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I recently had the plastic battery cover, left side plastic cowl and engine covers off our 2010 to better access/service one of the heater hoses.
Buttoning things back up I found this 8-inch long solid foam rubber tube about 1/4" diameter. It's just foam rubber - not a vacuum hose, no tube. I found it around the area where the plastic cowling cover went just behind the engine cover (which was also off). I've looked at various parts diagrams covering these areas as well as online pictures and videos covering these areas and darned if I can figure out where this little piece of foam tubing went.
I guess I'll conclude this is not part of the rubber seals around the plastic windshield cowling. Perhaps it is a leftover piece from a windshield install or something. Dunno for sure.
Funny. I had one of those leftover after my battery install and could not figure out where it went either.
I thought that it may be a seal of some sort that goes along the bottom of the cowl to prevent vibration, but it didn't fit anywhere.
I then convinced myself that it must of been part of the battery packaging and moved on. I still have the piece in my parts bin as I figured one day someone else smarter than me would identify
Hard to say in that photo as it looks "almost new." I am almost 98% confident that is the foam rubber seal that goes between the cowl and the windshield glass- the same foam rubber seal that you CAN NOT BUY from Nissan (you have to buy the whole cowl- ask me how I know). However, two things bring me to hesitate:
-One, the length. On the Coupes the seal is ≈26" in length for each cowl side. I can not fathom the sedans being any different. Unless the strip in the photo was cut/ broken/ damaged, who knows. Plus, the cowl seal will take the shape of the channel in the cowl so it should have a curve and "pinches" where it was "locked" into said channel.
-Two, for a 15-year-old seal, the condition looks almost perfect. Even for a garaged princess those seals, being wax coated from factory, should show some signs of deterioration. Again, who knows.
If I were to guess, unless OP is the original owner, someone likely used a replacement rubber strip to use as a seal. All conjecture, but that is the only logical location on these cars that a 1/4" tube would be used in light of OP's recent repair.
Hard to say in that photo as it looks "almost new." I am almost 98% confident that is the foam rubber seal that goes between the cowl and the windshield glass- the same foam rubber seal that you CAN NOT BUY from Nissan (you have to buy the whole cowl- ask me how I know). However, two things bring me to hesitate:
-One, the length. On the Coupes the seal is ≈26" in length for each cowl side. I can not fathom the sedans being any different. Unless the strip in the photo was cut/ broken/ damaged, who knows. Plus, the cowl seal will take the shape of the channel in the cowl so it should have a curve and "pinches" where it was "locked" into said channel.
-Two, for a 15-year-old seal, the condition looks almost perfect. Even for a garaged princess those seals, being wax coated from factory, should show some signs of deterioration. Again, who knows.
If I were to guess, unless OP is the original owner, someone likely used a replacement rubber strip to use as a seal. All conjecture, but that is the only logical location on these cars that a 1/4" tube would be used in light of OP's recent repair.
The condition is what threw me off as well. Mine also looked and felt brand new, which is why I chalked it up to packaging of some sort that came with the battery I installed. I figured if it sealed anything, that there would at least be a little dust and dry rot, but that wasn't the case.
It’s also a solid core and the “vertical bulb trim seals” (crazy name) appear to contain a hollow core?
Last edited by socketz67; Dec 9, 2024 at 10:04 AM.
Straight 8" solid rubber? The fact that you both found this thing near the battery... something to do with OEM battery packaging maybe, like Socket is guessing? But what that could be What a strange little mystery.
In the coming weeks I will be replacing all of the underhood rubber seals (should arrive from Japan next week). I will do a thorough looksee then but unless this is a sedan-specific item (nothing close on those catalogs either) it is likely not a OEM piece. Also, in all the decades I've replaced batteries never have I seen a "rubber piece" come with, but I digress...
The mystery continues... not that it is earth-shattering important... gives me something to do during this dull time
Yes, original owner and it's garage kept. But the condition is, I agree, too good.
I've replaced the battery at least twice now - I want to say I've seen this tube once before but darned if I can remember specifically. Also had the windshield replaced once and watched the whole process - again I don't remember the tubing per se.
But the more I think about it - the more I'm leaning towards it being a 'leftover' from when the windshield was replaced.
At this point I don't think it's that big of a deal - just a curiosity. Things seem to seal up just fine around the hood and cowling and there are no unexpected noises inside when driving at speed.
Yes, original owner and it's garage kept. But the condition is, I agree, too good.
I've replaced the battery at least twice now - I want to say I've seen this tube once before but darned if I can remember specifically. Also had the windshield replaced once and watched the whole process - again I don't remember the tubing per se.
But the more I think about it - the more I'm leaning towards it being a 'leftover' from when the windshield was replaced.
At this point I don't think it's that big of a deal - just a curiosity. Things seem to seal up just fine around the hood and cowling and there are no unexpected noises inside when driving at speed.
thanks all
I've never had my windshield replaced, so the suspense is mounting.
I recall looking over the entire cowl assembly thinking that it must go on it somewhere. No luck.
It's not urgent. One day someone will figure it our and we will have an "ah-ha" moment.
What a strange little mystery.
