Leaf Trap Tip

Hello all: new member here. I have picked up some great info as a read-only visitor so thought it was about time to join and contribute to pay back some of the information.

I'll bet almost everyone with a 2nd gen Tacoma will find this issue if they check for it. While checking out my recently purchased Tacoma (2014 Double Cab) I spotted a few leaves peeking out from behind the bottom of the long black seal in front of the driver's door where the fender meets the body. I moved it aside a little to pull out the leaves and soon discovered it was chock-full of leaves, pine needles, spinners and other debris and wet rotted muck on the bottom: packed from almost the top to bottom by the rocker. The seal is held in place by pressure only so I was able to get a few fingers in there and gradually clear most of it out by pulling it out of the fender area at the bottom towards the door. The packed dirt and muck at the very bottom was harder to remove and a small stream of water wasn't doing it. I ended up using a small wooden ruler to gently scrape most of it out. A final flush with a small stream of water from the garden hose nozzle cleared the rest and luckily the drain too. The passenger side had a build up too, but only about half way up. Between the two, I had a pile of stuff about the size of a soccer ball on the driveway. Luckily no signs of rust in there which surprised me considering it must have always been wet or damp in there most of the time. I think they get in there through the spaces under the hood behind the hood hinges. A little design flaw that I'm surprised has never been corrected. I'm going to check my son's 2005 next time he's home. Good luck!

 

This might be useful

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-varmit-and-ac-clogging-prevention-project.557970

 

Last month and I pulled out the size of a baseball from each door in the front I use the coat hanger

 

Every few months I just take the old shop vac and vacuum and then use the small nozzle and blow it out really good.

 

When I got my 2013 last October it was full from the bottom of the pillar to the top. Previous owner must have been fond of parking under pine trees.

 

Now treat with blasts of Fluid Film into the channel.