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

MouseProofing the Prius

Discussion in 'Knowledge Base Articles Discussion' started by ebsmythe, Jul 16, 2008.

  1. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    994
    755
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Thanks -- the cowl looks pretty straightforward.

    But your earlier post was saying that the wiper MOTORS had to come out. Welchdog was suggesting just the cowl. I was wondering your thought on that (whether there sufficient access from just the cowl and not the motors)? I think I could handle the cowl removal but motors seem to make the job exponentially harder so that is my primary question.

    Also, how difficult did you find the engine air intake snorkel removal? The Nutz and Boltz video is pretty long (and dark). How would you rate the difficulty of that job?
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Pretty sure the wipers, linkage and motor has to come out to get to the cowl. The @NutzAboutBolts video for spark plug change (linked in same location) explains it very well.

    Very easy. In aforementioned EGR pipe cleaning video, you're only dealing with the plastic bits removal, about 5~10 minutes. This is what needs meshing:

    upload_2023-3-25_9-27-46.jpeg
     
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,842
    3,099
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Here's a picture of our Prius hatchback cabin intake filter area screened off. Used self tapping screws.

    Hint, I used a drop of gear oil on the tip of the screws and went at it with lower speed. Helps to use a screw bit that holds the screw onto the bit with a sleeve over the head of the screw as well as being magnetic. Also, it'll help to use a nail set punch to make an indentation where you want to start drilling, because the screw will slip and wander over the otherwise smooth surface. You'll be drilling at awkward angles, in tight spaces too. Oh, the whole windshield cowling has to come off, the motor too, because you have to take the windshield wiper motor off to remove the cowling. 20210828_155207.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    994
    755
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I thought I'd post my data point for people in the future who have this issue and stumble on this thread. My cabin air filter looked even worse than those in this thread. Mr. Mouse was probably just a couple munches away from falling through and getting impaled on the fan. Got this just in time.

    I thought these instructions were pretty good on removing the top cowl cover:

    The opening is just below the passenger's side windshield. You'll have to bend down to see it.

    I really didn't want to remove the wiper motor like many posts indicate. Seems like that would be an extra layer of complexity that I wanted to avoid. I was able to complete this without removing the windshield motors, only the top cowl cover.

    Fitting the screen to the opening was easy. The problem comes with attaching the screen to the opening as there is very little room to work. Perhaps there is more if you remove the wiper motor and other wall, but I wanted to avoid that.

    There's really not enough room to use a power drill and the self-tapping screws. Solution: use a small drill, like a Dremel. Drill pilot holes, then hand screw in the self-tapping screws. The top row absolutely requires this; you might be able use your regular drill on the lower row, depending on the size of your drill.

    Three hands help, as you'll want the area lit with a flashlight (one hand), hold the drill (second hand) and inserting the screw (third hand).

    Total time about 60-90 minutes.
     
    xliderider and Mendel Leisk like this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Good idea using a dremel. Believe the std shank size is 1/8”, which is about right for #8 screw into sheet metal.
     
    xliderider likes this.
  6. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    994
    755
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    The engine air filter looked pristine, but now that I have evicted Mr. Mouse and blocked him from the cabin filter area, I should block that area next.

    So exactly what am I looking at here? Obviously, engine air snorkel, but whereabouts on the schematic of the entire assembly?

    Wire twists were used instead of screws, why?



    [​IMG]

    schematic
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I’m not sure follow. Are you asking where the engine air inlet is? If so:

    0F936819-F21D-46C3-9106-B36717BD77C1.jpeg
     
  8. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    994
    755
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Yep, thanks ML. I wasn't sure which end of the hose the screen went on.

    Two questions, since you are the expert Mouse Man

    1. I see that you used wire to attach, rather than screws -- any particular reason?

    2. You also went on the interior of the hose, rather than wrapping over the top, like a lid. Is there an advantage to that?

    I appreciate learning for your experience.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Not really. With plastic I don't think screws would hold that good. Bare copper wire "twist ties" are secure.

    Less likely to snag on anything?
     
    acceleraptor and Johnny Cakes like this.
  10. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    994
    755
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I went with the Mendel Leisk method. Couple of notes for those doing this in the future.

    My snorkel was slightly different than ML's but basically the same. I seem to have a fabric area, where his is all plastic. To attach the screen, its easiest to take the snorkel off the car. There are two obvious bolts (highly torqued) on top. You also have to release where the hose attaches.

    To do that, open the air box (two clips on the side), remove the air filter. Then reach in with the top of a flat-head screwdriver and pry on the single tab, while pulling on the snorkel from the outside. This is another situation where three hands helps.

