Rodent nest plus dog food HVAC help

[cgrey]

Greets

Rodents stored dog food in my intake box below the filter and built a nest in the cabin air filter. Unfortunately they seem to have gone through the cabin air filter and i have borescope images of pine needles and leaves in my hvac mixing box on the first blower side condenser.

I noticed the problem due to the sudden appearance of intense dog food odor when using heat. No odor on outside air or cold. I do not see any dog food on the borescope with the needles and leaves, and there was no dog food in the cabin air filter nest.

Now, I know the dog food in the engine intake air box could not have contributed to the hvac odor
There was food also stored in the hood liner.

My question, for anybody who might know, is does the heat exchanger on the blower side of the air mixing box form a rodent impenetrable barrier to prevent them from traveling further into the mixing box and storing food? Is my odor from heated food in the hood traveling through the hvac vents or am i likely to have food stored inside the system itself?

This will mean the difference between a claim, full disassembly of the dash and teardown of the box myself, or just cleaning out the hood and waiting for the residual odor to bake itself out.

Appreciate any insights

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[IdahoRanger]

Wow, unfortunately it sounds like you have one of the worst cases of number of infestations. I can't help on the connections of where they can store the food.

 

[RangerBill]

Greets

Rodents stored dog food in my intake box below the filter and built a nest in the cabin air filter. Unfortunately they seem to have gone through the cabin air filter and i have borescope images of pine needles and leaves in my hvac mixing box on the first blower side condenser.

I noticed the problem due to the sudden appearance of intense dog food odor when using heat. No odor on outside air or cold. I do not see any dog food on the borescope with the needles and leaves, and there was no dog food in the cabin air filter nest.

Now, I know the dog food in the engine intake air box could not have contributed to the hvac odor
There was food also stored in the hood liner.

My question, for anybody who might know, is does the heat exchanger on the blower side of the air mixing box form a rodent impenetrable barrier to prevent them from traveling further into the mixing box and storing food? Is my odor from heated food in the hood traveling through the hvac vents or am i likely to have food stored inside the system itself?

This will mean the difference between a claim, full disassembly of the dash and teardown of the box myself, or just cleaning out the hood and waiting for the residual odor to bake itself out.

Appreciate any insights

The dog food is likely in the HVAC box under the dash. I can't see that you could smell it if it was only in the air intake filter box. This is especially true since it only happens when the heat is on.

 

[Realtruck]

Yikes! Sorry to see that happened to you.

Just my opinion but in my experience they are not rodent proof barriers and if they make it past the cabin filter they can usually get into sections of the HVAC box. The smell only with heat to me suggests that there was dog food debris near the heater core not in the ducts because otherwise you should smell it with cold air as well although maybe not as prominent.

It could be possible the smell is coming from the hood liner. I would clean that up and see if you still smell it and that should give you a better answer.

 

[ScarzRanger21]

Had the same issue. I bought some gopher wire people put in their gardens, then cut and molded a piece to fit around the intake tube. Haven’t had the issue since then. I’ve definitely had mice in the truck again but not in the air Intake lol

 

[TJC]

I blocked the air vents into the cabin behind the rear seats.

The air vents into the AC system and the the intake into the engine air intake have screen mesh over the openings. No more mice issues in the cabin or air filter box.

They did get a single acorn behind the hood liner too.

 

[isslandboy]

We got mice in our vehicle, I ordered this from Amazon and it worked beyond my expectations. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JAP7388?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
Enerzen Ozone Generator 60,000mg Industrial O3 Air Purifier Deodorizer (60,000mg - Black)

 

[airline tech]

Here is some insight on the internals of the Climate Control Box

As you have noticed, we have a huge air inlet door and even with the Air Recirculation (On) door closed its still not 100% closed, as it allows outside air (In) at all times.
When the truck is turned off - the air inlet drives to 48% open @ rest position.
This allows easy entry for mice etc into the cab.

So, while driving this door will inhale any outside fumes easily, including window washer fluid (freshly sprayed) and this includes the dog food smell you have.

You have an extreme situation here:
To start I would pull the blower motor out and remove all reachable debris from the (Blower Tunnel)
Unfortunately for the (Condensate Drain Pan) area this is where in order to get it all the heater housing must be removed @ minimum.

Since I am guessing you are going to possibly file an insurance claim (with a deductible) as this is not warrantable issue.

You may want to try - using a hole saw and cutting a hole in the side of the housing and matching (rubber hole plug) sizing - this will give you a small access hole to clear out the drain pan area.

Hopefully you do not have any wiring damage from chewing.

Here is a pic of the (Heater Hosing) this can be pulled separately from the complete assembly but still requires dash removal.

So YES, a small critter can fit and squeeze into the internal doors and ductwork

Ref: Drain Pan Pic

Note: Upper Hole = The EVAP Temp Sensor and the lower hole (another members idea) for easy clean out of clogged condensate drain and use a rubber plug to cover the hole when finished.

I know if my drain becomes clogged, I will be using this idea

Just be mindful of where the EVAP and Heater Cores are mounted.

