If you take off the driver's side panel in the trunk, you'll notice a black vent that opens into the rear bumper. I don't know if it's on the passenger side or not.

I was just wondering what it's for...

 

first of it is probably venting of gases...if there is a leak in the trunk and to let out hot air in the summer otherwise the trunk becomes an oven

if you notice those vents are flapped and so stay close until pressure is applied to them...

for those who don't know they look like gills

 

That is the low pressure vent for the air brought in thru the heater/ac system. It has to get out somewhere.....

S :D

 

I thought it was so my kids can breathe. Silly me.

 

One reason would be breathing air in case someone is locked in the trunk. There is also a glow-in-the-dark trunk-release pull for that reason.

Pressure relief and venting sound like good reasons too.

 

That's what I thought - so what happens when people put a sub in that corner? I know that I'm glassing mine to fit the panel instead of re-making the panel so there should be enough space to allow airflow to the vent, but what about the 4080 box, and other people who are glassing the trunk?

Just wondering if this is something that should be given serious consideration when building up a trunk. I doubt they added the vent just for fun...

edit: considering that it's built like a one-way (outgoing) valve, i doubt it's to allow fresh air into the trunk. Maybe there's one on the passenger side to allow incoming airflow? At work and can't check right now.

edit2: My Honda didn't have anything like this vent, and the trunk lid was much larger (more space for gathering sunlight), so I don't think it's just a heat issue, either.

 

I have to look and check

 

the trunk is not air tight, even without a vent, air can move thru the area around the seats.

 

Maybe that was made for the Hydrogen Model Rx8? or maybe possible CNG Rx8?

 

So you can shut the trunk! Without it, the lid would fight back when you closed it.

These also help when you shut the last open door.

The G35's windows roll down .5 inch when you open the door, after you close the door, it rolls up. This makes it easier to shut the door. Don't believe me? dsiconnect the battery and try opening and closing the G35's doors.

 

Ha! That's probably it. Thanks :D

 

That's exactly it...... . Spot-on, Rotary Rasp.

 

Ah!!

 

While unrelated, the Miata had a tube to connect to the battery (which was in the trunk) to prevent hydrogen from building up.