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Surprise in cabin air filter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by chrisasst, Apr 14, 2014.

  1. chrisasst

    chrisasst Junior Member

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    So wife reported that there was a very bad odor in the car.
    Pulled the cabin air filter and found the following
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]



    iPhone ?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    now look for the mom and pop.
     
  3. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    Wth? How did they get in there?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i love surprises.:)
     
  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    this must be a dealership infomercial to have your cabin filter changed by experts. no need for surprises.
     
  6. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    I have seen worse. Best advice is to get a good activated charcoal filter and then clean it out once a month. Will work wonders and keep your car fresh and clean. Did that on our Gen II and it smelled great for the three years I drove it. Never had to replace the filter. Just kept it clean, tapping out the dust, leaves, pollen, etc.

    Lucky, no mice or rats here. Too many cats in our neighborhood.

    If you have a major problem with mice infestations, read up on how to block off the entrances they find. Info posted here on PC that talks about this issue and where the openings are.

    Best of luck to you,
    Ron (dorunron)
     
  7. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    I recommend a screen over the end of the engine air intake.
     
  8. Easy Rider

    Easy Rider Active Member

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    Not a bad idea but that is NOT where the cabin air comes from.
     
  9. CTitanic

    CTitanic Member

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    Wow, I'm impressed!
     
  10. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    Ack, he's right! Never mind... (looks sheepish)
     
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Wouldn't hurt to remove the engine air filter and look inside the air filter housing to see if the mice got there, as well.
     
  12. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    That is Mom and Pop (probably). No big deal.....come to my place and I will show you "surprises" in the cabin filter.

    As Patrick said, you had better check the engine air filter....if they go in the cabin filter, half the time, they also have been storing supplies in the engine air filter box....
     
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  13. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Actually, I was being a bit flippant when I said that half the time mice will make the engine filter box a storage pantry. Maybe about 15 percent of the time....

    Wonder why those mice were dead though.....In the old days they got chewed up by the fan, but the Cabin Filter usually keeps them out of the fan....and in this case, there is no hole chewed in the filter...

    Strange. In my experience, from now through June is the worst time for the rodents. So, if you are getting some now, odds are, you will get some later.

    Mine, earlier this year:
    [​IMG]
     
  14. chrisasst

    chrisasst Junior Member

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    There were two holes in the filter.


    iPhone ?
     
  15. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Aye, can't see the holes in your photo....check my photo that I just edited into my post above yours to see how they treated my engine filter area this winter.
     
  16. Jon Hagen

    Jon Hagen Active Member

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    Still a good idea. When I had mice dragging things into the cabin filter, they were also filling the engine air cleaner box. :)
     
  17. chrisasst

    chrisasst Junior Member

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    Yep they in the air filter also.

    [​IMG]


    iPhone ?
     
  18. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Yep, at least you found it before it caused any issues. Patrick Wong gave me a tip of disconnecting the hose at the box and using a shop vac to get any debris that still might be "in-line."

    Takes a few minutes to disconnect and connect, but at least I felt confident that I got rid of anything in the system.

    Cleaning out Engine Air Intake | PriusChat

    Screening that engine air intake is a little fussy, but if I can do it...

    And, yes, once again. BIG THANKS TO PATRICK WONG!!:)
     
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  19. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    I am proud of you Kris. Fixed something like you did, and now you are sharing with others. Prius Chat is going to make you a level 2 Prius technician before you know it. ;-)
     
  20. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    I have simple wants. All I want is enough Prius Trophy points to pass that Poodle of the Prius Rufaro.

    And, the points don't matter... | PriusChat