    I didn't have any copper or other wire, so I used zip ties. Probably good enough.

    upload_2023-3-31_1-9-32.jpeg

    Thanks again, ML for all the help.
     
    #190 Johnny Cakes, Mar 31, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2023
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,842
    3,099
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    If that is 1/2 inch mesh, it might not be small enough to keep mice out.

    I used 1/2 inch mesh, because that's what I had on hand, but I layered the mesh by folding it slightly offset so the holes were much smaller.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    994
    755
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I agree that 1/2-in would not be good. It's 1/4-in x 1/4-in.

    Now we all wait for Mendel Leisk to do the openings in the rear so that we can follow his lead. :)
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah I should look at those; it looks awkward to do. Too, think cabin air intake is first priority.
     
    acceleraptor likes this.
  14. priusrust

    priusrust Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2018
    171
    63
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    This is great! does anyone do this commercially?
    I'm personally unable
    thanks!
     
  15. Wolverine88

    Wolverine88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    8
    8
    0
    Location:
    Canmore, AB
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Base
    Now I have major motivation to mouseproof my Prius v. We knew a few had got in and out, leaving droppings or chewing on kleenex. We tried to stay on top of the food crumbs, and not leaving the kleenex in the car. Recently though we had an awful smell, and eventually isolated it to behind the steering wheel. Here is a photo of the mouse's handiwork:
    IMG_9713.JPEG

    Can anyone suggest what I can replace the "dampening fabric" under the dashboard? Should it be heat resistant?
     
  16. acceleraptor

    acceleraptor Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2014
    228
    75
    0
    Location:
    Milpitas, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    1. What did you do to ur Gen III Prius today???? | Page 205 | PriusChat

      Yikes. That was 9 years ago now. (But had the peace o' mind of having those screened off all these years..) I only finally got around to screening the main engine bay air intake around last year or so during some pandemic downtime and while finally doing the general air intake maintenance routine (PCV valve replacement, throttle body/air intake manifold cleaning, replacing those gaskets, EGR), but forgot to take pictures of it post screening which probably didn't matter since there're so many others here and mine looks the same. Although I don't remember if I screened two openings or just one.
    2. Yes, that *is* some other air inlet/outlet under the front rh wheel well somewhere that also connects to the cabin air. When I get another chunk of time, I'm gonna try snaking my boroscope up there to get a better grasp on how vulnerable it is.
    3. The firewall does have 6-7 openings but almost all of them are penetrations and filled with various system lines, like plumbing for coolant for hvac or the pedals, and not particularly vulnerable. The main entries to the cabin are just that air intake and whatever's going on in/behind the passenger wheel well from the bottom.
    4. Engine air intake doesn't lead to the cabin (obviously, or should be). Screening it is to prevent rodents from getting to the engine air filter or nesting/clogging the resonator box, or whatever else. Not sure if they can reach/fit the mass airflow sensor, but not interested in finding out.
     
    Wolverine88 likes this.
  17. Wolverine88

    Wolverine88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    8
    8
    0
    Location:
    Canmore, AB
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Base
    Over the weekend, I made good progress on the mouse proofing. I used 1/4" 23-gauge galvanized hardware cloth, attached with #8 1/2" self-tapping hex head screws. For most of the screws, I used the cordless driver, starting at low speed until a small divot was established, followed by high revs and more pressure behind the driver. For the back rh vent, I ended up pre-drilling holes with 1/8" cobalt bit, when I couldn't get the screws started on their own. I couldn't see any access holes through the firewall, since they all had some hoses or lines going through. I still need to look into the access from the passenger wheel well, perhaps when I do the seasonal tire switch.
     
    Solman636 likes this.
  18. Wolverine88

    Wolverine88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    8
    8
    0
    Location:
    Canmore, AB
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Base
    Image upload is working again. I screened the rear vents from the inside, by bending the hardware cloth around the black part of the vent flaps. The battery had to come out to get the right side screwed down.
    IMG_0351.JPEG
    IMG_0353.JPEG
    IMG_0357.JPEG
     
    xliderider and Solman636 like this.
  19. Solman636

    Solman636 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2014
    91
    31
    1
    Location:
    Florida Panhandle
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Egad! What a discovery! I feel for you. I quit worrying about noise. I removed that insulated shield under hood in my gen 2 to keep it more open and unattractive to the mice and never noticed the difference. Mouse had chewed a washer line and another mouse project was initiated. Hood hasn't melted yet either..haha.
     
    Wolverine88 likes this.