Interior Firewall Carpet removal help

Anyone removed this carpet before? Truck got stuck in a huge puddle and my carpet soaked all the way up to the firewall while it waited to get towed out. I have removed the main floor carpet, but this piece inside of the firewall looks like it's underneath all sorts of things. Or, is there a better way to go about drying this out? Tia

 

Yea you gotta pull the dash and HVAC housing out to remove that.

You better check and dry out any interior connectors that were submerged to reduce the chance of future electrical gremlins.

 

Yes I will, I'm aware that water's no big deal as long as it gets removed before power on. Just finished cleaning out the cab, going to pressure wash the carpet now. Looking into dash removal to see if it's worth it

 

I couldn't find a write up or video but I see that it's 10-15 bolts to get the dash off, plus the stereo and wires, pass airbag etc, mostly obvious things and if you try pulling and theres resistance look for a nearby bolt... but, I found nothing on the firewall carpet. Once I get the dash off, is it feasible to get that carpet out?

 

Take this with a grain of salt as it’s hardly good advice, but I’ve read of people sealing off their doors and windows with tape or something similar and putting a dehumidifier in the vehicle to suck all the moisture out. It may be an avenue you want to explore if you can’t figure out the carpet thing.

Or just put the whole truck in a bowl of rice.

 

It's quite a project to pull a dash if it's your first time, make sure you take lots of pictures and keep track of where connectors and grounds go.

To give you an idea here's a few pics from a 2nd gen Tundra I did a couple years ago, Tacoma looks to be similar.

 

Pass
That's so much work. I hope the dehu method works for me
Thank you for the knowledge, and I should get a proper shop manual for this truck those pdfs are nice
...
NOT FEASIBLE, I REPEAT: NOT FEASIBLE!

 

That one took me 7 hrs and I've done quite a few dash jobs although that was my first Toyota. I like doing dash jobs as long as they aren't toilets and/or the plastic isn't all brittle.
If I ever get to do a Tacoma I'll be sure and document it for everyone.

 

I know OP said he's already tapping out on removing the dash, but since we're on the topic figured I'd add this just for shits & grins:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/evaporator-replacement.556336/page-2#post-18277584

 

Good find, good sir!

 

Yea that looks pretty much like how that Tundra came apart.
It's kinda crazy on Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet trucks you can remove the steering column and pull the dash as an assembly and lay it on the seat to get to the HVAC housing, on Toyota's you have to disassemble the dash to remove it.

2013 F150


2014 Silverado 1500


Ram 1500



The most complex one I've done to date is a GMC Terrain, literally had to disassemble everything.

 

~90% of my interior is currently pulled (2012 double cab) to sound-deaden the cab. Let me know if you need any pics!

 

My interior is gone already besides the roof and the dashboard, but thanks! Did you remove the factory deadener from the floor before applying the product? I wish I had more deadening product on hand since everything is currently out, I do have a bunch of mlv that I was considering laying down the on floor

 

I just wanted to say that I would rather take a beating with a rubber hose with fish hooks inserted in it before I would pull the dash on a Tacoma.

Seriously.

 

Update: here is what I have resorted to: pulled these thick slabs of recycled fabric from behind the dash carpet to dry by the fire.

Without these pieces, the carpet itself is so thin that it can't hold much water. Since the carpet was wet, they peeled off quite easily, and I just have to reglue them to attach. I only had to rip the fabric in 2 areas (the skinny piece)