Rodent in the Cabin air system

Just got back from the dealer frame corrosion inspection (09 offroad). While up on the hoist the Tech said he could hear a rodent scrambling around, they replaced the cabin air filter , said there was signs of a nest. They didn't get the creature out... Can anyone tell me where there would be an access for a rodent into the cabin air system? The service guy suggested setting traps around the truck .

I've had a really bad respiratory flemmy cough lately with flue like symptoms I starting to think its possible that I've picked a Hanta like virus??

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

mng

 

In the cowl on the passenger side. If you look past the plastic vent, you'll see direct access where the little bugger would squeeze in to get there. A lot of people add steel mesh to this area to block it off. Pretty simple process once you remove the plastic cowl. I wouldn't suggest blocking it off until you get the mouse out or you'll be trapping him in there where he'll die and stink up your truck.

While you have the hood open, you may want to remove the plastic engine cover. There's a small nook there that rodents like to nest in as well.

 

Boy that’s a tough one. Certainly don’t want to poison it and have it die while in the vent system, don’t want to seal the entrance point trapping it inside and really don’t want it in the cab of your truck either. Probably not the best answer but I’d leave the cabin filter out with the filter access door open, lay down towels on the passenger floor and set several baited snap traps on the towel. Then hope for a successful, clean kill. That’s how I dealt with the little fucker that starter to eat my dodge. Mine was s big ass rat though

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-varmit-and-ac-clogging-prevention-project.557970/

 

^ that's the pic I was looking for.

Common problem OP. Seriously: search "mouse/air filter/Tacoma" and you'll get a lot of hits.

 

I would start disassembling the duct work as much as possible and clean the hell out of it.

 

Get some stick pads (Tomcat Mouse Size Glue Traps, 6-Pack (Eugenol Formula)), add some peanut butter and please these stick pads in the entrance/exit of nest. You will get the mice in less than a day. And, if you want, use some Dawn detergent to release it in the wild. V.

 

Get a cat and let it hang out in your truck...

 

Peanut butter works all the time.

 

I think the service guy gets it. There is no such thing as one mouse. Traps around the truck were you park it. These little f**kers will start eating your wiring next.

 

Place a glue boards on the 2 front tires with a dab of peanut butter on the middle of the glue boards go online to Amazon and buy 2 Rodent Bait Stations with Contrac for bait.

 

When I worked for toyota I always hated cleaning out the nests. I was always waiting for a giant mouse or a rat to come flying out at me.

 

Another place to look.
I had one start chewing the small bypass hose top of water pump up under the plastic engine cowling and had a leak. Easy fix but that critter also was chewing the fuel injector wiring so splicing and heat shrink were required.

 

^^^ That is how it should come from the factory.