Vent behind rear bumper

[MandAtaco]

I spent this weekend running around Nevada dirt roads. I got into some heave silt and noticed when I did that the the truck was filling up with the poof dirt. I couldn't track down where it was coming from cause it looked like it was coming from everywhere, but I think I figured it out once I started unloading....





It appears to be coming from that side vent in the rear. It looks like not only is it coming in there, but its using the interior trim to funnel the crap to the rest of the truck. Check out the dirt "Con Trails" from around the trim.








These "trails" are only on the drivers side of the truck.

So what the crap is that vent for, and can I just seal it off? Anyone ever experienced anything like this?

 

[JeepKiller]

I'd assume the vent is to let air in and out so you don't die when/if you're sleeping in your car

 

[sogoood]

im pretty sure its to equalize cabin pressure

 

[pluton]

Pull off, or peel back, the interior panel.
You'll see a [supposedly]one way vent behind the interior panel.
It looked to me like you'd have to remove the rear bumper to replace it.
The vent is there to ensure flow-though ventilation lives up to it's name when you have the windows up, but the HVAC on "fresh air" instead of "recycled".
I had the exact same issue after driving on dirt roads.
I found the one way vent on mine had a rotten synrubber flap that let the dust suck into the car.
To avoid removing the bumper to replace the one way vent, I sealed the vent shut with a new piece of cut--to-size bulk neoprene sheet and some RTV that I had lying around.
Then I ordered the replacement one way vent, in case the sealed vent prevented the HVAC from providing air when the windows are rolled up.
The newly-sealed vent does not appear to restrict the air flow into the vehicle through the HVAC, so I never installed the new vent.

 

[MandAtaco]

So short of suffocating myself, can I just block the thing off? Will the truck implode or explode from the forces? Right now the only thing it equalizes, is the amount of dirt outside to inside.

 

[Kanoe]

That vent has a rubber flap on it to allow air to escape say when you slam the door and I suppose hot weather... It's sort of crudely one way - lets more stuff out than back in.

I suspect yours may no longer have a rubber flap in place to allow that amount of dust in. I think you can feel it if you reach for it from underneath the rear bumpers side panel.

 

[MandAtaco]

Pull off, or peel back, the interior panel.
You'll see a [supposedly]one way vent behind the interior panel.
It looked to me like you'd have to remove the rear bumper to replace it.
The vent is there to ensure flow-though ventilation lives up to it's name when you have the windows up, but the HVAC on "fresh air" instead of "recycled".
I had the exact same issue after driving on dirt roads.
I found the one way vent on mine had a rotten synrubber flap that let the dust suck into the car.
To avoid removing the bumper to replace the one way vent, I sealed the vent shut with a new piece of cut--to-size bulk neoprene sheet and some RTV that I had lying around.
Then I ordered the replacement one way vent, in case the sealed vent prevented the HVAC from providing air when the windows are rolled up.
The newly-sealed vent does not appear to restrict the air flow into the vehicle through the HVAC, so I never installed the new vent.

Awesome, I was hoping to hear from someone who had this issue. Thanks! I've got to get into that panel next weekend to replace the trailer light converter, so I'll probably take a look at it then.

 

[MandAtaco]

That vent has a rubber flap on it to allow air to escape say when you slam the door and I suppose hot weather... It's sort of crudely one way - lets more stuff out than back in.

I suspect yours may no longer have a rubber flap in place to allow that amount of dust in. I think you can feel it if you reach for it from underneath the rear bumpers side panel.

May be so, I'll poke my hand up there tomorrow and see if the thing is still there.

 

[calimobber]

Yea its a plastic L shaped piece that has like 4 rubber one way valve doors that air out but not in. I kept getting mice in my car and I tracked it down to that vent. I found lots of dust came in also

If I remember right the mice chewed through the rubber flaps. for a quick fix i just stuffed drier sheets inside and back filled with steel wool. I still need to replace it but keep putting it off.

