To the best of my knowledge its just an outside air intake for the climate control system. Don't know if/how it can be removed to clean. Possibly you could get to it from below via the cabin air filter area.

Going forward you could try covering it with some window screening mesh (not sure how to go about attaching it, maybe some pop rivets). That will at least keep smaller debris from falling through. It will tend to clog up faster but will at least be easier to clean off since most everything will just be laying on the surface.

 

Lopez...as mentioned, opening is air intake. Only way I know to clean debri under cowl is to remove it. Can find DIY cowl removal if u google & keep looking. I know u have to take wiper arms off...remove screws holding cowl & push clips on front/bottom edge.. As mentioned, can use bug screen to cover intake & to attach, gotta be creative.

 

Plastic cowl is VERY easy to remove. Undo windshield wiper nuts, mark wipers in their studs, remove them, unclip plastic clips with clip removal tool, undo few bolts and off it goes. I had it done like 4 times in a row, when I was replacing from struts, as cowl was blocking access to the strut bolts. very easy. Just don't brake clips, they are VERY expensive to buy at dealer.

 

LOL, exactly what I did, using a small piece of "dog scratch proof" window screen (about an 1/2" larger than the opening, small black zip ties (as backup security so in case the screen comes loose from snow and etc in the winters) along with some plastic weld (or hot glue) to secure the window screen from the under-side of the cowl.

To remove the plastic cowl, start by remove both wiper arms, then open the hood to remove plastic anchors/clips around the cowl...

 

Thanks all. Probably will remove the cowl & fabricate some kind of screen. Still wondering though, is this an intake for cabin air? Seems like small and an odd location. Not just a drain for water coming off the windshield? In a heavy rain, seems like water would get sucked into the ventilation system.

 

... Still wondering though, is this an intake for cabin air? Seems like small and an odd location. Not just a drain for water coming off the windshield? In a heavy rain, seems like water would get sucked into the ventilation system.

Oh yea, Sorry, I lost track of your questions in my comment.
The opening on the cowl is just one of few spaces where air and water can flow in/under the cowl (there are several openings from the front sides of the chassis/quarter panels), the actual cabin air intake opening under the cowl has a raised flap/lip/edge so normally water cannot get in to the cabin through this intake opening (unless the water drainages are all blocked which is very rare or unless a car has driven through some seriously deep water - unlike the drain "holes" for the sun roof can be clogged somewhat easily).

 

Good info! Thanks! Do you happen to have a picture with the cowl removed?

 

Sorry, I do not.