Hickory nuts and a chewed up cabin air filter

[JB_Weld]

We had an extremely mild winter in the Chicagoland area so the wife and I were able to get around in our AWD vehicles with the Ranger sitting on the driveway. I remote started it and when I got in a few minutes later I heard loud rattling noises and shut it off. I pulled the blower motor and found this:

Then I had a hard time pulling the cabin filter and found this:

In total, there were 5 of these nuts inside the air box. I literally crawled under and throughout the engine bay for any sign of entry. No chewed up wiring. Nothing. No smells inside the cabin. The only animal I see eating these things are squirrels. So can somebody explain to me how this happens?

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[got3fords]

Squirrels are jerks.

 

[airline tech]

Ref: This thread for details on how it happened
I covered this issue


HVAC / Climate Control- Issues - Operation - T-Shoot and Breakdown | 2019+ Ford Ranger and Raptor Forum (5th Generation) - Ranger5G.com

 

[JB_Weld]

Squirrels are jerks.

So how did the squirrel get in the air box? Wasn't no mouse they aren't big enough to pull these nuts around. Almost as if the truck was built with these things already in there lol.

 

[JB_Weld]

Ref: This thread for details on how it happened
I covered this issue


HVAC / Climate Control- Issues - Operation - T-Shoot and Breakdown | 2019+ Ford Ranger and Raptor Forum (5th Generation) - Ranger5G.com

I crawled back under the dash and saw what you were talking about over the filter door. Thanks. So you're saying a squirrel could fit through the fresh air opening?

 

[got3fords]

So how did the squirrel get in the air box? Wasn't no mouse they aren't big enough to pull these nuts around. Almost as if the truck was built with these things already in there lol.

Magic squirrels are even worse jerks.

 

[mtbikernate]

fyi, that's a walnut

 

[airline tech]

If you pull the plastic cowl up on the passenger side under the windshield you will see this

The access on the upper right is the inlet for the Air Inlet Door - HVAC, which I covered with a screen to prevent your issue.

The access through on the lower left of the pic is the cowl rainwater drain that dumps the rainwater off to the side (just behind the RF Tire)
You have another one on the Driver's side, but the cowl is slanted more towards the passenger side.

It is not visible, but that access drain opening can be accessed from the fender on the sides.

Mice / Rats - are attracted to the smell of the Cabin or something in it, possibly the material the Cabin Filter is made from (IDK) and they magically find their way to that specific access point and gain entry to the Cabin.
I find it odd that so many owners experience the same thing with the Ranger.

 

[Msfitoy]

We had an extremely mild winter in the Chicagoland area so the wife and I were able to get around in our AWD vehicles with the Ranger sitting on the driveway. I remote started it and when I got in a few minutes later I heard loud rattling noises and shut it off. I pulled the blower motor and found this:

Then I had a hard time pulling the cabin filter and found this:

In total, there were 5 of these nuts inside the air box. I literally crawled under and throughout the engine bay for any sign of entry. No chewed up wiring. Nothing. No smells inside the cabin. The only animal I see eating these things are squirrels. So can somebody explain to me how this happens?

What does the Hickory nut sound like at max fan speed?

 

[JB_Weld]

fyi, that's a walnut

Squirrel didn't seem to care

 

[JB_Weld]

What does the Hickory nut sound like at max fan speed?

Like a machine gun

 

[JB_Weld]

If you pull the plastic cowl up on the passenger side under the windshield you will see this

The access on the upper right is the inlet for the Air Inlet Door - HVAC, which I covered with a screen to prevent your issue.

The access through on the lower left of the pic is the cowl rainwater drain that dumps the rainwater off to the side (just behind the RF Tire)
You have another one on the Driver's side, but the cowl is slanted more towards the passenger side.

It is not visible, but that access drain opening can be accessed from the fender on the sides.

Mice / Rats - are attracted to the smell of the Cabin or something in it, possibly the material the Cabin Filter is made from (IDK) and they magically find their way to that specific access point and gain entry to the Cabin.
I find it odd that so many owners experience the same thing with the Ranger.

Thanks!

 

[Rinn69]

Like a machine gun

I might have to put one in my blower assembly just for the cool sound effect

 

[mtbikernate]

Squirrel didn't seem to care

seems to me that squirrels actually prefer walnuts. they drag 'em uphill and around a pond to bring them into my yard.

 

[DeerSlayer]

Damn.,Tree rats!

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