97 Tacoma water problem

Terry,

This is a known issue with that year Taco; there's several TSBs addressing the issue. It's called a "cowl seam leak." The fix is to run a bead of silicone on the underside of the lip under the fresh air intake from the right fender across firewall; ask your dealer to show you pics of the TSB if you can't find the seam.

There's two other possibilities - worn, leaky or disturbed firewall grommets where the AC lines and drip pan go (although this usually results in a passenger side leak); and there may be a poor seal around the wires if the firewall was ever drilled for installation of an aftermarket alarm system.

-- Mike Harris Austin, TX

Mike, thank you very much. I looked for the seam but I'm not sure I see the one you mean. I'll probably go tto the local dealership and look at the TSB. Any ideas on how to keep the rust from getting worse on the floor board? Take care and thanks again for your help. Terry

Terry,

The hard way.

If it were mine, I would lift the carpet, grind to bare metal using a 3M abrasive pad on an angle grinder, weld pinholes (if any), use a phosphoric acid rust neutralizer to catch any spots that I might have missed, prime and paint. However, I happen to own all of the products and equipment to do this already, I don't live in a "rust state," and my wife welds.

Depending on how bad it is, your long term intention about owning this truck and its mechanical soundness otherwise, you may want to just go with the phosphoric acid / primer / paint.

-- Mike Harris Austin, TX