If you live in a hot sunny southern climate, no doubt your "cowl" trim is badly discolored at best and at worst could be the source of major water ingress into the sensitive electronics that reside behind the glove box. The cowl trim is the black plastic that covers the area at the base of the windshield, it also covers the mechanism for the wipers. Over time, this trim will discolor and warp. Some owners on this sight have indicated that the warping is the source of interior water leaks. This is an easy repair that can be done in about 45 minutes. I bought my cowl trim and PD buzzer from Parts. com for about $85.00 including shipping and Florida sales tax.
1. Open the hood. Using a small flat screw driver, lift the round covers off the windshield wiper posts. Remove the nut under each cover. Note the position of the wiper arms, they should be parallel to the cowl trim (not pointing upward or down)
2. If your lucky, the windshield wiper will lift off the post with some upward tugging and wiggling. If not, partially reinstall the nut, turn it back on until it is just proud of the post. Using a rubber mallet or a small hammer, tap on the nut while pulling upward on the wiper. It might take several blows of increasing severity before the wiper comes loose.
3. With both wipers removed, starting from the center, lift and pop the clips holding the trim in place. The number and location of the clips can be observed by looking at the replacement trim. To remove the trim completely, gently lift the A-pillar trim to release the cowl trim.
4. With the trim removed, note the "air scoop" on the passenger side. This protruding scoop is likely the cause of interior water leakage. Cover the forward third of the scoop liberally with duct tape, wrapping it under the scoop.
5. Replacement of the trim is the reverse of removal. Except, before reinstalling the wiper arms, put some anti-seize on the posts.
This easy and inexpensive trim replacement will take years off of the apparent age of your sun drenched LR3.
1. Open the hood. Using a small flat screw driver, lift the round covers off the windshield wiper posts. Remove the nut under each cover. Note the position of the wiper arms, they should be parallel to the cowl trim (not pointing upward or down)
2. If your lucky, the windshield wiper will lift off the post with some upward tugging and wiggling. If not, partially reinstall the nut, turn it back on until it is just proud of the post. Using a rubber mallet or a small hammer, tap on the nut while pulling upward on the wiper. It might take several blows of increasing severity before the wiper comes loose.
3. With both wipers removed, starting from the center, lift and pop the clips holding the trim in place. The number and location of the clips can be observed by looking at the replacement trim. To remove the trim completely, gently lift the A-pillar trim to release the cowl trim.
4. With the trim removed, note the "air scoop" on the passenger side. This protruding scoop is likely the cause of interior water leakage. Cover the forward third of the scoop liberally with duct tape, wrapping it under the scoop.
5. Replacement of the trim is the reverse of removal. Except, before reinstalling the wiper arms, put some anti-seize on the posts.
This easy and inexpensive trim replacement will take years off of the apparent age of your sun drenched LR3.
