I'm gonna have to give this a shot.... I live up here in Alaska and it's gotten to the point where my wife doesn't want to take the Cruiser anywhere in the winter! I'll post up my results also.
Cold air on Passenger Side Floor - Has anyone figured it out?
- Thread starter JETTIX2
- Start date
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JakeTheSnakeNH
GOLD Star
So its winter again and wife started complaining abt cold draft again. I pulled off the glove compartment and even unscrewed the ECU and felt around the main trunk that brings in the outside fresh air. I did this while my wife drove at abt 55 mph
Pic 1 below shows the air set on recirc. At the position the gate closes the trunk and no cold draft comes thru
Pic 2 shows the non-recirc position. The foam covered gate is expected to seal up the square opening but is no longer air tight!
I believe the solution @Burch1 posted above works because it blocks off the whole section from the cabin. But i also believe it kills the recirc function since the square opening is now actually cut off from the rest of the passenger compartment.
Set on recirc
Set on fresh air (that where the old foam seal leaks)
So I stuffed the foam strip in the area close to the firewall just like @Burch1 showed in his post ... And it had zero impact
So I stuffed a bunch all around the air pump motor and yet no improvement
I am kind of stumped now - a drastic measure would be to find some sort of sheet to fully seal off the recirc window!
Here we go, I spent the morning chasing down why my wife's feet get cold when driving down the highway.
I believe I found the culprit!
THIS MAY NOT FIX EVERYONE'S ISSUES, but I do believe it fixes the issue associated with the origin of this thread.
I removed the glove box, the black upper Instrument Panel Knee Bolster (55433C), unbolted the ECU (not disconnected), in the attached pic look towards the firewall just above the recirculator vent servo (red box). When driving down the road you can feel cold air flowing from this foam edge. It appears this plastic sheet is supposed to be flush with the firewall, but due to age is pulling away farther than what the foam can compensate for and there are no retaining clips to maintain a flush fitting.
This was a very hard part to identify but I believe it is Engine Compartment Insulation Apron (55210-60084).
To fix it; I cut a ~8" strip of foam (1.25" x1.25"), shoved into place, and taped in place with duct tape spanning from the wall to the apron (see below pic - taping was not easy or a clean application).
I drove the car and it appears to be fixed. However, with a gremlin issue like this, air pressure will always find a way. I had to then tape a seem between the recirculator vent housing and the apron as well (green arrows indicate the seem - much easier application).
Hopefully this works for you too!
I believe I found the culprit!
THIS MAY NOT FIX EVERYONE'S ISSUES, but I do believe it fixes the issue associated with the origin of this thread.
I removed the glove box, the black upper Instrument Panel Knee Bolster (55433C), unbolted the ECU (not disconnected), in the attached pic look towards the firewall just above the recirculator vent servo (red box). When driving down the road you can feel cold air flowing from this foam edge. It appears this plastic sheet is supposed to be flush with the firewall, but due to age is pulling away farther than what the foam can compensate for and there are no retaining clips to maintain a flush fitting.
This was a very hard part to identify but I believe it is Engine Compartment Insulation Apron (55210-60084).
To fix it; I cut a ~8" strip of foam (1.25" x1.25"), shoved into place, and taped in place with duct tape spanning from the wall to the apron (see below pic - taping was not easy or a clean application).
I drove the car and it appears to be fixed. However, with a gremlin issue like this, air pressure will always find a way. I had to then tape a seem between the recirculator vent housing and the apron as well (green arrows indicate the seem - much easier application).
Hopefully this works for you too!
You are blowing my mind! Only one thing I don't understand: did your cold flow stopped when you put the HVAC on re-circ?
In the pics you posted the square foam covered gate is in up position (in recirc). In my truck the cold flow stops when I put it in recirc, and starts when I have the HVAC set to take fresh air in. That makes me think that the leak is somewhere after the square foam covered gate!
At ~70mph the air flow could be felt no matter the position of the flap but the amount of air did vary a little depending on the placement.
So I tried it today. Inserted 1.25" wide foam strip behind the plastic peice you pointed out. And then covered it with 4" FlexSeal. I also put some duck tape above the air vent housing too.
