Leaves and debris in the cabin air filter?

OEM filter.
Cheap ones do not filter the air as good as a better ones.
If you buy crap you get crap.

 

I'm really not concerned about the air quality.
I am more concerned about the the big debris like leaves, pine needles and other large stuff getting down inside the blower fan below the filter. If somethingbig enough were to get in there it could damage the fan and at the very least cause some crazy noise as the fan blades hit it.

I did take the cowl off and looked under it where the air intake was located.
It was pretty obvious how stuff gets in there. I'd take it off again but I'm afraid messing with it alot will cause the seal against the windshield to leak. So I'm going to leave it alone.

I sure hope I don't get the "Water in the floorboard" problem like some others do. If that happens, I'll take it back off and build some type shield/filter for that big inviting hole they call an air intake.

IT's got 2 hole in it from the factory like something was supposed to got there in the first place. But I guess they abandoned that "good" idea.

 

Same crap here with the "it came with no filter". I took my truck in for scheduled maintenance I think it was 3rd oil change since new. I went to pick it up and the guy asks me if i wanted a cabin air filter put in my truck. I was like what do you mean a cabin air filter? He said, "there's no filter when you get the truck and for 65.00 we can put one in for you." I was pissed, we have cane fields here and after they harvest we get a crazy ass dust storms on the roads. I was always wondering why my a/c always smelled so dusty even when i have it on recirculate. My service guy must of known i was pissed cuz of the look on my face, because he nicely replies, "sorry man, we'll put one in for you complimentary this time".
There's a noticeable difference when there is a filter. Mine is a 2007.

 

pictures added...

 

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Thanks. Need to do this soon.

 

No problem. Here's the original filter (been in for 5 years.) It's dirty but no mouse turds, leaves, etc.

 

I'd suggest you do the mod in this link to keep the critters out first:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/89878-made-pre-cabin-air-filter.html

Then do the Moose Filter Mod in my sig. One-time purchase and you're good for life.
(http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/90324-diy-washable-cabin-air-filter.html)

And if you do get water in the cabin, here's what I did to cover it:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/88655-water-thru-cabin-air-intake-my-solution.html

 

NICE ,That will be a great little project !

 

Doing this soon! Nice mod

 

My 2005 did not have one.

 

lol...if you spend a lot of time off road especially in wooded areas a regular replacement is needed. Mine a while back:

 

Hi.
I'm late.
I don't have a truck.
I have a Prius.
This was the first thread I found related to my search.
Thank you.


LEAF BLOWER.

That's my culprit for exactly as you described your filter.
The "gardeners" attached to the leaf blowers which caused/are causing such ridiculous debris accumulation in my cabin and engine, etc. are basically incapable of lifting their arm at the vehicles on the property.
This does 2 things.
Both marvelous.
A.) The "gardeners" blow debris onto cars.
B.) The "gardeners" blow debris under cars.

My first cabin filter change was shocking and confusing.
I couldn't figure out where this filter seemed to say I'd journeyed.
Then one day I was at the laundromat...
Its strip mall has maintenance personnel.
Amazingly the Great Man Leaf Blower made sure that he did not dust up the vehicles and extra sure to dust off the vehicles.
Perfect.
Not so where I live.
Specifically, I Park in the carport.
For whatever genius reason, the "gardeners"pull through their blower's CRAP through there. UNDER THE VEHICLES.
Sigh.
Anywho, thank you for allowing me to rant.
Enjoy the weekend.

 

^^this is good stuff right here