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  1. Daniel Richard

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    Has anyone mouse proofed a gen 3? I found a write up on here about mouse proofing a gen 2.

    Is it the same procedure or are the openings different between gen 2 and gen 3?
     
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  2. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    ebsmythe's mod is the easiest fix. Fabricate and install 1/4 inch galvanized screen (rodent guards) covering the AC air intakes and rear vents to block rodent entry paths into the cabin. I installed a similar version of this mod that blocks only the rear vents in the cargo walls and does not require drilling mounting holes (see attached photos). This provides some protection if you keep the AC in re-circulate mode. However, rodents can still get into the AC system via the AC intakes and then into the cabin by chewing through the membrane barrier above the cabin air filter (or by chewing through the cabin air filter itself). Eventually I plan to upgrade my installation to include rodent guards to cover the AC intakes, as ebsmithe has done.

    Another temporary remedy is to spray the intake and vent areas with peppermint water. This can also be used to keep rodents out of the engine compartment. Recipe for peppermint rodent repellent is provided near the end of the video (@3:50) cited below. You can get peppermint oil (peppermint extract) at any grocery store. I use 40 drops of peppermint extract in a pint (16 oz) spray bottle of water.

     

    Attached Files:

    #2 ice9, Dec 15, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2019
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I haven't done those rear vents, should though.

    I have done the cabin air intake; it requires removal of the wipers and cowl, as you would do for a spark plug change. See @NutzAboutBolts video on spark plug change, pinned in 3rd Gen maintenance forum.

    I also put mesh on the engine air intake, the snorkel leading to the filter box: I think they like to take up residence in there.
     
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  4. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    If you cover the rear vents without mounting hardware, you need to be careful not to break the plastic mounting tabs on the vents themselves. They are not especially fragile, but repeated attempts at getting the screen wire underneath the tabs eventually will break them. I damaged one during installation. However, if it does not break off completely, you can repair it in place with some epoxy.

    I plan to recess the AC intake guards, so they protrude into the intake holes under the wiper & cowl. That way I can secure them with clips instead of sheet metal hardware.
     
  5. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    I missed your second question.

    Yes, the vent openings are basically the same. If there are any differences they are minor. In any case, the basic procedure for fabricating mouse guards is to cut to fit. A little trial and error may be required, but 1/4 galvanized screen is cheep. It took me two tries to get the dimensions right on my installation.
     
  6. Blue Prius2015

    Blue Prius2015 Junior Member

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    Are there photos of where the vents are located? No clue on any of them here....
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It's real easy to access the rear exhaust vents: just take out the hatch floor pieces and underfloor trays and you'll see them, in the two corners. You'll likely need to remove the 12 volt battery for decent access to the right side?

    For the cabin air intake, take clues from post #3.
     
  8. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Yes. Click on the PC link in my first comment (or here: ebsmithe's) and it will take you to ebsmithe's post on the subject. He provides documenting photos throughout his post. Also, I attached photos of the vents in the cargo area at the bottom of my first comment here. There is a vent at both the left and right rear quarter-panel behind the cargo trim panels (left and right respectively). The AC intakes are in the engine compartment behind the windshield wiper cowl (ebsmithe also provides photos of these). The only location I don't have a link for is the engine air intake location that Mendel Liesk refers to above.
     
    #8 ice9, Dec 16, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2019
  9. kevifsu92

    kevifsu92 Junior Member

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    Is there such a post/guide for the Gen 3 Prius openings? I haven't seen any

    moto g(7) ?
     
  10. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Nothing formal, other than the OEM instructions (see last four paragraph below). I had to collect youtube videos and PC posts and then access OEM instructions before settling on ebsmithe's method. I have been told that gaining access to the AC intakes is fairly straight forward, but I cannot attest to this, since I have yet to do it myself. In any case, your biggest problem/risk (other than personal safety) will be removal of the left and right cargo trim panels (without damaging them) to gain access to the rear vents. The method varies from one model to the next, and videos for removing the two panels are hard to find.

    I found one in this gen 3 prius battery replacement video (trim panel removal starts at 5 minutes into the video). Even then, I had to purchase a two day subscription on TIS to get safety instructions and the removal instructions for the gen 4 panels - the gen 4 has an additional fastener behind the cargo net pop-out hooks at the top center of each panel that requires you to insert a number 2 flat blade screwdriver to release. You shouldn't have to worry about this since you have a gen 3, but you still need to access TIS for safety instructions.

    If you are not familiar with the job, you should probably disconnect the 12v battery to avoid accidentally activating any SRS air bags, and remove the High Voltage interlock for the traction battery to avoid electrocution (via dropped tools/fasteners or spills). Although steps are described in the video for this, you still need to become familiar with the TIS safety instructions.

