this was my TJ.. The problem was when you had natural air vent on, all you got was HOT air. So we chk all the flapper doors and actuators under the dash. All good. the we took the cowl off and found this.. OMG.. did we laugh. Now its pulling in the cool outside air and the change in temp is a good 8-10 degrees..
There is a cover that normally goes over that opening to keep rain water out (as it runs through the cowl). Looks like the PO fashioned a replacement for whatever reason. My guess is that the replacement was too low and did not allow enough airflow.
Without that cover, you may end up getting quite a bit of water in your cab the next time it rains. I actually had to silicon around my cover to keep mine from leaking around the edges during heavy rains.
You don't need a cover for '97. There is no special cover or box thing like in the new model TJs. The cowl completely covers that air intake and won't let any water get in.
Here's a good picture I was able to dig up showing you what mine looks like.
There is a mod you can do to place an air filter on that cab intake to help keep dust down when you are on the trails and have the heat or air on. The mod should be in the FAQ area for the TJ's.
I got a cover type thing on my 06 I was looking at it the other day trying to figure out how to run a snorkel. Throw the cowl and out to the side of the windshield and that was in my way. I guess if some don't have it I don't need it then. Now I will have room to do it lol
Try it without a cover. If water doesn't leak into the passenger floorboard during a heavy rain, then leave it. My guess is that it does leak, hence the PO putting on that makeshift cover. If you make another cover, just make sure the opening facing the drivers side is large enough to allow proper airflow. A bottle bottom raised up a bit higher (almost up against the cowl) should work fine.
Ok, I just got back from a junk yard run looking for this part. The guys at the Jeep junk yard pulled the cowl off 2 97 TJ's looking for this part. They stated they have never seen this part on a 97 TJ.
The cool thing is we found some Besttop cloth half doors for 30 bucks brand new. :highfive:
from my understanding there was a faulty cowl design on the 97 tj's. the snorkel type cover may have been added later to prevent the water coming in. I have a 97 with no such cover and get rain in all the time making my pants moist! my 05 does have the cover. planning on making this exact mod to fix my 97.
Yeah, it appears some years have it, some don't. Some folks have the passenger floor leak, some don't (do a search-tons of threads).
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