Wet Cabin Filter Question

Hey everyone - I've been doing some forum searching and I see this topic comes up a fair bit. (2017 TRD Sport). I replaced my cabin filter and noticed it was soaked. The floor fortunately does not appear to be getting wet (it doesn't feel wet). If the floor isn't wet, can it still be the AC drain or would this be a definitive sign of a leak through the cowl? Is there a procedure to check the drain lines from the cowl? I assume they drain through the fender..

Plenty of videos on the AC condensate drain line, but didn't see anything on the GEN 3 Cowl drain lines

Thx!

 

The filter is well above the drain area. Don't see how it could be condensate, which is what the drain is there to drain.

There is nothing magical about 3rd gen drain lines. 2nd gen info is fine.

My guess is you have a cowl leak hitting the evap case/your filter and then draining right on out, so your floor is not wet.

But eventually it likely will be if you don't get the leak corrected.

 

Pull wiper cowl, check if drains under there are clear and free of debris ( leaves needles any other debris)

 

I looked at the Cowl yesterday and it looks like a few of the clips in the front were popped (broken) so it's a little loose. Is the seal that goes between the windshield and the cowl supposed to be stuck to the windshield? There's a rubber seal there, but if I push the cowl it moves against the windshield. THat's the only place I can see that water could potentially get in. The front right fender was replaced after a minor collision and I'm wondering if they messed up the cowl when the work was done. May take it back to the body shop.... or order a new cowl.

 

My rubber seal is not stuck down flat on the windshield in a 6 to 7 inch wide spot. I asked a pal at the body shop and he said that is not a problem that the water would run down the inside of the engine bay. My cabin filter has not been wet. I'm guessing the body shop you had work on your truck is responsible for your issue.

 

The plastic cowl is nothing but a deflector of stuff, not a water proofing system.

If you look through this thread you'll see how things are assembled and exposed. I know the pics are of a 2nd gen, but the 3rd gen is so similar it doesn't matter.

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

 

If you look at @Clearwater Bill 's post he shared you will see how open the intake for cabin air is on these Tacomas and most cars in general. It is possible the body shop left some rags or something similar in there. The other issue is leaves and tree debris.

My wife's Impreza's floor started getting wet and when I removed the cowl, debris was piled flush with the top of the intake. Rain water would then run across the top of the debris and right into the intake, soaking the interior. I have since cleared out that and then installed a piece of plastic over the intake to hopefully divert the water and debris towards the drains.

Removing the cowl will be the only way to tell what your issue is.

Good luck.

 

Thanks everyone - I dug into the cowl last week and I think I found a couple things.

1) A few of the plastic clips are broken off the cowl. I'm betting it happened when the windshield was replaced. I ran a light bead of silicone adhesive on the bottom to keep it from moving around. (Dang a new cowl is near $400!!)
2) Where the rubber seal(s) come together on the left and right side under the hood near the fender - there is supposed to be a button clip in there. Both were missing
3) There's a rubber gasket/ seal that slides onto a lip portion of the cowl where the air box meets just below the windshield. I think that was the big part there.

All drainage lines were clear. Surprisingly - no leaves, etc. crammed in the side.

Man they boogered it up when they changed the glass. Ran it through a car wash and now perfectly dry

Appreciate the advice!