    One final note on safety: DO NOT do what the narrator does in the video - specifically, do not leave loose hardware sitting in the vehicle. A bolt or screw waiting fall into the battery compartment is an accident waiting to happen. Keep all your loose hardware in a separate container, preferably outside the vehicle. Also, DO NOT use a power drill, esp when re-installing screws. If you do, you risk over-torquing and stripping out the plastic. If you are ham-fisted, disorganized or easily frustrated, you shouldn't even attempt doing this type of work. You need to be organized, meticulous and patient with yourself. Take your time doing it and take breaks whenever you get frustrated, or when you don't understand something.

    For the TIS instructions, you first need to have a toyota.com account. Have your VIN handy when you join (if you haven't already). Getting an account is free, but getting a subscription to access TIS is not. Once you have an account you can then loggin to TIS and purchase a subscription. The TIS gui is NOT intuitive, so you should plan to spend a few hours becoming familiar with how to locate instructions and drawings. I took out a 2 day subscription and then binge-surfed the website to locate and download the applicable instructions (printscreen and paste to jpg, or print to pdf as you surf).
     
    #10 ice9, Dec 18, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2019
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think too, instead of searching for YouTube videos and how-to's, just shift gears, see for yourself. It is not that hard to access the egress points.

    Here's what I put on the engine air intake:

    IMG_1646.JPG
     
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  12. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Also, there are no written procedures for fabricating the rodent guards. As I stated earlier, it involves some trial and error. Take rough dimensions of the vent or intake, and then swag it (scientific wild-a$$ guess). Try it out to fit and then modify or fabricate a new one accordingly. 1/4 inch galvanized screen is inexpensive.
     
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  13. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    deleted
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For the cabin air intake, watch @NutzAboutBolts spark plug change video, pinned in 3rd gen maintenance section: it shows all the parts removal. I put 1/4" mesh in there too, secured with a few sheet metal screws. Have some pics but nothing much really, and I can't seem to find them, too many iPhone snaps.
     
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  15. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    I plan to do the same, eventually. However, my idea is to recess it into the intake hole (similar to how you do the engine intake). Then I can secure it with clips instead of using sheet metal screws.
     
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  16. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Correction to my earlier comment regarding TIS. I had forgotten that your TIS account has it's own username and password, separate from your Toyota.com account. You probably don't even need the later, tho it can't hurt to have both.
     
  17. kevifsu92

    kevifsu92 Junior Member

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    Okay so just to get this straight in terms of the locations that need to be covered up.

    We should ideally be covering the two rear ac vents, the front ac intake vent under the engine bay cowl, and the air intake in the engine bay?

    What about underneath by the wheels? Any possibility of them going into the cabin through there?

    moto g(7) ?
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Finally found some pics, always a trip down memory lane, looking through the pics:

    upload_2019-12-18_18-58-45.png
    See it wasn't necessary to take the cowl off, just a partial disassemble:
    upload_2019-12-18_18-59-59.png
    Screen in:
    upload_2019-12-18_19-0-45.png
    It's a little tricky drilling pilot holes, some locations more so. I think that's why the left side screws are where they are: it was hard to position electric drill any further to the left. It's plenty stiff as-is, especially with the bends. Do centre punch the hole locations first, makes it easier.
     
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  19. Blue Prius2015

    Blue Prius2015 Junior Member

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    Thanks for photo, Mendel. So there's that rather large Mouse Access that can be found when the windshield wipers are removed, and then there are 1,2,? Mouse Access holes in trunk area (any photos of these?). Is that it?

    In this season, the removal of the wipers and more isn't likely...move of a spring time or summer task. The Prius is coming up on 60k and I doubt if 100k will be until the spring of 2021. Seems like the whole rigamarole of getting to the spark plugs / Mouse Access might be moved up to the 2020 spring time. An early spark plug removal/new ones in is okay?

    The score so far: 2 mice--a regular old mouse trap (with peanut butter) on floor mat at passenger side--over the night. I have had for at least a year one of those electronic ultra-noise jobbies on the barn floor by the Prius. Clearly that isn't working. Also,under the seats some d-con pellets. By glove box/cabin air filter, some cotton pieces with peppermint oil (just bedding for mice?). At rear, a few more d-con pellets here and there...but I failed to notice Mouse Access holes there. There's a fox about and that might help.

    So, any photos of other Mouse Access holes and where they are will by most appreciated.
     
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  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Post #2 has close-ups. Just pull off your hatch floor pieces, lift out the underfloor trays, and there they are. You'll have to remove the 12 volt for access on the right side, pretty sure.
     
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