What do you guys do about the rear vent ?

[kolelt]

After putting on new rear bumper. The new bumper no longer covers properly the rear vent. And after few weeks the little rubber plate folded up, like poop and fell of. Wondering if anyone has had this issue, how important that rubber piece is ?

I was thinking about shoving sponge type material. So it acts as a filter. But I don't want water to sit there.

 

[pluton]

If you drive on dusty dirt roads, that vent will allow a huge amount of road dust into the inside of the vehicle.
On mine, once I saw the cheapness of the flap valve, I sealed mine up by RTVing a piece of sheet neoprene on top of the vent on the inner side.
I still have the stock rear bumper, so R&Ring the vent unit would have been a bigger hassle than just bending back the inner body trim panel and sealing the vent from the inside.
Some owners have sealed it by stuffing scrap foam rubber into it.
There has been no perceivable effect of sealing it on the cabin ventilation, whether in fresh air or recycled air mode.

 

[kolelt]

If you drive on dusty dirt roads, that vent will allow a huge amount of road dust into the inside of the vehicle.
On mine, once I saw the cheapness of the flap valve, I sealed mine up by RTVing a piece of sheet neoprene on top of the vent on the inner side.
I still have the stock rear bumper, so R&Ring the vent unit would have been a bigger hassle than just bending back the inner body trim panel and sealing the vent from the inside.
Some owners have sealed it by stuffing scrap foam rubber into it.
There has been no perceivable effect of sealing it on the cabin ventilation, whether in fresh air or recycled air mode.

Did you completely sealed it ? I can't see how a foam would be bad right ? Vs the little cheap flap they have.

 

[Sean K.]

I cut that entire bottom portion off and plated it in with sheetmetal. You don't need it.

 

[98Fizzy]

What's it's purpose.. the vent? Just to let the inside breath a little?

 

[RunnerRnd2]

I've been driving with my bumper off and honestly decided that vent was useless lol

 

[HiLife]

I would think that flapper valve has an effect on the ac.
As the ac is pushing fresh air in, the valve acts like a relief to help exchange the air. AC would have a hard time pushing the air into the cabin if the air in the cabin didn't have anywhere to exit.
It's like a box, how can you get air into it if the air didn't have any means of exiting.
Of course, if your using the recirculate button on the ac the valve isn't in the equation.

 

[phattyduck]

What's it's purpose.. the vent? Just to let the inside breath a little?

Its a way for air to get out of the cabin (when the fan is on outside air, when the doors are closed, etc.). There is a rubber flap on it that acts as a 1-way valve.

Drive on a dusty road for a while with the flap missing, then look behind the panel and tell me it doesn't do anything...

Even with the stock bumper, it is pretty easy to replace - just remove the bumper corner and pop a new one in there.

I would suggest finding a way to keep external wind buffeting off the vent to keep that flap from falling off. (though, mine did even when all stock after some number of years)

-Charlie

 

[kolelt]

Having a bumper with tire carrier is not as easy to remove as stock bumper. That's for sure. I understand what the vent is for. It also releases pressure when you close the door. However, I'm wondering for the people in which the flap fell of. Mine was fine until I put aftermarket bumper. Air, water etc must have beaten on it till it fell of. I still have the rubber flap.

But so you think a sponge type material, aka filter would work ?

 

[Falonious]

Its a way for air to get out of the cabin (when the fan is on outside air, when the doors are closed, etc.). There is a rubber flap on it that acts as a 1-way valve.

Also for cabin pressure release during airbag deployment.

I made a replacement flap for mine.

 

[kolelt]

Also for cabin pressure release during airbag deployment.

I made a replacement flap for mine.

Damn. That's clean. From what ? I think I see why mine fell of. It was hanging on one of the hooks/arrow looking things

 

[Falonious]

I made a steel rule die at work and cut it (kind of like a cookie cutter) out of a better rubber than was stock....a bit thicker too. Should last much longer.
They wont sell just the flap and the complete part is like $50.....sooo

 

[pluton]

I would think that flapper valve has an effect on the ac.
AC would have a hard time pushing the air into the cabin if the air in the cabin didn't have anywhere to exit.

My A/C and fan work exactly the same with the vent sealed as they did when the vent was open and let all that dust in.

 

[kolelt]

I'm thinking of maybe glueing a solid rubber piece. Then cut out few flaps so only the few flaps open up. And install a filter behind the flap.

 

[kolelt]

How about a small version of a sunroof wind deflector over the flap?

Good idea. Covering the whole thing. Makes it hard for water to get in.

 

[Snowden]

Old thread revival alert -- Rear vent

There's a great picture below by [MENTION=139000]phattyduck[/MENTION] showing what appears to be an old vent held up to the installed new vent. And a picture from the OP [MENTION=99565]kolelt[/MENTION] showing access to the vent behind the aftermarket rear bumper (my situation). My questions are; Does anyone know if this piece snaps out just like that, removing from the outside? I've heard some folks say the inside rear panel needs to be pulled back or removed in order to access this vent to replace the flapper but that is not an easy option for me since I have the roll bar mod. My flap has blown off due to wind exposure caused from an after market bumper, which appears just like the original OP picture. Any other suggestions/confirmed solutions to fixing/modding this vent...? I'm getting shit ton of trail dirt dust inside my Runner right now.

 

[denverunner]

It's been explained in the thread already, but for those who are curious, this article goes into a little more detail about the purpose for these vents

https://jalopnik.com/heres-what-those-rubber-flaps-are-hidden-behind-your-re-1828016409

 

[firemanj92]

There's a great picture below by [MENTION=139000]phattyduck[/MENTION] showing what appears to be an old vent held up to the installed new vent. And a picture from the OP [MENTION=99565]kolelt[/MENTION] showing access to the vent behind the aftermarket rear bumper (my situation). My questions are; Does anyone know if this piece snaps out just like that, removing from the outside? I've heard some folks say the inside rear panel needs to be pulled back or removed in order to access this vent to replace the flapper but that is not an easy option for me since I have the roll bar mod. My flap has blown off due to wind exposure caused from an after market bumper, which appears just like the original OP picture. Any other suggestions/confirmed solutions to fixing/modding this vent...? I'm getting shit ton of trail dirt dust inside my Runner right now.

You can do it from the outside. Just have to remove 8 or so nuts/bolts from the corner bumper and top bumper cover. Takes about 15 mins or less - 10mm and 12mm nuts/bolts. I did not remove the interior panels. Then it just snaps in from outside. (P/N 62940-35010 duct assy, quarter 96-00, 62940-35020 for 01-02, has a grommet hole for wires but same dimensions).
Hope this helps. -J

 

[4.wunna]

Reload Offroad makes one

Check out Reload Offroad, they make a ton of vents for different platforms and they are the cheapest on the market.

 

[Hungryhawk]

Saw a post about a filter that fits this opening. Seems it would go a long time as there is low suction thru the vent-mostly air getting out on highway and door slamming?
If anyone find a filter please post specs.