Today I was vacuuming my front carpets after taking out the floor mats and felt a bulge under the passenger side where it rests on the firewall. I pulled it back and found a hose. One end runs through the body and ends in the wheel well. The other 16” or so was detached. Hose was about 1/2” OD. It’s likely a drain hose, but it’s not the hose that drains the fresh air inlet on the hood. That’s all on the engine side of the firewall and functions properly. It can’t be critical because I don’t have any problem with water. Of course the car never sees rain, but it does get washed occasionally and I don’t spare the rinse.

Some years back I installed heat/sound shielding on the firewall behind the dash. I can’t believe that I wouldn’t have noticed this hose then and dealt with the issue. But, I can’t recall seeing it at that time, so I’m hoping somebody can tell me what it’s for and where that other end is supposed to go.

(Light Bulb!) You know, just writing this the answer may have popped into my head. The car once had air conditioning, removed by the previous owner. Bet that was a drain hose for the evaporator. If someone can confirm that, I’ll simply remove it and plug the outlet hole.