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Old 09-14-2016, 06:28 PM #1
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Possible entry points for rodents getting into 4th gen passenger compartment?

I recently had the experience of opening my 4Runner after it sat in my driveway for only 4 days and found rodent poo pellets (most likely mice) in various places in my interior and it or they pissed on my center console and chewed up about a 3rd of my cabin air filter which also had poo pellets in what was left of it. They were also in my engine compartment and I found several places in the engine compartment where they were stashing bits of leaves and berries and more of those damn pellets. Fortunately they have not chewed up any wiring or done any permanent damage at this point. I put snap traps in the engine compartment and they both triggered (bait gone) but I didn't actually catch them. That's ok because the peanut butter bait I used also contained poison I mixed in.
Having read through the other forum posts on this topic, I realize that beneath the cowl vents is a large opening above the cabin air filter and that they most likely gained entry into the passenger compartment when they chewed through the filter. I also realize that we can utilize some 1/4" wire mesh to cover the opening.
Question 1) How do you think they are gaining access to this opening above the cabin air filter? Are they squeezing through the cowl vent openings at the base of the windshield or is there more than one way in there?
Question 2) Does anyone know of all the possible places on the vehicle where mice might gain access to the passenger compartment? My cabin air filter is new and clean still, but the other day I found a couple more pellets in the interior. It is possible that I missed them when I cleaned it out but I don't think so. If anyone has any ideas both for possible entry points and also how to seal them up I would appreciate it! Thanks...
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Old 09-14-2016, 06:46 PM #2
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The only place I know of that rodents can really get in is through the cabin filter opening. Maybe it's possible you missed an actual mouse while cleaning the interior. I would get that mesh cover on ASAP then see what happens. Also, put some traps inside.
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Old 09-14-2016, 07:17 PM #3
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These threads might give you some tips ...

animal in my air filter

Checked my cabin air filter.....u gotta be kidding me!

I had an issue with some sort of small creature making their home in this cabin air filter area. Went to change the cabin air filter, and there was all sorts of nesting material in there.

The advice that I got from my Toyota mechanic to help prevent this is when you are parked and about to turn off the engine, be sure to have your "recirculate air" button engaged (instead of "fresh air" coming in from the outside). This will close off an entry point for your mouse or other critters from climbing in.
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Old 09-14-2016, 10:21 PM #4
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I've become somewhat of an "expert" since I moved up to Bend, Oregon in regards to rodent intrusion. I'm doing about 1~2 "Rodent Cars" a month lately.

The main way they are getting in is from the fresh air vent to the HVAC system (located above the CAF). They get in there by squeezing under the cowl or crawling through openings in the body sheet metal. Some openings are accessible from the fenders (they can easily crawl their way on top of the fender liners and access these gaps and then get to the fresh air opening.

@Bossman mentioned use recirculate as often as possible as they'd have to chew through that thick plastic door first before they could get into the cabin.

So here's to give you an idea how I approach rodent vehicles at work (as they often end up being turned over to insurance to deal with).

Vehicle comes in with Owner concerned of foul smell/possible rodent issue:
  • Pull Cabin Air Filter and Inspect
  • Found Rodent Nest/Evidence of Droppings but CAF has not been eaten through
  1. Recommend Install Rodent Screen, Clean Debris, Install New CAF
  • Found Rodent Nest/Evidence of Droppings, CAF Eaten Through, Possibly Deceased Rodent in CAF or Blower Motor
  1. Move to Further Inspection
  • Pull Blower Motor & Document All Findings (i.e. Photographs, ect)
  • Find Evidence of Nesting Material, Rodent Droppings, Deceased Rodent
  1. Inspect Evaporator Core With Mirror or Bore Scope
  1. Found Evidence of Nesting, Rodent Droppings/Staining, Deceased Rodent in Evaporator Core
  1. Recommend Removal of HVAC Assembly For Inspection (Or if initial findings are severe enough, recommend HVAC Assembly and Blower Motor Housing outright)
  1. Replace HVAC Housing Assembly, wipe down any transferred parts with bleach, install rodent screen, install charcoal cabin air filter, use product like FrigiFresh to eliminate residual smell
Post Note-

It's not working the way I'd like it to... But that's basically the idea. Honestly I'd take as many pictures of the CAF and blower motor (I do recommend you drop it) and use a mirror or borescope to inspect the evaporator core and take pictures. You may find that you have more damage in the HVAC system, it's like about $4~6k to replace the HVAC Assembly & Blower Motor Housing (that's basically everything right there) plus anywhere from 8~12hrs of labor to remove and replace that assembly.

You can try and clean the HVAC assembly, but from experience it doesn't work well; the nooks and crannies and the fact the plastic seems to "absorb" the smell just will never get it "clean again" or worse the bleach impregnates the plastic and makes it worse.

Last edited by BlackWorksInc; 09-14-2016 at 10:32 PM.
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Old 09-15-2016, 08:52 AM #5
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Possible entry points for rodents getting into 4th gen passenger compartment?