Had my wife drive on highway while I tried to feel around and the cold air is still gushing into the footwell
I could easily feel the square flap of the vent housing is leaking air. So I taped up the face of the flap opening with FlexSeal and that seems to curb the large draft.
I still need to cover the lower edge of the plastic apron piece because it is still leaking some air but that part is nearly impossible to reach behind all the cables.
I am now seriously considering pulling out the dashboard and see if I can seal the whole apron up.
Had my wife drive on highway while I tried to feel around and the cold air is still gushing into the footwell
I could easily feel the square flap of the vent housing is leaking air. So I taped up the face of the flap opening with FlexSeal and that seems to curb the large draft.
I still need to cover the lower edge of the plastic apron piece because it is still leaking some air but that part is nearly impossible to reach behind all the cables.
I am now seriously considering pulling out the dashboard and see if I can seal the whole apron up.
So sorry to read that it didn't fix the problem.
As far I understand it that black apron adjacent to the firewall has constant outside air pressure being forced against it, no matter the position of the recirculator flap. If taping off the recirculator duct stopped the air from flowing then your firewall apron is still enacted and good.
I would have your wife drive the vehicle while you feel for the cold air, b/c if what you write is true and covering the recirculation duct takes care of the draftiness; then I would say it is either the duct actuator, the flap's seal, or you have debris caught obstructing the seal.
As far I understand it that black apron adjacent to the firewall has constant outside air pressure being forced against it, no matter the position of the recirculator flap. If taping off the recirculator duct stopped the air from flowing then your firewall apron is still enacted and good.
I would have your wife drive the vehicle while you feel for the cold air, b/c if what you write is true and covering the recirculation duct takes care of the draftiness; then I would say it is either the duct actuator, the flap's seal, or you have debris caught obstructing the seal.
Thanks for the reply and empathy. I appreciate it.
Both my wife and I have alternately driven while the other felt around (with the glovebox and upper panel removed and ECU unbolted and swung out of the way) and we both agree that the problem is two fold.
The air is definitely escaping from behind the plastic apron and also from the recirc flap. I am not a fan of disabling the recirc by sealing up the square opening. I can't see any debris or broken seals around the edge where the flap sits. In fact, what is most perplexing is that the cold air seems to emanate from the entire flap it self! Is the flap behind the foam cover actually porous?
I have been searching here to see if anyone has taken the whole dash off to see how bad a job that is. Otherwise, may be I can take all the electrical stuff mounted along the right side wall of the foot well and see if I can get access to the rest of the apron to seal it up properly. And then I will just seal up the recirc opening a little better and call it a day.
Both my wife and I have alternately driven while the other felt around (with the glovebox and upper panel removed and ECU unbolted and swung out of the way) and we both agree that the problem is two fold.
The air is definitely escaping from behind the plastic apron and also from the recirc flap. I am not a fan of disabling the recirc by sealing up the square opening. I can't see any debris or broken seals around the edge where the flap sits. In fact, what is most perplexing is that the cold air seems to emanate from the entire flap it self! Is the flap behind the foam cover actually porous?
I have been searching here to see if anyone has taken the whole dash off to see how bad a job that is. Otherwise, may be I can take all the electrical stuff mounted along the right side wall of the foot well and see if I can get access to the rest of the apron to seal it up properly. And then I will just seal up the recirc opening a little better and call it a day.
It looks like it should be possible to take off the blower motor unit from underneath the dash without having to remove the whole dashboard. The access is pretty tight hopefully I won't break anything!
Pretty sure I am in over my head now. In an attempt to remove the blower unit, I have disconnected all the connections and removed many screws and bolts. But the bower unit goes about an inch and a half into the AC evap casing and there is simply not enough space to get the unit out.
Here's what it looks like right now
Here's what it looks like right now
Update: Miserably failed to remove the blower unit. I loosened everything up but there was simply not enough room to coax it out.
