. Or you'll pass out and crash. Lol

 

Was Tacoma World always like this?

 

this

recirc works great. if not, the recirc door needs to be checked

 

That's what I was thinking.............

 

You mean hampering peoples creativity ?
Yeah pretty much
I think OP should be commanded for his thinking outside the box. Its not like he poured high pressure concrete.

 

^^^ this, and also an issue with carbon monoxide, neither is very probably, but definitely possible

 

I've played with this, even had dropped the blower motor and looked inside. Today's trucks and cars are design to draw some outside fresh air in, no matter what the setting is. In my situation in traffic, I was sick and tired of constantly smelling exhaust, diesel fumes, even being behind a garbage truck. For me it was a quick cheap fix, I'm glad I did it! Only complaint I have now from my wife is the A/C is now too cold! People who live out west who get into dust storms. I'm curious do they have a dust problem getting inside the truck/car? Though I'm really surprised of all the different personal opinions about this issue!

 

Whether or not it is reversible is only part of the equation here.

 

Personally, I couldn't care less what you do or try. I just want to ensure you've considered the safety aspects, and if you have and you're fine with it, it's your choice.

 

Does your success make you wonder why Toyota did not deliver the truck with Great Stuff in the cabin fresh air intake from the factory?

 

It does allow some fresh air in. It's intentional by design.

 

actually there are so many air gaps there is no risk that someone it gonna suffocate in any vehicle unless you
direct exhaust gasses into cab or suck them into the vents in a closed garage

(not covering heat or freezing, lets not bring a zillion other scenarios into this)

air wants to maintain the same mixture and pressures of included gasses
and no common road vehicle anywhere is so sealed up that gas cannot exchange
unless you have dome some special work like NBC seals

So if you and your 4 friends sit in the box with the vent closed and use up some oxygen,
enough oxygen is still going to seep in around door seals, windows, firewall wire grommets,
floor grommets, and the big rear vent [which allows you to slam the doors shut much easier than
if that big vent wasn't there...etc.]


no one is gonna die if you completely seal off the fresh air vent. it'll get musty and humid though
and won't be fun.

 

Good use of house hold product. Gotta run what ya brung. I sit in traffic quite often here in Orlando, not a very noticable smell when vent is closed. But I have leaky window seals so I don't think it matters for me.

 

Stupid fucking computer