Hi!
I just noticed that the previous owner has blocked all the air vents below the rear window. I wonder why and whether there is some nasty surprise when I remove the sticky tape?

 

They may have taped the vents to keep leaves, rain, snow, insects etc from back flowing into the vent tray which may have clogged hoses etc. It may also have been done to reduce / stop the "cowbell" noise from the vent flaps. You can always just cut out one section of the tape to take a peek with a pen light then tape it back. Just make sure to use all aluminum HVAC tape like whats already there NOT regular duct tape etc -- those melt into the paint damaging it.
If you decide to remove the tray to inspect and fix the flaps, there are several threads here showing all the details.

Cheers,
Brian

 

Odd!!!

But, some os are a bit odd!!

check under the rear valence. under the bumper. Vents there are often smashed. mine were. fortunately, I could pry them open into good sahpae with an old retired flat blade driver, now pry bar.

Carl

 

bad idea !

 

Maybe that's where the previous owner hid the diamonds.

 

Thank you!
I was brave enough to remove the tape and take a look.
The more knowledge, the more grief.
There is lots of rust and crumbles of unidentified objects. I also noticed that the "shelf" in the trunk is tilting down towards the back seat and it looks like there has been some moist in the past.

I'll search other threads about the vent tray and try to understand where water is supposed to drain.

Fortunately the car will go into a museum for the winter so there will be neither snow nor rain.




PS. I wish there had been diamonds. The car might have been owned by Yakuza in Japan, who knows.

 

you need to remove the tray, and clean it. It collects water and other debris.

First step is to remove the REAR SEAT and BACK from the car. WHY? Because the tray will not come off due to the Sunroof Motor being in the way of its removal.

Second step is to remove the removable panel behind the rear seat WALL, and the one under the Rear Parcel Shelf.
Disconnect the two wires to the Sunroof motor, Sunroof motor is in the top CENTER. The wires are Red and Green.

Third step is to remove 4 nuts and washers holding the sunroof motor. These are located inside the rear seat wall.

Fourth step is to remove all the nuts around the Tray, they are all 13mm except the two end corner ones that are 11mm.
There should be a hose on each side corner of the tray. Pry them / push them off the metal tubes at the tray.

Then you can start prying the tray down. There should be a sticky sealant on the tray edges which makes it hard to pull down. Use a putty knife or a knife to cut through the seal all around.

You can wash the tray, let it dry, and then spray a Truck Bed Coating inside to protect it from rusting.

If the Rear Shelf Panel inside the car is damaged due to water, this is the time to remove it and make a new one using 1/8" thick board and using the old one as a template. Reuse the black vinyl covering and foam if usable. Instead of staples, use 3M spray adhesive.

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