1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Mouse bedding in fresh air inlet

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by rumpledoll, Apr 2, 2010.

  1. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    2,705
    509
    63
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    :confused: Once the cowling is removed, the intake is exposed and ready to be screened. What is missing? :confused:
     
  2. rumpledoll

    rumpledoll Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2007
    179
    46
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Sorry I didn't take pictures of the procedure. It was fairly easy; remove the windshield wiper arms, then the plastic cowling which runs across the rear of the engine compartment. The fresh air intake is easily accessible at the passenger side (in US vehicle). I used some metal mesh held i place with silicon glue.

    I also put metal mesh over the air intake for the engine itself on the theory that the little buggers could get in there too. Rather than a bad smell I would have accelerated engine wear.

    Rumple
     
  3. esoniat

    esoniat Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2009
    79
    6
    0
    Location:
    Marietta
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Mouse, mice, rat, rodent nest bedding in AC on cabin air filter

    The smell started weeks ago and just kept getting worse. First I thought it was something I had carried to Goodwill, then maybe something on the mats, finally it was acrid and clearly urine.

    Under the hood mouse dropping on the cover over the valves, and the inverter/motor control.

    I tried washing that but it only got worse so I pulled the air filter and there was the nest. The air filter was clearly soaked in urine. The nest was built from a rag I kept under the hood to check the oil and from insulation chewed from at least two spots under the hood.

    If you have any idea of whether this insulation is worth replacing I would appreciate the advise. Also if there are other places I should check for damage.

    I have checked the air intake and it looks clean. There will be rodent deaths :rip: in my area if I have my way.

    If I get the cover off and effect a rodent preventer I'll post images.

    And to think before this I still had the delicious oder of fresh leather when I entered the car. Maybe Toyota sells a conditioner that will restore that smell, or maybe it will come back on its own now.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Ontarget

    Ontarget Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2011
    30
    0
    0
    Location:
    Hudson River Valley, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    They also like other filters. Had one nest each on my 96 Camry, and two different Honda motorcycles. (all corrected with diamond shaped wire mesh)
     
  5. OZ132

    OZ132 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2008
    170
    2
    0
    Location:
    Northern Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Sounds like a service bulletin is in order? I've never had this in a car before. Sounds like something Totoyata should address.
    Cost me $40 for a filter, and the dealer wanted to clean and disinfect the whole system for $100.
     
  6. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Put mothballs in a sock and stick it under the hood, the mice won't stay. There haven't been any nests built since I've been doing this.
     
  7. esoniat

    esoniat Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2009
    79
    6
    0
    Location:
    Marietta
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Mothballs have been found to be a carcinogen ( Scientists May Have Solved Mystery Of Carcinogenic Mothballs) I do not think it is a good idea to put them anywhere in the environment, let alone the air intake of your car where you will get a nice confined concentration.

    Confining them is a good idea because (before I was better informed about their toxicity) I have personal experience of squirrels taking mothballs out of the attic and putting them in the yard. A mouse may not be able to do this, but if they are the can easily get through a sock, so something more durable is recommended.

    I have found that cleaning out the nest, and removing any sort of food, (for me it was bird seed and spilled dog food) from the area, and setting (and maintaining) traps ( I use live traps) has worked pretty good.

    Interestingly enough I had occasion to clean the air intake on my 87 Toyota Landcruiser. What a difference. Solid steel, of course, but a raised snorkel (no alternative paths) capped with heavy steel mess descending in to a blower housing, also sealed, and with a drain connected to a pipe back out the fire wall, to let any water that go in out. No mice are going to get into that. I know the Prius can not be that secure but I think they could do better.


     
  8. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    The underhood environment of a car is seperated from the air intake for the interior. There's already enough carcinogens in the interior.
     
  9. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    2,705
    509
    63
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Not sure what car you were referring to but a Prius draws cabin air from under the hood.
     
  10. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Cars draw fresh air from the cowl, which is usually seperated from the under the hood air by a weatherstrip.
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    2,705
    509
    63
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Thanks that makes sense. Last time when I looked there were large gaps in the weatherstrip though. Not sure why.
     
  12. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Yep, you need that weatherstrip in case there's an exhaust leak or a fuel leak. You don't want to suck that stuff into the interior.