OG cabin filter was gross AF

So I finally got around to changing the cabin filter 5K miles after I bought my truck.

It was super gross and had all kinds of pine needles in it along with some bird feathers and alot of other crap.
While I shoulda changed it earlier [and now i know to keep an eye on it] - it seems like the pine needles are coming from the slots/slits under the hood [see photos below] - and just getting right in there.

Is this what is going on?
Is there any way to prevent this better -
and if I could put the truck in the garage, I would but for now, outside it is..

Filter:

Slits under hood:

 

Put hardware cloth at the intake hole

 

While you are in there, clean that little channel out in the picture below.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/water-thru-cabin-air-intake-my-solution.88655/

 

THX - exactly the kind of answers I am looking for!!

 

OMG! Pine needles!

 

are you mocking me? ? ?
j/k its cool
they were/are everywhere despite my efforts to pick em out

i park/live in a pretty big stand of pines so i also got pine sap on the paint i gotta get off - i am pretty resentful that i cannot park her in the garage..

 

He is probably just kidding with you
One of the benefits of being a long time member is seeing what all gets found in the filter.

Have a look at this one, be sure to read post #8.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...t-urine-and-feces-in-cabin-air-filter.553710/

The search “Tacomaworld dead mice cabin filter” on Google.
There all kinds of good stuff there too.

 

Meh I don't see a problem. Looks like a filter that's doing its job. Just keep changing it when it gets dirty

 

Filter working as it should.

Suggest to remove filter and shake out the collected debris on a periodic basis.

The hardest part of cabin filter maintenance it reinstalling that damn glove box damper. Can't say about other years, but my '06 has one of these frustrating things. As an engineer, I can firmly say this is not a good design for service.

 

I get that it was doing its job -
It just seemed really dirty and I was more surprised that so much large bits of crap just got right up in there with the blower right on the other side.

@Knute I did not like that damper attachment either; I tend to have lots of issues getting plastic and rubber clips/connectors loose. I wound up using some needle nose pliers and just grabbed that little rubber "IDK what to call it" - worked easy enough.

I am just grateful I didn't have to take apart a bunch of plastic shrouding in the engine compartment - which is what I have to do in my 2011 128i - in fact the Tacoma has been a dream compared to what I have worked on in the past

@TnShooter those photos on the other thread are so gross - so gross - I am super picky about my automobiles and that would make me crazy!
I pop the hood at least monthly and peak around b/c I fear having animal damage - now I want to put mouse traps out by where I park.. they aren't crazy where I am but they are around..

 

At least you have a cabin air filter

(1st gens don't)

 

and yea - now that I looked at that other thread, there are FAR WORSE things that could be stuck in there - far worse - so I perhaps deserved this

 

Fun fact, the first of the second gens didn't come with a filter in place even though the box is supposedly the same one used in the 4Runner, which did come with filters, and the later year second gens. I put one in after I got my truck.

I guessed OP was in the SE even before looking. It's just part and parcel for living in the south around pines; I have to clean mine out a couple of times a years and I use the cheapest cabin filters since I change them when I'm cleaning. I grab what I can but use the small diameter crevice end on my shop vac- lift the plastic cover and vacuum all of that area (the cheap plastic clips wear out quickly and get loose and they break after they start getting brittle), the area between the fender wells and the firewall and especially the channel that runs down beside the windshield. Open the front doors and stick the crevice tip in the area at the bottom. There is a plastic piece in there but just push past it and you'll suck out all sorts of debris including needles and the little male pine cones. If you don't clean that area periodically it'll get clogged up and not drain properly.

 

screen over air inlet is a must, mice love that spot, dont ask how i know

 

Be careful with the glove box....Can break the bottoms tabs real easy !

 

almost forgot, look just to the right of air inlet another spot is between inner fender and outer fender put screen on it also

 

I agree, hardware cloth screen over the intake hole in the cowl

 

THX for the heads up on where to poke around and clean up, definitely don't want drainage issues -
And yea I am in NC so not too far from ya -

Got any tricks for removing that pine sap, past bug/tar remover + non scratch pad?

 

Not really, nothing that doesn't mess up the wax/coating. I use a plastic scraper then denatured alcohol followed by washing and reapplying whatever wax/coating your using (I've been using the Turtle Wax ceramic spray after seeing it recommend here and a couple of those car washing youtube channels. I'm lazy and it seems to work pretty well.)

 

I have a poor history of breaking plastic tabs . . . so yea, I will watch out for this -