You really don't want to use poison for them. If they ingest that and die behind the dash, you have going to have a stinky ride for 2weeks.
Use an snap trap to kill them instantly. Instead of using peanut butter or cheese, use bacon. Cook it in the microwave until it is almost done, but not crispy. Use some light weight sewing thread or fishing line to tie it to the trap so they cant pull it off.
Probably will catch one the first night. Then all you have to do is throw it away. No mess and no stinky to deal with.

good luck
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Old 09-15-2016, 12:58 PM #6
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Thanks to everyone for your replies/suggestions.
@BlackWorksInc you mentioned that the rodents can also fit between gaps in the body panels. Did you mean that they are simply coming into my engine compartment and then crawling up the firewall to access the cowl vents (and thus gain access to the opening above the CAF) or is there another way to get access to this opening above the CAF that doesn't require going through the cowl vents? What about the insulated pad that is on the firewall -are there any openings in the firewall behind that pad or is it just covering a solid firewall?
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Old 09-15-2016, 09:07 PM #7
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Thanks to everyone for your replies/suggestions.
@BlackWorksInc you mentioned that the rodents can also fit between gaps in the body panels. Did you mean that they are simply coming into my engine compartment and then crawling up the firewall to access the cowl vents (and thus gain access to the opening above the CAF) or is there another way to get access to this opening above the CAF that doesn't require going through the cowl vents? What about the insulated pad that is on the firewall -are there any openings in the firewall behind that pad or is it just covering a solid firewall?
They are crawling/squeezing through holes in the body itself. If you took the fenders off the vehicle you'd see that the body is not solid sheetmetal, it's got lots of holes and gaps they can run through on their way under the plastic windshield cowl.

There technically is one more area large enough for them to get into the vehicle (the two one-way flaps at the rear of the vehicle), but honestly I have never really seen them bother to try and eat through those vents since the cowl is a no-brainer for them.

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Old 09-16-2016, 12:14 AM #8
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Thanks @BlackWorksInc . Your response makes me want to ask you two additional questions for the sake of completeness and clarification.
First, are you saying that all those body holes are still leading them only to the opening above the CAF?
Second, forgive my ignorance, but what are the "one-way flaps" for in the back you mentioned, and where are they located so that I can possibly check on their condition? Thanks again.
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Old 09-16-2016, 12:22 AM #9
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Thanks @BlackWorksInc . Your response makes me want to ask you two additional questions for the sake of completeness and clarification.
First, are you saying that all those body holes are still leading them only to the opening above the CAF?
Second, forgive my ignorance, but what are the "one-way flaps" for in the back you mentioned, and where are they located so that I can possibly check on their condition? Thanks again.
The holes don't only lead to the cowl, but between all the openings the mice can crawl their way under the cowl very easily. None of the holes though lead INTO the vehicle except for the opening for the HVAC system above the CAF. The Holes are mainly there to reduce weight, allow some components to pass through, and provide specifically designed crumple zones.

These are what I am talking about in terms of the vents:



They are located under the bumper skin and... I actually don't know exactly what they are for, but my best assumption is the are a "one-way" flap valve to help reduce pressure build up in the vehicle when driving.
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Old 09-16-2016, 10:22 AM #10
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Thanks for all your help @BlackWorksInc . The pictures are great and I had no idea those vents existed. This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for.
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Old 10-13-2016, 03:35 PM #11
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Well I thought I would update this thread with something that might be helpful to anyone dealing with rodents. First, I could find no other sign of rodents getting in my 4Runner aside from the CAF opening as others mentioned.
About two days after I first posted this thread I was talking to my neighbor who has lived here for 25 years, parks his car in the driveway like me and has never had a rodent problem in his vehicle (although he has had them in his attic, backyard and drowned in his pool).
It turns out he has a very unusual habit: He cleans his engine compartment with Lemon Pledge once a week. Every week. For 25 years.

I did some research and it turns out that mice and some types of rats don't like citrus smells. Also, if you've ever used Lemon Pledge, you know the silicon-based oil is very slippery, which may make it harder or unpleasant for them to climb around in there.
For the past month I have been cleaning everything in my engine compartment except the hoses (and of course being careful not to get anything on the serpentine belt or pulleys) once a week-just like my neighbor, and I have had ZERO problems with rodents since. Just something you might want to try. Report back on here if it works for you!
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Old 10-13-2016, 03:42 PM #12
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Cars have become rolling buffets for adults and kids.

All the food, crumbs and wrappers are acting as magnets for rodents.
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Old 10-13-2016, 10:34 PM #13
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Cars have become rolling buffets for adults and kids.

All the food, crumbs and wrappers are acting as magnets for rodents.
Doesn't help that apparently everyone has switched to a soy-based insulation for wiring in the last 6 years or so (at least that's what I was told and something I read), so that's just baiting those nibblers even more...
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Old 10-14-2016, 06:46 PM #14
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Yes, and I read on the forum somewhere that Toyota uses a peanut-oil based lubricant in the AC system? Not sure if that is true or not, but that's just not helpful at all!

Also, for the record, my neighbor's vehicle is a 2012 Toyota Sienna, so he should have the same soy-based wiring insulation and other assorted flavors that our engines offer to rodents - the Lemon Pledge has worked for him so it's worth a try. You gotta do it every week!
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Old 10-14-2016, 10:29 PM #15
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When I owned my LC100, I found that mice like to cozy up for the winter under the intake manifold and chew on the wiring harness on top of the block. Take a peek in there periodically if you own a V8.
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