Reminder to Clean Under Hood Cowling

[taylort232]

Don’t push it too long! Thankfully no damage but it was super wet under there. Now nice and clean

 

[george_tlc]

Yes indeed. Trees in front of our home dump a huge amount come autumn. After they are done, I lift the cowl up and use compressed air to blow the whole area out. Wet leaves + time = rust. Don't give rust a chance.

cheers,
george.

 

[CJF]

How easy (or not) is it to pull the cowling?

 

[taylort232]

Two bolts, remove the wiper arms, then 5 screws

20 minute job

 

[Kernal]

My 97 model was full of pine needles (everywhere), the PO had been parking it under a Longleaf pine tree. Some of those leaves will find their way down to the HVAC box, blower motor and the incoming side of the evap core could be full of leaves also. Good idea to clean that area out also as the leaves/debris hold moisture against the evap core accelerating corrosion ie: holes in the core develop from the outside of the core inward.

Comparing an original evap core to a newer OEM part, the original part appeared to not have been coated (to help prevent corrosion of the aluminum). A new OEM Toyota Evaporator core IME does come with a very thin transparent bluish protective coating. FWIW