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Dead mouse smell, where to look?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Sporin, Apr 25, 2017.

  1. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Pretty sure I've got a dead mouse somewhere in my car, probably in a duct somewhere.

    We've already searched the interior top to bottom.

    I've already pulled the cabin air filter, checked in the fan there, and looked around behind the glove box.

    The smell is terrible, anyone have an idea where to look next? I don't have any clue how to get more access to the HVAC ducts.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 Sporin, Apr 25, 2017
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    air filter housing and etc.? did you check the spare tire and 12v areas?
     
    #2 bisco, Apr 25, 2017
  3. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    Put your cat in the car and hopefully she'll help you locate the source of the smell.
     
    #3 DonDNH, Apr 25, 2017
  4. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    Do you have a dog? If so, let him/she sniff around the interior. The dog might give you some clue to aid in the location. Just another stupid idea.
     
    #4 BZzap!, Apr 25, 2017
  5. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    cabin air filter. open glovebox. remove cabin air filter. look for rat poop
     
    #5 rigormortis, Apr 25, 2017
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good call, why didn't i think of that?:mad:
     
    #6 bisco, Apr 25, 2017
  7. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    What a befitting member name for this thread.
     
    #7 BZzap!, Apr 25, 2017
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  8. Tande

    Tande Active Member

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    I HATE to be the bearer of bad news, but it is what it is......is this a Gen.3??......if yes, then I can tell you where I found one after almost giving/up......yep!, inside a structural "C" channel, under the passenger/side floor carpet......had to pull both front seats & the entire center section to remove the carpet.....
     
    #8 Tande, Apr 25, 2017
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  9. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Because the OP said he already looked there? ;)
     
    #9 David Beale, Apr 26, 2017
  10. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Yup, already looked there.

    Oh man, :( going to be doing a full interior tear down this weekend I suspect.
     
    #10 Sporin, Apr 26, 2017
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    put a air tree freshener in there, it doesn't take long for dead mouse smell to dissipate.
     
    #11 bisco, Apr 26, 2017
  12. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Dug into the Prius tonight looking for the dead mouse. No luck anywhere. Next up is getting a shop vac down into the vents.

    Smell seems way less now. My wife disagrees. ☠️
     
    #12 Sporin, Apr 27, 2017
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    women have far more acute olfactory glands.
     
    #13 bisco, Apr 27, 2017
  14. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Put in a fresh cabin air filter, nothing there or in the fan underneath.

    Pulled apart the entire cargo area, nothing there.

    Looked all throughout the engine bay.

    Poked around the whole headliner and didn't feel or see anything amiss. My buddy is a Toyota Tech and he said they've found a bunch of them in headliners but I'd really like to avoid the work of pulling that down, plus the potential to damage it.

    Going just by smell, it's at the front of the car, maybe even right over the driver's head because that's where the smell is the strongest.

    Wife took my 4runner to work today so I have the Prius sitting out in the sun, all 4 windows down. I'm content to let it pass but I don't drive it so...
     
    #14 Sporin, Apr 28, 2017
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  15. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    The smell has all but disappeared now, thankfully.
     
    #15 Sporin, May 2, 2017
  16. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    The smell is all but gone......good news.

    Yet will you continue your hunt and trophy?

    Sure would like to know where the carcass was hiding in your car.

    Maybe the carcass was road kill on the under carriage, yet maybe the carcass does rot away and the smell disappears over time...I don't know.

    Yes, good hunting!
     
    #16 Kenny94945, May 2, 2017
  17. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Did you check the engine air filter?
     
    #17 RRxing, May 2, 2017
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    One week? Sounds about right for your average field mouse.:cool:
     
    #18 bisco, May 2, 2017
  19. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Nope. :)

    I did, not there.

    I still suspect it's up in the headliner near the driver's area, but I'm happy to not have to mess with that.
     
    #19 Sporin, May 3, 2017
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