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Mice Getting In Cabin + Air Filter Question

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SoEfficient, Aug 7, 2021.

  1. SoEfficient

    SoEfficient New Member

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    Hello everyone--longtime reader, first time poster.
    This is a great forum and was instrumental in deciding on our 2017 Prius v two. Bought in 2017 from a dealer as a 6 month old courtesy car with less than 4000 miles, now at 57000. 42.5 lifetime MPG since we've owned it via Fuelly...

    It's been excellent have been happy with it, but we've found mouse droppings over the course of the last several days IN THE CABIN!! Mostly in the back hatch area and the passenger seat. Sad times....
    I've been reading all the content on here about mouse-proofing the car.

    -As of today, it's been really well cleaned out and some traps will be put out this evening in and around the car.
    -There were a few mouse droppings on the right side under the hood (top of inverter?), but no other visible damage or signs of critters being there.
    -No other signs ever of mice in our Matrix, or Corolla that preceded the Prius v parked in the same spot.

    -Luckily, no smell or signs of nesting or droppings in the cabin air filter behind the glove box, but.....

    Check out the 2 photos--the fabric is torn above the filter and its all exposed. Any ideas how I could fix that? I'd hate to have to go the the dealer and have the whole thing disassembled to replace that little piece of fabric.

    Thanks so much for the help!


    PriusVfilter1.jpg

    PriusVfilter2.jpg
     
  2. SoEfficient

    SoEfficient New Member

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    Update:

    Caught a mouse in a trap on the passenger front floor overnight.
    Saw 1 mouse dropping in the cabin air filter.

    -Could use steel wool to fill in that spot where the fabric membrane is torn above the air filter. Thoughts?
    I did this in the past in a house that had some space around pipes where they came thorough the wall. Plumber told me mice don't like to claw around with that stuff. Maybe tape of some sort if that's no good?

    -I had the "recirculate" button pressed in to block that opening from the outside, but the retracting/moving piece seems to more forward again after the car is shutoff.

    I have read about the screening in the engine compartment below the windshield. Could be what I'm looking at here. Will set traps out for a couple more nights and see what happens.
     
  3. burrito

    burrito Active Member

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    I believe the car (and maybe all cars) automatically switches to defrost mode when you turn it off, so you'll always at least be able to drive safely in case of a malfunction in the system.

    Look up Shawn Woods on YouTube for mousetrap ideas.
     
  4. SoEfficient

    SoEfficient New Member

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    I will look those up thanks.

    After catching the mouse on the first night, never saw sign of any more.
    I plan to put the screen over the fresh air intake in the future.

    I’d also like to repair the cloth membrane above the cabin air filter (shown in the photos above). If anybody has ideas on the best way to do that please let me know, I appreciate it!
     
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Haven’t seen any in the Prius v Five, but they made mincemeat of the throttle controller harness on my inverter generator, fixed with the ever-ready wire splicing tools.

    40B82631-2D2E-4082-8C83-04005D3816E1.jpeg
     
  6. SoEfficient

    SoEfficient New Member

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    Yikes! Glad you were able to fix that without a trip to the mechanic.
    Did you see any other sign of mice around?
     
  7. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Just two mice so far, in traps that I put out after seeing the Honda inverter generator throttle controller wiring harness damage. I wondered why the generator would not hold an increasing load or switch to economy throttle… well, that was why. I guess the generator was the sacrificial object that kept the mice away from the Prius. Better that way than the other.
     
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Put 1/4" rodent mesh over the cabin air intake. You'll very likely need to remove wipers, window trip and metal cowl for access. This video (reg 3rd gen Prius, but hopefully similar) may help, with the parts removal process:



    Also consider meshing the exhaust air flaps, under hatch floor in the two rear corners.

    FWIW, I've done the first egress, but not the second. Those rear flaps are more readily accessible, but so far I haven't figured out an easy way to install mesh there.
     
  9. SoEfficient

    SoEfficient New Member

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    Indeed. Glad the mouse traps are working.
    I had luck with the cheap Victor ones.
     
  10. SoEfficient

    SoEfficient New Member

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    Thanks for the response. I’ll use that video when I dig into the project.
     
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  11. Colorado Boo

    Colorado Boo Active Member

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    We've owned camper trailers for 15+ years and mice can be a problem. Keys to keeping them out is to have no food or anything in the camper that would attract them...they have great noses! Another tip we've done with great success is to cut up 3-4 bars of Irish Spring soap (the original) and place them all around the camper. I guess they hate that smell and repels them. We've only had mice in the camper once and I believe it was because I had used only two bars and they weren't new...won't make that same mistake!
     
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Write Irish Spring, they might want to do a customer testimonial? :D
     
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  13. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Excellent idea that would give the garage a nice fresh smell, too!
     
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  14. Colorado Boo

    Colorado Boo Active Member

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    I once cleaned out my wife's engine bay area with Simple Green she later commented she was loving the fresh pine smell...I'd never even thought of that bonus effect!!!
     
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  15. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Tastes differ... I like the smell of WD-40 water displacement spray baking off the sports car engine...
     
  16. SoEfficient

    SoEfficient New Member

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    I may try some sort of soap or scent, and keeping it very clean will help. Haven’t seen any sign of them since I caught the 1 on the first night.

    Anyone have thoughts on how to repair that spot where the fabric membrane was torn over the filter? Thanks!
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    glue on a piece of foam?
     
  18. Nim1991

    Nim1991 New Member

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    Any fixes for the ripped mesh? Trying to fix mine too
     
  19. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    I’d use white styrofoam. Cover it from this side for easy replacement if possible.