Dead mouse in AC - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

nashvillebill · 05-09-2011, 10:57 AM

2010 Camry SE...developed a horrible smell. I pulled out the AC air filter behind the glovebox and there was a mouse nest in there.

I suspect the dead rodent is somewhere either in the floor heater vent or in the dashboard vents...

I've stuck a shop vac in there and vacuumed out all the nest, and will replace the air filter, but I may have to break down and disassemble the heating/AC ductwork--or else tolerate the smell for a month until the critter's remains mumify completely.

Anybody taken the ductwork apart? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

workerant · 05-09-2011, 11:42 AM

I've never heard any1 try to do that.... yet. U'll be the first if u want to do it, or dealer.

I'm curious to see if U don't mine taking pics.

I mean take pic while taking it apart, also guide for others.

gs_aristo · 05-09-2011, 11:47 AM

eww thats awful! Post some pics! lol

profuse007 · 05-09-2011, 12:31 PM

Never had to take apart air ducts but for now, spray down the air filter area and air blower area with 50%/50% of water/bleach. Let it dry b4 turning on the air.

other chemical might be able to fight the odor but generally I know ppl use bleach or commercial grade bleach to fight organic odors.

aznlunatic206 · 05-09-2011, 12:35 PM

I didnt know the piping or opening was big enough for a rodent to enter.

***arabianobsession*** · 05-09-2011, 01:07 PM

You'd be surprised how many Camrys/Priuses have rodent problems. Probably 1 out of ever 5 cars that come to the dealership have mice nests either in the engine compartment or where the cabin air filter is housed.

workerant · 05-09-2011, 01:21 PM

^ must be cause it's good for the environment. LOL Dieing for it. LOL

nashvillebill · 05-09-2011, 01:42 PM

Tonight I'll try to pull the blower motor, maybe it acted as a rodent blender...It slices! It dices! It's mouse-o-matic!!

***arabianobsession*** · 05-09-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashvillebill

Tonight I'll try to pull the blower motor, maybe it acted as a rodent blender...It slices! It dices! It's mouse-o-matic!!

Maybe there's a marketing possibility there

workerant · 05-09-2011, 02:54 PM

how and where do they get in anyway? maybe put something over it will help prevent them going in. I know the engine is warm so they love it in winter.

nashvillebill · 05-09-2011, 03:02 PM

Prius site talks about them getting in to through openings in fresh air intake, on passenger side firewall cowling. I'll take a look tonight to see if there's obvious openings there.

nashvillebill · 05-09-2011, 08:15 PM

Okay, here's the follow-up for anybody in the future that discovers this thread.

Removing the blower motor was somewhat of a PITA but I found three dead mice on the intake side of the squirrel cage fan, all in various stages of decay. I hope they did not make it past the vanes of the fan...further disassembly of the AC ducting according to the service manual requires disassembly of the entire dashboard (and it does look like this is the case, I did not see any further shortcuts). To remove the blower motor: remove the glove box, remove the bottom kick plate (the "instrument panel #2 undercover subassembly") under the glove box, then remove the "lower instrument panel subassembly" --the piece around the glove box, 4 Phillips head screws and a hex head bolt (10 mm socket) which is hidden behind the passenger "cowl side trim subassembly". Then 3 screws (8mm socket) hold the blower in.

Now for the real solution: Toyota did not install a screen over the fresh air intake. I can see how vermin can get under the cowling, or maybe even up through the fender into the cowling since there's a very large opening there for water to drain out. To remove the cowling: remove the wipers (hex hd acorn nut) and remove the two trim clips on the cowling, one on each side--these look like Philips head screws. Remove the cowling, notice the two rubber pieces at the rear which just push into the cowling--gently pull them off.

You can now see the opening, maybe 3x9 inches, where fresh air goes into the AC. Again, there is no screen. I found some wire mesh screen, 4 openings to the inch. Cut it to approximately 4 inches by 11 inches. Pop rivet the screen wire mesh in place over the fresh air opening with 1/8 inch pop rivets and washers. Reinstall the cowling... hopefully no more vermin.

workerant · 05-09-2011, 08:27 PM

^ easy to screw some kind of grid mesh over the opening to prevent anything bigger than 1/16 in (about 2mm) from getting in?

robtpren · 05-09-2011, 08:27 PM

You might also want to try shooting some Febreeze into the duct. I know it works well on all sorts of unpleasant smells.

I did find a squisshed mouse on top of my battery in my old Dodge Caravan. I was able to pick it up by its tail and pull off the top of the battery in one piece.

I have seen and heard that in some areas of the country it is necessary
to leave the hood up on the car at night so the rodents won't climb in looking for a warm spot.