back wall air vent replacement procedure?? (POSTED MY FIX)

Procedure for removing this vent?
It is leaking into the cab and I can not tell if it is screw in, snap in, glue in, or a combination.
It looks to me like I have to take the truck bed off to fix this thing and I am hoping that is not the case.
can I just push it through without breaking anything?

 

You sure it's not coming in from the rear glass or third brake light?

 

it was coming from the break light as well... and from the front glass.. but I will get to those after this.
the seal on the vent is rotted through and I think a rat pulled out the foam as I can see it hanging off the vent between the cab and the bed.
I have removed every interior panel as well as the ceiling
several years of mushroom foraging takes you to some wild places... the vehicles do not always like it.
You can see the streaks where the water is coming in right under the vent if you look close

 

That's not really a vent. It's more of a pressure relief.

When the doors close, the pressure you created needs a place to bleed off.

It's more like a check valve.

But, yes, they do seise up in the open position.

 

I got that from the other threads talking about how theirs are leaking... but whatever you call it it is leaking... and I would like to know how to properly remove it.
In the other threads I found people just used caulking or sealants with varying success but I would like to know how to do it properly.
Any ideas on that? Perhaps I guide or video? I can not seem to find any

 

I believe it gets pushed out towards the bed. Need to move the bed back to make enough room

 

Thanks Strictlytoyz. It looks like that to me as well. I am just concerned there might be screws on the other side.. or something else that, with my luck, would make things worse.
you think it was just an adhesive gasket?
and might you know what it is properly called?

 

Doesn't look to be secured with any hardware. Toyota calls it a vent duct part # 62930-04030

 

Thanks! that should give me something to go off of.

 

Fixed.

The pressure vent comes loose easily, if the seal is as compromised as mine was, by depressing the bottom two clips and pushing.
Because there is not enough space between the cab and the bed of the truck to actually remove the vent you will have to remove the bed of the truck to replace it.
I elected to fix it using Lexel Multi Purpose Sealant. If done properly this will likely last longer than the truck. This stuff sticks to EVERYTHING, is super elastic, and crystal clear.
IF you have super skinny arms or access to someone with super skinny arms you could possibly clean and re-seal this vent by sitting in the bed of the truck and reaching down between the bed and the cab... possibly.
I have neither skinny arms nor access to them... and I have a contractors cap in the way so this is how I did it:

- pop vent through as far as it will go.
- find flexible small bottle brush and bend brush so it can be used to clean the space between the outside wall of the truck and the seal on the external flange of the vent... this is annoyingly time consuming.
- clean off as much dust and debris as possible before getting some gentle degreaser on the brush and doing it all over again.
- rinse thoroughly and allow to dry
- get you favourite sealer and lay a very thick bead as close as you can get to the opening on the top side of the vent and work it through with your finger as best you can. The idea is to get a bunch of the sealant through the gap and in a position such that when you put the vent back it creates a nice water tight seal between the compromised foam seal on the external flange of the vent and the back wall of the truck. Do this for the sides and bottom as well. You will need to work the vent side to side and up and down in the hole a bit to ensure you get enough sealant through so that a nice seal is produced when you finally re-seat the vent and fully engage the clips.
- once the vent is properly in place lay another bead around the edges of the vent and run your finger around it to ensure there is a nice seal and preferably no air gaps.. like caulking a tub or a sink.​

I probably should have taken pictures of the process but I did not. sorry.
I will take a picture of the final result and post it though.

There are obvious ways to have designed that vent so it could be replaced easily from the interior of the cab without having to remove the bed of the truck or perhaps a more robust seal.. Very annoying.

 

Here is what it looks like once the sealant cured. Not my prettiest work but it is solid... except I see a rust spot I appear to have missed spraying with the rust treatment.

 

Did it work?
Mine have the same problem, already took all the interior out and thinking on what to do.

 

I just got a quote from Stealership for almost $800 after they charged me $239 to diagnose for a 2018 TRD Off Road. There are two vents on mine. Trying to decide what to do. Any suggestions or experience with this same issue on the 3rd Gen models?