Leaves and debris in the cabin air filter?

So I finally looked in to my blow motor ticking noise.
I've had the truck for 1.5 years now and NEVER looked at the cabin filter.
So, I popped the glove box down and open the the filter door. I pulled the filter out and leaves, pine needles and all kinds of junk fell out of there.

The worst was the grey carpet fiber stuff that is on the front and back of the box. It had pretty much clogged the filter up.
(Look just above the filter door up in the dash. You'll see what I'm talking about)
I looked kind of like the filter was starting to mold/mildew.

Any ways, The good news is I fixed the ticking noise. All I had to do was clean the cabin filter. I cleaned it best I could until I can get a replacement tomorrow.

By the way the fresh air inlet is in a PISS poor place, if I do say so myself.
It's a big huge hole under black cowl right below the windshield. So if you park outside and under trees, it's just a matter of time before this happens.
Why didn't toyota make some type of lid or top to cover that hole?

 

Go search for cabin filters. There's a site that sells the filters for like $4... Unless you don't mind goin to the dealership and paying $25+

 

You can clean the factory filter that comes with the truck a few times before buying a new one. I cleaned mine gently with hot water and dish washing liquid, came out looking great! Did this for a friend with a 4runner as well.

 

Logical-source.com

 

This may sound a little bizarre, but could you have little critter in your blower, like a mouse? Happened to my dad in his old Ford Ranger.

 

ok so let me ask this question.... i had my truck serviced this past weekend, the mechanic said there wasnt one in the truck... then i was like what the hell. so then another spoke up and said oh well, '06 carry that filter... i think their full of it!!!!

 

I think 05-06 came with empty housings, no filter. You had to buy the filter yourself

 

heres what mine looked like

 

↑↑ yikes!! walmart filter?

 

My 06' had a filter in it from the factory.

 

nope thats the stock one after 20,000 miles

 

I'm gonna try this cheap mod my next time around. Sounds like it will work just fine to me. Look at post # 118.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/4838-cheap-free-mods-6.html#post51314

 

They are cheap at wal mart and autozone. Why work so hard to save $2-5? They even have ones with activated carbon to remove odors.

 

Add a few pieces of leaves in there and I think that was mine.
Mine looked just about as bad. I had no idea that could get that bad.
To be honest, if the blower motor hadn't made the clicking sound I doubt I would have ever look at the cabin filter. I would venture to say that my filter was NEVER changed. I even had it at the deal 2 times and they never mentioned it. I guess it's the PITA shock thing that is hard to get back on with large hands? I just left mine off until I replace the filter.

The strange thing is I had a 2005 Tacoma and it NEVER had a blow motor issue. I can only imagine the crap that went through that blower after 5 years of owning it. I guess it just chewed up all the crap and blew it into the air ducts?

Thanks all, and remember to check those filters.

 

Don't you just wonder where they get the engineers that think up some of the ways they build "things" and put 'em together? If they would just subscribe to a site like this, why hell, just think of some of the great ideas they would get!

 

To extend the life of the oem filter and keep critters from being able to crawl in i covered the hole above with wire mesh (1/4" squares.) Lift up the black plastic cowling under the passenger side wiper by removeing a screw and a few clips to gain access. I cut the mesh to extend a 3/4" all around and folded it over the edge of the opening. There's two pre-drilled holes on the forward part of the opening that can be used to help secure the mesh useing screws, washers, and nuts. I added a secoundary filter (made from a furnace filter) on top of the mesh. I'll add a picture tomorrrow.


edit:
updated with pictures...see post #25

 

That is what I need to do. I cleaned my filter a few weeks ago only because of the noise from the fan. I found mouse turds in the filter. That was the first time I had checked it since I bought the truck in September. I washed it let it dry and put it back. The damn fan still annoys the shit out of me though.