Leaf litter under hood below wipers

I popped my 2018 TRD Sport hood to check the engine air filter and saw a ton of broken up leaf litter covering and in side these two grilled vents just below where each wiper blades shaft drives are. I vacuumed out the material and was wondering what purpose do these grill like vents provide.

 

Cabin air intake

I'm sure when you change out your cabin air filter (located in the glovebox) you will find more leaves

 

Also keeps leaves from collecting in the lower cowl area and rotting out your front fenders

 

Keep all that shit from ending up in your lap. Keep that cleared out and the truck will smell better inside.

I have to clear mine out constantly from oak leaves and other tree debris.

 

Got a similar issue with pine needles on the new tacoma where i live. With the gen1 tundra, i'd just turn the wipers and sweep them off. I can just see this becoming another maintenance chore.

 

At the base of the windshield where the fender bolts up there is a giant hole, this hole has foam in the bottom to stop anything from coming out once its fallen in this hole. Mine is full of tree seeds, I have to remove the mudflaps and pull the fender liner away to vacuum them out.

 

Yeah been there:

 

yup. Mine was completely full of pine straw debris. If not kept clean it could accelerate rust since it traps moisture in that area if the drains get clogged.

 

Im due for a spring cleaning, I park under a oak that drops all sorts of crap in there. I think tomorrow I will pull them apart and flush it out.

 

Got any instructions by any chance for pulling the fender liner to get in there?

 

I didn’t know this- good to know, I’ll have to remember to check this out. I always pick away anything at the top of the cowl grille but didn’t think anything about the stuff that made its way past

 

Wonder if they can be flushed out by a garden hose or stronger.

 

Reference thread to orient folks, from your friends in the 2nd gen forum.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-varmit-and-ac-clogging-prevention-project.557970/

The air intake is pretty much the same. I understand the 3rd gens already have the screen as part of the cowl cover? If so, you're lucky, as you won't find quite the same mess.

 

All i can comment is i've got a mess of those pine needles sitting up where the wipers rest...its a pita to get them out of there.

 

This is part of why I refuse to own more cars than I have garage bays.

 

sometimes that isn’t the magical cure. I have a garage I park in, however at my previous job the only shaded parking was directly under a bunch of pine trees. I don’t like my truck baking in the sun all day, so under the trees it went.

 

I can't see willingly parking under pine trees ever.

 

The cowl also acts as a drain for all the water coming off the windshield.
You really don't have rto take anything apart to clean unless your cowl area turns into a pond and won't drain water. Just every six months or so take five minutes and clean out the leaves and pine needles. That's it... five minutes every six months.

 

Its more 15 minutes every week.

 

Fuck! I knew that fucken Toyota tech was lying to me. "Oh don't worry. Air comes in from somewhere else." Hmmpphhh!