Rodent nest plus dog food HVAC help

[mrmike7189]

Mice love snacking on Irish Spring like candy!

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[TJC]

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)

Ozone generators work wonderfully at removing odors, and killing anything in the room! They also oxidize many materials including plastics. Use judiciously, and do NOT enter a room or car until all of the ozone (O3) has degraded into O2. Ozone will damage your lungs - don't breath it. Start the timer, let generator do its thing, then wait a day or two before entering the room. Give it time to work, then open the doors and let it air out well before entering.

I've used them for years in my home and autos. They work extremely well for disinfecting odors, and killing bacteria / viruses too. Blows them up with that extra O2 atom attaches to them. Oxidizes them!

 

[FerdRanger]

in the mean time, liberal amounts of

https://media.tractorsupply.com/is/...90&fmt=jpeg&resMode=sharp2&op_usm=0.9,1.0,8,0

and time helps until the rodent dries

 

[IdahoRanger]

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

Ozone generator is great for getting rid of odors.

 

[harringtondav]

in the mean time, liberal amounts of

https://media.tractorsupply.com/is/...90&fmt=jpeg&resMode=sharp2&op_usm=0.9,1.0,8,0


and time helps until the rodent dries

50+ yrs ago that stuff could neutralize a Cheech and Chong sized refer.

 

[FerdRanger]

50+ yrs ago that stuff could neutralize a Cheech and Chong sized refer.

still does

 

[harringtondav]

Ozone generator is great for getting rid of odors.

Similar risk to leaving your Odor Eaters in your shoes for too long.

 

[dstig1]

Hardware cloth (galvanized 1/4" steel mesh) works well:

 

[Realtruck]

Mice love snacking on Irish Spring like candy!

 

[cgrey]

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

Thanks! Trust an airline tech to give me exactly what I need to visualize the interior of that box and see if I can pull this off myself without a dash removal. I'm going to remove as much as possible to gain access and decide on a self repair or insurance claim. Sounds like I'll have to worry about the drain clogging too, best to square it all away now.

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. I'll update with photos if I go this route.

 

[tnewcomb6370]

Had one get inside my vents and die. I just did a insurance claim and let the dealer find it. Lucky it was in one of the vents going to the back. Still cost $1500.

 

[OldHippy]

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

I am so glad to see this question and all the remedies.
I found a rat nest behind my rear seat. Got rid of it and thought the mice as well. Have saturated my truck with peppermint/ water mixture. Not sure if they are gone or not. But my little rescue, Cookie, sure seems like she still smells them. Since COVID I cant smell anything hardly.
But thanks to all these answers, know more about where to look and where to block off openings.
One question I have is Where are the vents behind the rear seat.??

 

[dstig1]

Pull the rear seats and it will be staring at you.

 

[RangerBill]

IOne question I have is Where are the vents behind the rear seat.??

See post #23 above for a picture (second and third picture).

 

[airline tech]

I am so glad to see this question and all the remedies.
I found a rat nest behind my rear seat. Got rid of it and thought the mice as well. Have saturated my truck with peppermint/ water mixture. Not sure if they are gone or not. But my little rescue, Cookie, sure seems like she still smells them. Since COVID I cant smell anything hardly.
But thanks to all these answers, know more about where to look and where to block off openings.
One question I have is Where are the vents behind the rear seat.??

Here is a better wide angle shot of them:

You have to pull the backrest or lower it - Depending on Trim Level and also remove the (Loadspace) Carpet & Panels to get to these from the inside - If you look into the space between the bed and the cab - This is the area where these vents (exit) the cabin pressure.

Although it has not yet been proven that critters can actually enter here, as they may be traveling down the tunnel (under the carpet) after gaining entry from the (Air Inlet Door)
As you can see - there is a nice little cubby hole for them to make a living quarters under the back seat.
It's still a good idea - to cover these as well with some screen proven or not.
So far - I have only covered my (Air Inlet Door) but have recently switched employee parking to a parking garage vs remote lot - The Parking Garage has some critters (Rats) I have actually seen them scurrying across the sidewalk.

The old parking lot had a family of stray cats that the employee bus drivers were feeding, and it was surrounded by empty fields. Never saw any critters

So, it should be in my best interest to finish out my (Preventive) for this and complete the project due to the (Possibility) of them getting into the cab.
I have stepped up my - Open Hood and Inspect the Battery Blanket & Engine Cover as these will be the first signs they have found the tasty morsels the truck provides them.
So Far - They are leaving my truck alone.

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