Stripped the interior, need a quick question answered

[imryannn]

so i stripped my interior all out to prep to my new roof on, and i noticed in the very rear, there are holes on either side of trunk, that come out almost under the side of the tail lights, i have a tubed rear bumper so these side holes show (so im guessing that they dont show with stock bumper on) what are they for and could i cover them up, because all of my rear carpet was soaked from water getting in these holes...

 

[sn0wrunner]

hmmm... got any pics?

 

[MillerPKA]

they are the drainage holes, do not block them

 

[imryannn]

haha drainage holes?
the water drains in though...not good! haha
how do i stop that then?

 

[juiceboxer]

Install a one way check valve, it has a little ball bearing in it that will not allow water/air to flow in, but will allow water/air to go out. They are also known as anti-siphon valves and are used in fuel tanks to keep the send line from continually supplying fuel hence "anti-siphon"

Or you could just seal them up, I don't know what you would want to drain from the inside.....

 

[Qyota]

They are most likely cabin air exhaust vents. When you turn on your cabin fan, the cabin has to exhaust an equal volume of air, so you don't pressurize your interior. The air exits out the back to promote air flow through the vehicle (since the air inlet is below the windshield).

Don't block them.

 

[rdgt4r]

They are most likely cabin air exhaust vents. When you turn on your cabin fan, the cabin has to exhaust an equal volume of air, so you don't pressurize your interior. The air exits out the back to promote air flow through the vehicle (since the air inlet is below the windshield).

Don't block them.

precisely! if you look in your interior theres those vents on the driver side cargo area and thats part of what your talking aboot.

 

[shawner2713]

it probably helps promote airflow through the cabin depending on the size of the holes/"drains" and how much obstruction there is on either side of the holes...but i'm pretty sure that there is no possible way to actually 'pressurize' the cabin by plugging up those holes- it might go from 1 atm to 1.01 atm by plugging up those holes...There are plenty of unsealed places throughout the cabin for air to escape through. Maybe they have multiple purposes beyond airflow. But, if they are big enough, and reasonably unobstructed, they could possibly increase front to rear airflow. All a humble opinion and i have no idea what they look like or where they are routed.

 

[imryannn]

alright so i havent been able to take any pictures of my 4runner but heres another picture of one of my favorite rig haha

the grey peice at the bottom of the bumper between the tail light and little gas door.

 

[Qyota]

Yup, that's a cabin air exhaust vent.

If you plug it, it will just be more difficult for air to escape your interior...assuming you have all your windows up and the sunroof closed. You may induce some "whistling" as air has to find a new way out through smaller openings...and your hot and/or A/C air won't be as effective.

 

[imryannn]

so any ideas to keep the water from getting in, but letting the air get out...haha

 

[shawner2713]

Unless you're crossing deep water, the only water that should be getting in is rain or when you wash it... One way to stop that could just be essentially a vent hood like you might find on some houses. That's off the top of my head and i know i couldn't fab something up that would look decent without going to a sheet metal shop. I don't know about a one way "anti-siphon" valve. I assume those are only available (at least readily) for smaller holes, with circular cross sections where this appears to be an actual rectangular vent, but I've never had my bumper off to see.

 

[juiceboxer]

You could also make a temporary cover that you put over it when you go wheeling...: