Need Help - Dead Rat in Heating system

[tmckinnon]

New Poster, been a member for a while.


So, a rat has decided make it's last stand in the heating system of my wife's 2004 Explorer. The smell is unbearable and the car is essentially undrivable. My wife waited until this afternoon to tell me, so when I got home at 5:00 I started on it right away. The smell is worst when the inside fan is blowing, so I know that the carcass is inside the car. I removed the blower fan and found small remnants of grey hair and blood. I believe that the rat's body was propelled further into the system and is now resting on the heater core, slowly basting whenever the car is turned on.


I have removed the blower fan under the glove compartment, the center console, the cover for the radio and A/C knobs and just about everything else I can get my hands on.

It is now 10:00 o'clock, i'm tired and it is clear that this sucker is going to be spending at least one more night in the car.

My question is, how do I get to the compartment above the heater core?

(I took a picture on my camera, but can't seem to figure out how to post it)

When I move it around, I don't want to or need to remove it, I just need to be able to get to it to remove the critter.

I have searched the forums for "Remove heater Core" and "replace heater core" and have not been able to find a solution. If this has already been addressed in a forum and someone can point me in the right direction, I would be grateful.

Thanks!

 

[EasyRhino]

Wow, that really stinks (no pun intended). I do not envy you that chore.

Unfortunately, I have no expertise to bear on your problem, but will give you a bump, and wish you the best. I would probably want to remove the entire heat/AC plenum box and toss it out and replace, but I think that would involve replacing both the heather core and AC evaporator, a tough chore.

Q: How did the offending creature get into the car and why would it go for the heater - just wondering. Is there an accessable path from the vehicle outside to this location? I recognize that rats can get about anywhere they want to go.

Anyway, best of luck.

 

[Turdle]

Unfortunately-you need to lower the steering column and pull the dash to get to the heater core.

 

[Turdle]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173650&highlight=heater+core

There is some info hidden in there somewhere--

 

[tmckinnon]

How the rat got in - my somewhat educated guess . . .

From the best I can tell, it came in through the cowling or engine compartment and then worked its way through the grid (about and inch square) that is supposed to protect this from happening, I guess. There is a net just above the fan motor and he/she chewed through that and I am guessing was just sitting inside the blower fan. My wife turned it on and heard a "clicking" noise. My wife thought it was a leaf, so she turned it on full blast and according to her, the "sound just went away". I have pictures of where I am to this point, but I can't figure out how to post them within the link.

A buddy of mine suggested getting a manual from the auto parts store to figure out how to remove the rest of the heater stuff. I don't even really need to remove it, just gain access to it.

I am pretty certain it is resting on the heater core. When I move the heater core around, I get a few aromatic whiffs that cause me to have an instant gag reflex. Good thing I was doing this on an empty stomach last night!

Current Ideas for removing the rat -

1. Shop Vac - tried - can't get it close enough to "suck it up"
2. Clothes Hanger - gonna try it when I go home today
3. Fishing lure with treble hook - not sure I want to give up one of my good lures to try, but we'll see, plus it may get caught on something other than the rat.

 

[Turdle]

From the best I can tell, it came in through the cowling or engine compartment and then worked its way through the grid (about and inch square) that is supposed to protect this from happening, I guess. There is a net just above the fan motor and he/she chewed through that and I am guessing was just sitting inside the blower fan. My wife turned it on and heard a "clicking" noise. My wife thought it was a leaf, so she turned it on full blast and according to her, the "sound just went away". I have pictures of where I am to this point, but I can't figure out how to post them within the link.

A buddy of mine suggested getting a manual from the auto parts store to figure out how to remove the rest of the heater stuff. I don't even really need to remove it, just gain access to it.

I am pretty certain it is resting on the heater core. When I move the heater core around, I a few aromatic whiffs that cause me to have an instant gag reflex. Good thing I was doing this on an empty stomach last night!

Current Ideas for removing the rat -

1. Shop Vac - tried - can't get it close enough to "suck it up"
2. Clothes Hanger - gonna try it when I go home today
3. Fishing lure with treble hook - not sure I want to give up one of my good lures to try, but we'll see, plus it may get caught on something other than the rat.

There are 2 ways to post pictures-
the easiest is to purchase a paid subscription to the site-elite membership has it's benefits believe me.

Or, you could join a photo hosting site such as

www.photobucket.com

they will display in your post this way also.

 

[tmckinnon]

Dead Rat - Post Log

Okay, so I punted. I took a look at the list of things that needed to be removed and realized I was in way over my head. Called the dealer and they said they could do it.

I called the dealer a few minutes ago and they said they had found the offending odor and it was indeed a DOA rat. He asked me if I wanted to see it and I assured him it was okay if he disposed of it "properly".

Anyway, thanks for the help. I always come here first whenever I have a question about how to fix something on my wife's Explorer.

 

[Joe Dirt]

He asked me if I wanted to see it and I assured him it was okay if he disposed of it "properly"

What?!?! Pics!!!! Pics!!!!

Glad that got resolved- that's torture- it's freezing, but as you grab for the knob, you know what's about to happen... Do you turn on the vent and die, or freeze instead? Man- glad that got fixed!

 

[tmckinnon]

Sorry - no Pics

The tech said it was a "medium-sized" rat. There is still a faint odor, though having grown up in Nebraska, it reminded me more of a feed lot, than the decomposing body of medium sized rodent. I drove it home from the dealer last night with the heater blasting and the windows down. As an added treat for my wife, I actually had it washed and vacuumed.

It's all gooood . . .

Again, thanks for the information and support.