Airbox Critter Screen

[highsmith]

Question: Has anyone put a wire-covered K&N (or similar) CABIN filter in one of their vehicles? I stay away from those for my engine intake air filters and use OEM, but for a cabin filter it might be worth the money since they have wire mesh covering them. Harder for a mouse to chew through than just the paper/fiber in a $20 filter.

Here's my story:

I found a couple mice in the cabin a few weeks ago at the beach. Thought that maybe they got in while my doors/hatch was open. Removed them and thought that was that... Yesterday found another in there but he scurried off and hid before I could find him.

Eventually I figured out he was hiding in the air intake ducts under the driver's seat. Later I managed to ambush him and remove him.

Anyway, while I was waiting for him to show his face again, I pulled the cabin filter, of course there was a nest there- PLUS he/they had chewed through the cabin filter on one side so they could get down further into the dash. My guess it that's how they were getting into the cabin. Replaced it with a parts store filter and picked up some rodent repellent which I sprayed on both sides of the cowling.

Anyway, I was thinking about the wire mesh idea on the engine airbox (I'll do that in a week or two) and thought that a wire mesh on the cabin filter seems like a good idea too... So the K&N type stuff seems like it might be worth the extra $$ for this reason.

 

[Red67FB]

After I had my issue with their entrance into the air box, I did replace my cabin filter with a K&N (as well as the air filter) because of the wire screen. To my knowledge I haven't had any more breaches, but I do check frequently.

I'm sure they have occurred because I do have a "rodent odor" in the cabin. I can't locate the source, and it is faint but there. Ive tried air fresheners and I end up with a "pine tree and rodent smell" frequently. Not really pine tree but you guys get the idea!

If anyone has any sources for odor elimination, please pass them along! I wonder if there is something used in the manufacture of these vehicles that attract rodents more so than others? I have a '16 Explorer that sits right beside the Land Cruiser that I have never had an issue of this type.

I wish you good luck in ridding these, please keep us updated on your progress!!!

 

[EOD Guy]

After I had my issue with their entrance into the air box, I did replace my cabin filter with a K&N (as well as the air filter) because of the wire screen. To my knowledge I haven't had any more breaches, but I do check frequently.

I'm sure they have occurred because I do have a "rodent odor" in the cabin. I can't locate the source, and it is faint but there. Ive tried air fresheners and I end up with a "pine tree and rodent smell" frequently. Not really pine tree but you guys get the idea!

If anyone has any sources for odor elimination, please pass them along! I wonder if there is something used in the manufacture of these vehicles that attract rodents more so than others? I have a '16 Explorer that sits right beside the Land Cruiser that I have never had an issue of this type.

I wish you good luck in ridding these, please keep us updated on your progress!!!

An ozone generator from amazon will eliminate odor, not cover it up..... eliminates it.

 

[highsmith]

After I had my issue with their entrance into the air box, I did replace my cabin filter with a K&N (as well as the air filter) because of the wire screen. To my knowledge I haven't had any more breaches, but I do check frequently.

I'm sure they have occurred because I do have a "rodent odor" in the cabin. I can't locate the source, and it is faint but there. Ive tried air fresheners and I end up with a "pine tree and rodent smell" frequently. Not really pine tree but you guys get the idea!

If anyone has any sources for odor elimination, please pass them along! I wonder if there is something used in the manufacture of these vehicles that attract rodents more so than others? I have a '16 Explorer that sits right beside the Land Cruiser that I have never had an issue of this type.

I wish you good luck in ridding these, please keep us updated on your progress!!!

Thanks, same to you.

If you haven't seen VISIBLE signs of intrusion (mainly droppings, or fuzz/grass/moss etc. on a new filter) but still smell them, then you may have a dead one in there somewhere, unfortunately.

I used to have an Altima as a beater/daily ride, and I had an odor that would sometimes come and go. I would drive around with the windows down for 15 mins, and it would go away for awhile- but it always came back a day or two later.

Eventually I got worried one died in there and tore the damn car apart looking for it. Sure enough, a decomposing mouse was in the trunk, all the way down in the spare tire well underneath the donut. It must have climbed down in there and got stuck.

I never had problems with them inside the cabin of that car, only on the air filter etc. But one day I had a can of that cheap fruit-flavored carbonated soda bust in the trunk. I cleaned the trunk liner as best I could (with a pressure washer even) but they probably still smelled it and got back in there.

 

[Ed1]

For the cabin air filter, and as an easier alternative than removing the cowl area cover, would this work: placing a loose piece of 1/4” hardware cloth right on top of the paper cabin air filter before sliding the filter into its place?

 

[highsmith]

For the cabin air filter, and as an easier alternative than removing the cowl area cover, would this work: placing a loose piece of 1/4” hardware cloth right on top of the paper cabin air filter before sliding the filter into its place?

I was thinking about that too, since there is that white plastic frame that the cabin filter goes in... It's a bit flimsy but some hardware cloth taped to that somehow might work as well

 

[McCloud_Rainbow]

In addition to the air intake screen, I’m still all about trapping and killing them before they get to the car. It’s all about constant vigilance. Here in Northern California, I went about a month without trapping a rat. Now I’ve gotten two in the last week.