While the blower unit was somewhat removed from the firewall, feeling behind it I found a 2.5 in diameter hole in the plastic apron. A big fat wire loom is coming through it. I noticed that it had a foam strip inserted around it that was mostly dislodged. I pushed that foam in and then applied FlexSeal on top of it. That actually eliminated the cold draft from behind the blower unit!!
Now, the only cold air being felt from the blower unit recirc flap. I covered it with FlexSeal and while driving down the road the tape covered area still seems to have a draft
I kept feeling around until I noticed the air filter cover leaking cold air!! The freaking cover is not snug in its place is leaking cold air in the cabin
Also, I broke the main plug that provides power to the blower motor so that is something else I now need to deal with because the blower motor is inop now
While the blower unit was somewhat removed from the firewall, feeling behind it I found a 2.5 in diameter hole in the plastic apron. A big fat wire loom is coming through it. I noticed that it had a foam strip inserted around it that was mostly dislodged. I pushed that foam in and then applied FlexSeal on top of it. That actually eliminated the cold draft from behind the blower unit!!
Now, the only cold air being felt from the blower unit recirc flap. I covered it with FlexSeal and while driving down the road the tape covered area still seems to have a draft
I kept feeling around until I noticed the air filter cover leaking cold air!! The freaking cover is not snug in its place is leaking cold air in the cabin
Also, I broke the main plug that provides power to the blower motor so that is something else I now need to deal with because the blower motor is inop now
I have a small wad of duct tape helping apply pressure to the cabin filter cover. That cover seemed to affect the cold air problem I had as well. I have no idea why Toyota didn't design that to have a tighter fit.I kept feeling around until I noticed the air filter cover leaking cold air!! The freaking cover is not snug in its place is leaking cold air in the cabin
Keep up the fight. You'll solve it eventually!
More updates: Blower motor is back in action after I unplugged all the plugs and cleaned them with sandpaper and electrical cleaner spray.
Finally sealed up the interior air filter door by applying some RTV sealant on the inner edge of the door and then using FlexSeal after installing the door. Also, noticed a slight leak from where the blower unit and AC Evaporator meet. A piece of 1 inch peel and stick foam seal is now keeping that sealed.
Now let's see how long this holds
Finally sealed up the interior air filter door by applying some RTV sealant on the inner edge of the door and then using FlexSeal after installing the door. Also, noticed a slight leak from where the blower unit and AC Evaporator meet. A piece of 1 inch peel and stick foam seal is now keeping that sealed.
Now let's see how long this holds
I had this issue on my '99 LX. My wife didn't complain, but would just insist on driving so I got to freeze.
Since I had recently changed the cabin filters I started there. Turned out, even though everything looked normal the cover for the filter box wasn't fully seated. At little pressure resulted in a positive 'click' and it sealed.
Now I have to drive everywhere again.
Hopefully some of the others are that simple.
Since I had recently changed the cabin filters I started there. Turned out, even though everything looked normal the cover for the filter box wasn't fully seated. At little pressure resulted in a positive 'click' and it sealed.
Now I have to drive everywhere again.
Hopefully some of the others are that simple.
My problem isn't really solved yet. The air leaking from behind the intake unit is pretty low volume but very noticeable, especially when the temperature difference between the interior and exterior is more than 50 degrees!
Driving down the highway at 70 mph it quickly makes the passenger footwell a cold place. Perhaps its time to take it into local dealership and ask for their opinion on the situation
Driving down the highway at 70 mph it quickly makes the passenger footwell a cold place. Perhaps its time to take it into local dealership and ask for their opinion on the situation
tmxmotorsports
SILVER Star
Riding shotgun with @Str8Razor to Telluride Colorado on a snowboarding trip in his 03 lx470 and my feet are freezing stuffed my jacket into the right cornerfor now and is helping but hopefully someone figures this out no way i can fix this on this trip but damn its cold af!
One temporary fix is to set the recirculation button to "recirculation". It will stop the outside air from coming in to the cabin footwell. It's not a perfect solution as you may have to switch it back for a little while if the windows start fogging, but it will mostly solve the short term problem.
tmxmotorsports
SILVER Star
Have done that already no worky worky in this situation
