Hello! I hope everyone is doing well. I searched and was having trouble finding what I was looking for, so forgive me if this has been previously addressed. Sometime earlier this Spring, a rodent (this is a guess) has been setting up a nest in the cabin air filter. I initially cleaned it out, replaced the air filter, removed the blower motor to clean it, then drove her around a few times and parked it in a different spot. When the replacement cabin air filter tray arrived, I noticed there was a next in there again. I since have clean that out and sprayed the air filter with peppermint oil and the area around the air intake in the engine bay. Any way I can prevent this? I've been trying to find on YouTube any videos showing how to access it, but nothing that's been clear cut. Even advice on how to get to the air intake for the cabin would be appreciated. Right now my plan is to spray daily until I've seen nothing for a week, then replace the air filter. But I'd like something more long term than spray and pray. Thanks so much! Kaiju SideQuest 2019 Prius Limited
Screening the cabin air filter intake works. You’ll need to remove wipers, their linkage and motor, and the underlying metal cowl. Use 1/4” spacing, steel mesh (common hardware store item, sometimes referred to as anti-rodent mesh or similar), secured with sheet metal screws (drill pilot holes).
Wow! I didn't think it was that involved to get to the cabin air intake. Oh well. Time to brush up on vehicle disassembly. Kaiju SideQuest 2019 Prius Limited
You can also screen the cabin air exits, at the rear corners of hatch. Verify location from inside, likely just below hatch floor. I removed rear bumper and added wire mesh “boxes” on the outside for this. On my third gen, but I believe similar: Mice issues in Gen 5? | PriusChat