Mice are dumb and easily trapped. Rats are smart, but will get trapped if you always have traps set. Once rats get to your car and you put traps out, they won’t take the bait. Rats don’t like changes, so they only hit the trap when they are first exploring your car. Make sure traps are always there to snap them.

I set one trap in front of each front tire and two on the ground under the engine compartment. I do this every night for each car.

 

[ultane]

For the cabin air filter, and as an easier alternative than removing the cowl area cover, would this work: placing a loose piece of 1/4” hardware cloth right on top of the paper cabin air filter before sliding the filter into its place?

I was just thinking the exact same thing!

 

[GR8Santini]

Just saying… Spray the area of concerns w/ peppermint oil or cinnamon oil mixed w/ vinegar & water. Best deterrent out there.

Post in thread 'Airbox Critter Screen'
Airbox Critter Screen

 

[Ed1]

Just saying… Spray the area of concerns w/ peppermint oil or cinnamon oil mixed w/ vinegar & water. Best deterrent out there.

Post in thread 'Airbox Critter Screen'
Airbox Critter Screen

But, at least for the cabin air filter area of concern, wouldn't that mean that we would be constantly breathing in those pungent scents while driving?

 

[EOD Guy]

My thoughts.......... While a screen covered cabin filter would keep a critter from chewing through etc....... it would not prevent a critter from building a nest and depositing critter things on top of the filter. IMO, unless you eliminate the cavity where they are nesting, you are only preventing them from chewing through the filter it's self.

On my "to do list" is the removal of the cowl and making a screen that prevents any access and/or nesting area, leading to the cabin filter.

 

[Ed1]

I'm sure you're correct, @EOD Guy . Was just hoping to find a way to avoid removing the cowl cover, which (after watching the YouTube video) seems like an involved project for a novice like me.

 

[Slippers]

I would say the screen on top of the cabin air filter would at least prevent ingress all the way into the hvac system, where mice could pee, poop, and potentially die. The trick would be removing the filter with mice on top of it, and preventing anything from dropping down into the blower, but that still seems like less hassle than mice running freely through your hvac and the rest of the vehicle.

EOD Guy's suggestion to screen off the opening under the cowl sounds like the ultimate solution. It really does seem like a huge hassle to do this, though, especially with how fragile some of the clips are on various trim pieces.

 

[EOD Guy]

I'm sure you're correct, @EOD Guy . Was just hoping to find a way to avoid removing the cowl cover, which (after watching the YouTube video) seems like an involved project for a novice like me.

My advice is the same.......... don't be afraid to try, but be smart enough to stop. Use your phone to take pictures at each and every step....... point at a fastener with your finger, take a picture, then remove the fastener. Simply look at the pictures in reverse order for the reassembly.

 

[Mopper]

I'm not looking for much- fast, easy, cheap, and perfectly effective.

 

[ultane]

I'm sure you're correct, @EOD Guy . Was just hoping to find a way to avoid removing the cowl cover, which (after watching the YouTube video) seems like an involved project for a novice like me.

Watch the video again and again. You can do it!

 

[MSINAL]

Im getting paranoid reading about all these rodent invasions. Going to have to buy some chicken wire asap.

 

[GR8Santini]

But, at least for the cabin air filter area of concern, wouldn't that mean that we would be constantly breathing in those pungent scents while driving?

Smells like either peppermint or cinnamon. I use it for spider control @ boat house & apply maybe 3-4x year. Mix a little & try it.

 

[Bluey]

Well I guess I got the invite to join the club. I had my air filter changed at the dealer. Then I was reading the work order that said “rodent damage” to the air filter. I thought that can’t be, so i just went outside and popped off the filter box lid and looked under the new filter. Wow, my little air sound dampener is completely gone and bite marks everywhere on the lower housing. Came here and found this thread. Not only that but pieces of broken plastic still sitting in the lower housing. Looked up i to the new filter and found a piece of plastic in there. Just ordered a new lower housing. I will install a critter guard once it arrives. I hate rats!

I’ll post pics of the critter guard install in the new box and pics of the box replacement once it arrives. In case anyone is wondering, you can order just the lower housing of the box for about $140 from Toyotapartsnow.com.

 

[EOD Guy]

Well I guess I got the invite to join the club. I had my air filter changed at the dealer. Then I was reading the work order that said “rodent damage” to the air filter. I thought that can’t be, so i just went outside and popped off the filter box lid and looked under the new filter. Wow, my little air sound dampener is completely gone and bite marks everywhere on the lower housing. Came here and found this thread. Not only that but pieces of broken plastic still sitting in the lower housing. Looked up i to the new filter and found a piece of plastic in there. Just ordered a new lower housing. I will install a critter guard once it arrives. I hate rats!

I’ll post pics of the critter guard install in the new box and pics of the box replacement once it arrives. In case anyone is wondering, you can order just the lower housing of the box for about $140 from Toyotapartsnow.com.


View attachment 73321

That blows...... Wish someone would invent a bug zapper for mice.......LOL