My only complaint

[JDowns]

I warned you all.


Bend over and get ready.

I missed that post….I’ll prepare the lube.

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[Toytec]

"This whole problem could be solved if they just programmed the recirculation door to be always closed when the ignition is off. Leaving that much of a gaping hole is just poor design thinking."

I get where you're coming from Jeff. I really do. But can't be done. Here's why.

I'm sure everyone here has at one time gotten into a vehicle after it's been parked a while, fired it up, switched the AC on high, then get blasted with musty odors.
The evaporator core needs to air and dry out to prevent this. The trade off is the little buggers gets a clear path to nest in there. But, like others have said there are ways to combat this with sprays and such.
I remember service bulletins reminding to switch to fresh air before turning off vehicle back in the day.

 

[JDowns]

For those curious where the two openings are located.

Remove the (8) clips that hold the plastic shroud at the rear of the engine bay towards the windshield.

You'll see two openings on the firewall that are approximately 5" x 3". The openings beyond the openings.

View(s) from engine bay.

View from inside the truck behind the glove box. There is a motor on the right, you can see the wiring harness that rotates the recirculation door. You can see the daylight coming through.

 

[JDowns]

A printed screen piece there should be a fairly simple exercise. The panel is magnetic so a pair of 20lb Nd magnets should be about right to hold into place. Just make the insert so it slides into the holes and overlaps the openings. That way there is no side to side movement and just a matter of reaching in there and positioning. Really wish I had my printer up here.

 

[JGF]

A printed screen piece there should be a fairly simple exercise. The panel is magnetic so a pair of 20lb Nd magnets should be about right to hold into place. Just make the insert so it slides into the holes and overlaps the openings. That way there is no side to side movement and just a matter of reaching in there and positioning. Really wish I had my printer up here.

Excellent pictures! Worth a thousand words or more! Thank you.

 

[JDowns]

I ended up using some aluminum drywall patch. The sticky side really helps positioning the pieces and holding in place while it gets taped. up. Cleaned the area with alcohol and used aluminum tape to hold in place and seal the edges. Gonna be a pain to remove the tape when a more permanent solution can be printed up. I ended up cutting two pieces 5.5" x 3.5" so there is a 1/4" overlap around the openings. Taping was a PITA, but not impossible. I trapped another one last night in the truck, I'll keep on trapping until no more are left and no signs of droppings. The mesh is small enough it should also keep out most bugs. I may have a slight reduction in fresh air, but I doubt it would be noticeable. The alternative is much worse.

 

[DRVMN]

Thank You! The pictures really help out!

 

[THLONE]

It looks to me like the little buggers get in at both ends of the air grill by the hood hinge and they could still build nests on top of your screen.

 

[JDowns]

It looks to me like the little buggers get in at both ends of the air grill by the hood hinge and they could still build nests on top of your screen.

yeah there is no way short of parking in deep water too keep them out of the engine bay. They could nest also in the front wheel wells towards the cab. There are also holes from the wheel wells into that area.

I'd rather limit any activity outside the interior if at all possible. I do have peppermint pouches in the engine bay to help deter them. Now the engine bay and interior has a fresh minty smell.

Nothing was trapped last night from the interior, so I'll take that as a good sign. I'll continue to trap for a few more days just to be sure.

 

[DRVMN]

We live out in the country with woods, ponds/marshes/swamps, farmer's fields, etc. and have lots of critters around here. I park in the garage but have three of those electronic devices plugged in - the ones that send out an ultrasonic sound wave that is uncomfortable to mice. So far, so good and at my last residence of 20 years, I had them plugged in too without any issues. I ran an extension cord and fed it into the house A/C unit outside with one of them too. I haven't had any mice in my traps out there in a couple weeks. Hopefully they continue to work.

 

[JDowns]

We live out in the country with woods, ponds/marshes/swamps, farmer's fields, etc. and have lots of critters around here. I park in the garage but have three of those electronic devices plugged in - the ones that send out an ultrasonic sound wave that is uncomfortable to mice. So far, so good and at my last residence of 20 years, I had them plugged in too without any issues. I ran an extension cord and fed it into the house A/C unit outside with one of them too. I haven't had any mice in my traps out there in a couple weeks. Hopefully they continue to work.

I use the ultrasonic in the off season (winter) but have them unplugged while I'm here because the pup does not like them. The ones he can reach he will either punch with his nose or just rip them off the wall. He doesn't appreciate the background noise much. I guess I could relate that if there was a high pitch noise in my ears I'd want it to stop also. This year has just been bad due to the extra rain and me clearing out their natural habitat. I think I'm rounding the curve though since I was getting upwards of 15 a night in all the traps. Last night was just one.

 

[12Bravo20]

I haven't had any issues as of yet, knock on wood.

I live in a small town of 1200 that is completely surrounded by crop fields. I also had 4 abandoned homes surrounding my house. All but one has been torn down.

I had a really bad mouse infestation about 6 years ago when the city started knocking down the abandoned homes. My 85 pound lab/golden/husky mix could only do so much to catch the mice. I couldn't use the ultrasonic devices either. I ended up getting a couple of indoor cats along with feeding stray cats outside. I haven't had much of a mouse problem since then.

If anyone comes up with a screen that works and is easy to install at a reasonable price then I will definitely be interested.

 

[FerdRanger]

A printed screen piece there should be a fairly simple exercise. The panel is magnetic so a pair of 20lb Nd magnets should be about right to hold into place. Just make the insert so it slides into the holes and overlaps the openings. That way there is no side to side movement and just a matter of reaching in there and positioning. Really wish I had my printer up here.

as a recent mousketeer inductee, I'd be interested in purchasing this type of deterrent to add to my security system....... I got my mitts past the first set of holes and then got beat up pretty good trying to screen/tape the second entryways

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS HOW ARE THESE ?RODENTS GETTING INTERNET SEARCH CAPABILITIES / OWNER'S MANUALS / SCHEMATICS AS TO WHERE THESE CABIN FILTERS ARE???

you really have to search this forum and the interweb to find the routes they are taking to access these cozy confines.

Then I had an epiphany ?..... CABIN FILTERS ARE MICE CANDY

? why else would they pass up so many other nesting places on their trek for room and board?
? why is it not just my Ranger, but also the wife's RAV4 that had their cabin filters munched?
? why are others air intake filters being violated?
? why do dead mice smell so bad until they are fully cooked well done ?

So far I have:
possibly pureed said squatter(s)
sprayed ozium and frigi fresh liberally (will have to wait for full desiccation)
set some mothballs under the hood
got some peppermint oil and dryer sheets
thought about smudging the bad juju out ?

AND BOUGHT SOME WIRE GUTTER GUARD AND PURCHASED A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CABIN FILTER.

Yep, laid some mesh on top of a K&N filter that already has mesh incorporated into the element and uses cotton instead of paper..... perhaps it's the glue the pests are sniffin?

I figure even if a mouse does get past the smell of death and essential oils, at least they'll get some broken teeth next time they try to nest there. Oh, and put some mesh on the air intake to save that filter until it needs to be replaced....

 

[SigOris]

I missed that post….I’ll prepare the lube.

Lube was deleted for MY21 ???

 

[jwf171]

Unreal. I had mice get into my glove box earlier this year but luckily had no issues otherwise. I took some pics of what happened just in case, though. Mice damage is animal damage and covered under insurance. What a dumb oversight.

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