Now for the PREVENTIVE
Cover this inlet - to stop the critters from entering

This is the air feed for the (Air Inlet Door) it's under the plastic cowl below the passenger side of the windshield.
Do the same (PREVENTIVE) for the Inlet for the engine air filter housing.
I am using drywall sanding screens

 

[mrmike7189]

I bought "Might Mint " rodent spray on Amazon and I spray that Sh@t everywhere! I had another truck where mice ate through the underhood insulation blanket ,used it for a nest, left acorns ontop of engine block, and got into the cabin air filter so I've been on alert ever since. I tried irish spring soap, didn't work, mice actually chewed on it like candy! I tried laundry sheets, nope, Might Mint has worked best so far!

 

[harringtondav]

I'm saving this thread. I had to pay $700 out of pocket for my dealer to install a new blower motor after mice nested in it and threw the blower out of balance.
Since then I've seen evidence of more mice. I placed Irish Spring around as a deterrent. ....mice seemed to like it based on the bite marks on the soap.
The truck has an unpleasant low grade funk, especially with the heater running. Thinking mice carcasses drying out some where.
I'll check the link in response #7, or sprinkle Gain scent beads on top of the cabin filter.

 

[got3fords]

Here is some insight on the internals of the Climate Control Box

As you have noticed, we have a huge air inlet door and even with the Air Recirculation (On) door closed its still not 100% closed, as it allows outside air (In) at all times.
When the truck is turned off - the air inlet drives to 48% open @ rest position.
This allows easy entry for mice etc into the cab.

So, while driving this door will inhale any outside fumes easily, including window washer fluid (freshly sprayed) and this includes the dog food smell you have.

You have an extreme situation here:
To start I would pull the blower motor out and remove all reachable debris from the (Blower Tunnel)
Unfortunately for the (Condensate Drain Pan) area this is where in order to get it all the heater housing must be removed @ minimum.

Since I am guessing you are going to possibly file an insurance claim (with a deductible) as this is not warrantable issue.

You may want to try - using a hole saw and cutting a hole in the side of the housing and matching (rubber hole plug) sizing - this will give you a small access hole to clear out the drain pan area.

Hopefully you do not have any wiring damage from chewing.

Here is a pic of the (Heater Hosing) this can be pulled separately from the complete assembly but still requires dash removal.

So YES, a small critter can fit and squeeze into the internal doors and ductwork

Ref: Drain Pan Pic

Note: Upper Hole = The EVAP Temp Sensor and the lower hole (another members idea) for easy clean out of clogged condensate drain and use a rubber plug to cover the hole when finished.

I know if my drain becomes clogged, I will be using this idea




Just be mindful of where the EVAP and Heater Cores are mounted.


Now for the PREVENTIVE
Cover this inlet - to stop the critters from entering

This is the air feed for the (Air Inlet Door) it's under the plastic cowl below the passenger side of the windshield.
Do the same (PREVENTIVE) for the Inlet for the engine air filter housing.
I am using drywall sanding screens

That is great (Information).

 

[isslandboy]

I'm saving this thread. I had to pay $700 out of pocket for my dealer to install a new blower motor after mice nested in it and threw the blower out of balance.
Since then I've seen evidence of more mice. I placed Irish Spring around as a deterrent. ....mice seemed to like it based on the bite marks on the soap.
The truck has an unpleasant low grade funk, especially with the heater running. Thinking mice carcasses drying out some where.
I'll check the link in response #7, or sprinkle Gain scent beads on top of the cabin filter.

What I did was took the cab filter out and ran the ionizer for a couple of hours with the fan on recirculate and then on circulate for a few more, did this a couple of times and it worked amazingly well. I used to farm and have tried everything imaginable to get the mouse smell out, this is the only thing that I have found that works. We also used in a room that had had some water leaks from rain and with the high humidity was always musty smelling, it fixed that too. For me it was a very good investment.

 

[got3fords]

I'm saving this thread. I had to pay $700 out of pocket for my dealer to install a new blower motor after mice nested in it and threw the blower out of balance.
Since then I've seen evidence of more mice. I placed Irish Spring around as a deterrent. ....mice seemed to like it based on the bite marks on the soap.

I slivered up an entire bar of Irish Spring soap in my shed to keep mice away from my Harley. A day or two later, the little bastards had gathered up a pile of them on the side of engine.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I slivered up an entire bar of Irish Spring soap in my shed to keep mice away from my Harley. A day or two later, the little bastards had gathered up a pile of them on the side of engine.

Well, you know who made up that BS story about Irish Spring soap keeping them away, don’t you?

This guy…

 

[harringtondav]

We got mice in our vehicle, I ordered this from Amazon and it worked beyond my expectations. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JAP7388?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
Enerzen Ozone Generator 60,000mg Industrial O3 Air Purifier Deodorizer (60,000mg - Black)

Christmas gift for me, wife, dog and anyone else who rides in our Ranger.
.....$15 with an Amazon Visa application. Cheap Christmas gift.

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