Acorns in Air Cleaner Filter and Heater Fan

[mikeinri]

Hi guys,

Just got back from getting my oil changed. When they took out the air filter, it was loaded with the usual crud, but also with leaves, and most disturbingly, fur...

Looking inside the air cleaner housing, there was a ton of acorns (half-chewed)... Must have been a mouse, or mice, or maybe a squirrel.

My question is, how did they get in there? Has anyone else dealt with this? I obviously need to put a screen in someplace to keep the rodents out, but where is the best place to put it?

Last year, I had a similar problem with the heater fan. Took that to the dealer, thinking the fan was shot. They refused to fix it under warranty, because of all the acorns they found. They never showed me where the rodents could be getting in. The fan seems much louder now that it was before this problem.

Anyone here have a suggestion as to where to install screens to keep rodents out of the HVAC and air cleaner housings?

Mike

 

[mikeinri]

Wow, no one else has had this happen?

Mike

 

[patrick112390]

we see it all the time at the dealership....

 

[kyleyz762]

Nuts

i work for valvoline instant oil change and see this all the time in explorers and hyaundis. theres usually a duct or somthing under or coming out of the air filter box somewhere. just take the box out, find where they come in and screen it over.

 

[mikeinri]

That's sort of what I was thinking for the air cleaner. No tricks to it then?

Patrick, do you have any suggestions of where I can put a screen to keep them out of the HVAC fan?

Mike

 

[Four0Sport]

if its a problem by the blower motor they have prbly chewed a whole into your heater box insulation

 

[patrick112390]

That's sort of what I was thinking for the air cleaner. No tricks to it then?

Patrick, do you have any suggestions of where I can put a screen to keep them out of the HVAC fan?

Mike

screen anywhere and everywhere! we once had to remove a dead mouse that had cozyed up in there and the lady complained of a ((rotting smell))...driving often helps- another story, end of last year we had a yellow 05' mustang gt that had 500 miles on it! yes 500!. it was a garage car... turned out mice had gotten inside somehow, made babies, and they ate the entire car from the inside out. im talking engine harness, hoses the seats they had even eaten part of the automatic shifter!! not to mention the smell of rat s*** throughout the car...it was a job replacing literally everything.

 

[mikeinri]

Wow...

Sadly, this is my daily driver. I have some extremely persistent rodents apparently. I had the heater fan fixed at a dealer, and specifically asked about where to put a screen. They had no idea.

I have a friend who had a similar experience (as your Mustang story) with an old camper. What a mess.

Mike