You can try something like this guy did to filter the doust out

http://www.livingoverland.com/2013/04/controlling-dust.html

 

[Chuckles89]

You can try something like this guy did to filter the doust out

Controlling the Dust ~ Living Overland

Thanks for the link! I need to do that because my rubber crap fell off when I had the rear bumper off

 

[MandAtaco]

Yea its a plastic L shaped piece that has like 4 rubber one way valve doors that air out but not in. I kept getting mice in my car and I tracked it down to that vent. I found lots of dust came in also

If I remember right the mice chewed through the rubber flaps. for a quick fix i just stuffed drier sheets inside and back filled with steel wool. I still need to replace it but keep putting it off.

You can try something like this guy did to filter the doust out

Controlling the Dust ~ Living Overland

That is awesome! Thank you!

For you too: [MENTION=73515]ajonesnv[/MENTION]

 

[concordcarlos]

Mine also came off when I put my Savage bumper on. What is that rubber flapper really called? I'd like to replace it or possibly make a new one.

 

[TheDurk]

Mine also came off when I put my Savage bumper on. What is that rubber flapper really called? I'd like to replace it or possibly make a new one.

DUCT ASSEMBLY, QUARTER VENT, LH -

Part Number: 62940-35010

That's the assembly. The rubber flap is not listed separately.

 

[ajonesnv]

I actually stuffed a large piece of foam back there years ago, but it is now starting to come through...not as bad as above, but still more than none.

I also think Im getting some through the front driver door seal...I need to get one of those too!

 

[JeepKiller]

If you do seal it then seal it with foam or some sort of breathable material that wont let silt through but will let air through.

 

[jeremyc74]

I'd suspect you have something going on with your HVAC system up front, or some bad window seals or something. Judging by the way it's pulling dirt in through the interior panels the whole truck is negative, and it shouldn't be.

Is there anything weird going on with your fresh air/recirc switch? Or bad door or window seals anywhere? Air should be pushed out of that opening, not pulled in. Aside from the dust it could also be pulling in a little exhaust too. The manufacturers have to meet some federal standards for the amount of air changes per hour and those rules were put into effect because people were slowly being killed by exhaust leaks.

I'd dig a little deeper into this if it were me. I think the dust coming through the vent is probably a symptom, rather than the actual problem. :sad:

 

[MandAtaco]

I found the problem, I've got some pics on my phone I'll load when I get them transferred over. The flapper is gone, the frame is still there, but nothing to seal up the hole. I've been vacuuming/blowing the dirt out of everything, the inside of my truck was just a haze. LOL

My HVAC system is fine, I had one of the front windows down when it happened, I'm assuming that's what created the "suck" affect to pull the dirt in. I was in the lead, so I know all that dust didn't come in through the window, some, but not all of that junk in the back.

I'm in the process of installing a new trailer light adapter, when I'm done with that, I'm going to figure out some kind of filter set up like was linked up before. A new flapper is only 30 bucks or so from Camel Back Toyota, I may go ahead and order one, just really don't want to pull my rear bumper off to replace it!

 

[jmsdad]

My HVAC system is fine, I had one of the front windows down when it happened, I'm assuming that's what created the "suck" affect to pull the dirt in. I was in the lead, so I know all that dust didn't come in through the window, some, but not all of that junk in the back.

Ditto! This happens when you have a window or two or all down which creates the 'vacuum effect'. I always remember to have the AC on and windows up when driving in dusty conditions. Less dust inside thru that vent. Try it next time you're out ( whether you're leading or following) and you'll be surprised by the results--no more or less dust inside.

 

[Kanoe]

A new flapper is only 30 bucks or so from Camel Back Toyota, I may go ahead and order one, just really don't want to pull my rear bumper off to replace it!

Hey,

You don't have to pull the whole bumper. Just the side panel. Only 5 or 6 bolts and it comes off. Even on my Canadian salty runner it came off OK, yours should be a piece of cake.

Unless you have a fancy LTD version, that may be a different story, I don't know...

 

[pluton]

I sealed mine completely, with no ill effects.