Ideas for creating a better seal on air outlets when closed?

2019 TRD DCLB here. No matter which airflow setting the knob is selected to, whether its defrost or floorboard only, there is significant air flow still coming through the air outlets on the very left side and very right side of the dash. Mainly just the air outlet on the left hand side of the steering wheel is that's bothering me. Even with the vent pushed closed there is still enough air squeezing through that it is bothersome on my left hand in the cold mornings when I am trying to defrost the front window or just send air down to my feet.

I know this could probably be resolved under warranty, however I'm not real fond of dealing with dealership service departments if there might be a easy remedy I can take care of myself.

Does anyone have ideas for a "mod" I can do to the air vent flappers to create a better seal when I have them closed?

 

Push the recirculate button and turn the blower fan to off.

 

^^^ This

The system is working as designed...not a warranty issue.

 

I don't follow..? If you turn the blower fan to off you don't get any air coming from the air outlets to recirculate. Also I believe the recirculation button extinguishes when you turn the dial to floorboards and defrost.

 

The recirculate button means "don't let any outside air into the cabin"...RTFM, it's all in there.

 

You miss understood my initial question. I WANT outside air coming in, I just want it going to my defroster or floorboard vents only when selected with the dial. What I don't want (and what's happening) is when I have outside air coming in to my floorboards as indicated on my selector switch, the air is also coming forcefully out of the dash vents on the far left and far right side of the cabin. The two dash vents in the center are getting zero airflow which is how the two outside ones should be as well when floorboard ventilation only is selected.

 

This is all there is:

 

Perfect, so I have the defrost selected and I am getting a good amount of air flow through vent B at the same time. According to this chart there should be zero airflow coming out of vent B when defrost is selected.

 

Not really what you said in your OP, but mmkay...

@tonered nailed it with the pictogram...and like I said, working as designed

 

Yeah. If on the past Defrost setting, there should be no airflow at other places. It has to be fully clocked over though.

 

Thanks!

 

Yeah, it's all the way over on the defrost setting and a fair amount of flow is coming out of vent B. This is why I figured something is wrong and was looking for a fix.

 

That sounds like a trip to the dealer. I don't think any DIY will help. You could try a battery disconnect to reset all the systems? Remove both terminals from the battery (negative first) and touch them together to drain down the system. It had helped me with weird electrical issues in the past.

 

I have noticed this and I suspect it helps defrost the side windows for better visibility. It’s a feature, not a bug.

 

Wear gloves? Tacomas come with a glovebox

 

yes, part of defrost. All my vehicles do it. Cheby and Honda too.

 

Seems that if it's actually a part of the defrost then the chart that tonered posted should show a small circle on the B column under defrost.

 

Yep, seems like it.

 

If you have the auto A/C, you can run a diagnostic...

 

I don't have the auto, however that's an awesome reference for those that do and might have this issue.