Water Getting In Cabin Air Filter?

AndSpenRob · Jan 14, 2020

Just had an odd experience... At the onset of colder, rainy weather in Seattle, I thought my blower had gone out - there was no heat circulating in my cabin, regardless of fan setting. Just investigated further today, and everything about the heat system is working, but somehow my cabin air filter got soaked. This is not damp - it's like it was dunked in a bathtub... Everything else surrounding it is dry, and when it's removed, hot air blows and the system works as normal.

This filter is relatively new too - just changed it out for a new one 3 months ago...

Any ideas on how I could be getting water intrusion in the cabin air filter without any clear or obvious leaks from other parts of the interior?

Quickdtoo · Jan 14, 2020

Cowl leak?

Cabin air filter got wet after heavy rain storm?

Hello Everyone! I have a 2011 RAV4 4cyl base. Yesterday I noticed after a huge rainstorm my vents weren't pushing hardly any air on any setting. I immediately thought to check the cabin air filter and I found it to be soaking wet. I checked my AC drain hose and it is clear. today i also sprayed...

www.rav4world.com

Foryota · Jan 14, 2020

Have you had the cowl cover recall done?

AndSpenRob · Jan 14, 2020

Thanks for the replies... I have not taken care of the cowl recall yet. That's something I can pursue. I was under the impression the cowl merely protected the wiper assembly on the outside of the firewall. Does it also provide a seal for part of the interior?

Quickdtoo · Jan 14, 2020

You may find wet carpet as well, so be sure to check under the mats/liners, most of water was caught in the floor liner on my '06 V6, but the carpet was damp too.

Foryota · Jan 14, 2020

AndSpenRob said:
Thanks for the replies... I have not taken care of the cowl recall yet. That's something I can pursue. I was under the impression the cowl merely protected the wiper assembly on the outside of the firewall. Does it also provide a seal for part of the interior?

While I cannot speak to the presence of a seal, the cowl does sit higher than the old one. I remember I would regularly get water pooling in parts of the cowl, and lots of snow accumulation near the wipers. Now with the new cowl, I no longer get water pooling on it, and there’s much less snow gathering. It’s even a touch more aerodynamic to boot. And if something is leaking, Toyota covers the labour to get into the area, you’d just pay a small difference to correct the problem once the cowl is off.

AndSpenRob · Jan 16, 2020

Thanks for the suggestions, folks! I've scheduled my cowl replacement for next week and will ask them to check for leaks... New air filter is installed, and will be on the lookout for future water-logging!

AndSpenRob · Jan 23, 2020

Update for future searchers: Recall cowl replacement complete. They found drains under the cowl plugged with debris (pine needles, etc.) which likely caused the flooding of the cowl area and the cabin air filter port. If this doesn't clear things up and the problem comes back, I'll re-post here with that update. Otherwise, I'll consider it solved!

Water Getting In Cabin Air Filter?

AndSpenRob

Quickdtoo

Cabin air filter got wet after heavy rain storm?

Foryota

AndSpenRob

Quickdtoo

Foryota

AndSpenRob

AndSpenRob

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