Soapy Car Wash Water Coming Through Passenger Vent

[gebomartin]

Going through the care wash and half way through, the soapy car wash suds were coming out the passenger side dash vent. Got home and removed glove box and squirted water every where to try and duplicate it. No dice. I had noticed water would sometimes drip on my feet as I went through the car wash. I removed the driver and passenger side mats and they were damp underneath.

Where do I start?

 

[Bad Luck]

Going through the care wash and half way through, the soapy car wash suds were coming out the passenger side dash vent. Got home and removed glove box and squirted water every where to try and duplicate it. No dice. I had noticed water would sometimes drip on my feet as I went through the car wash. I removed the driver and passenger side mats and they were damp underneath.

Where do I start?

Dry everything out then have someone spray the windshield/roof area with a garden hose while you look for the leak inside the vehicle.

 

[gebomartin]

I did but found nothing. I will try again. Only soap suds come through the vent.

 

[Malcolm99]

Highly likely it is coming from the windshield wiper cowl, there is a large hole there that leads directly to the blower motor and the passenger side vent is the direct path out. I've had to put a roof over these in tacoma's to stop the water from entering the blower motor.

 

[gebomartin]

Here is where the soapy water is coming from.

 

[gebomartin]

Another pic showing the soap coming through that white tube.

 

[trevlf]

Do you have a sunroof? If so check the sunroof drains. Blast some compressed air down the drain tube then run a garden hose and see if it drains to the ground. If you don't have a sunroof then I'm not sure how to help.

 

[gebomartin]

Sunroof drains are fine.

 

[gebomartin]

Highly likely it is coming from the windshield wiper cowl, there is a large hole there that leads directly to the blower motor and the passenger side vent is the direct path out. I've had to put a roof over these in tacoma's to stop the water from entering the blower motor.

Where exactly is that opening. I took the wipers and cowl off and ran volumes of water and both sides drained water behind the front door hinge area. It looks fine. I need to find the fresh sir inlet hole.

 

[nissanh]

Soapy water makes form and will rise above the fresh air intake located below the wiper cowl. Those are now been pulled in by the fan and sent all over the duck lines. Next time when you go for a car wash, have the interior circulation mode on.

Your car has no problem.

The cowl is the plastic panel mounted horizontal below the wiper arms and between windshield and hood. The fresh air intake is located under the cowl towards the passenger side right above the blower motor. It is a raised opening so if you want to see it, remove the cowl, then flash a light from the driver side towards the passenger side.

 

[gebomartin]

I removed the cowl and wipers. I see the trough running from the passenger side to the drivers side. Where you are talking about is under that raised portion on the passenger side. It’s like a box/tunnel that is covering the trough. I can’t see in it but what you say makes sense.

Thanks!

 

[nissanh]

Inside that tunnel, you should see a raised rectangular/square metal opening. This is one of the famous mouse nesting ground when vehicle is parked for a prolonged periods. When fresh air door is open, debris will fall into the blower motor!

 

[gebomartin]

That makes sense. The suds are higher than the water so they run in and down into the blower motor. I understand. I want to thank you as you are the first person on any forum to explain this to me. Thanks!