Critters got in the Heater/AC --how'd they get there?

I just spent most of the day opening up the blower motor and cabin filter on my 2013 Tacoma SR5 4x2 extended cab. There was a terrible stench ... and when I dropped the filter and motor ...there was a mouse nest with two dead mice ....How did they get in there? ...Anyone else ever have this problem?...Is there an opening that needs to be sealed?
On a related topic, does anyone have a layout or schematic of the HVAC system in the Tacoma that they can share?

Thanks for any info or help you can give ... Bernie in Rhode Island

 

Thats gross! I'm really sorry to hear that. I thought there was a mesh of some sort to prevent this sort of thing happening, at least from the outside. Maybe they somehow got in from the inside? Either way I hope you get it all cleaned out and fixed.

 

They might have chewed their way in or the little buggers might have squeezed their way in. They can fit through very tiny spaces.

 

Check the inlet under the hood cowl

 

Yep happened to me as well. I covered the air intake with a course screen.

 

Man that really sucks. Hope you can get rid of the smell.

Get a cat but that opens another can of worms. Tracks on your paint, sleeping on you engine in cool weather, maybe getting caught in fan or serpentine belt.

The wire mesh thing sounds like a good idea.

 

Nature's Miracle works awesome to get rid of rodent piss smell

 

Thanks to all those who responded. Even tho I cleaned and sprayed everything, there's still a smell. I'll give the "Natures Miracle" a try.

 

I do a lot of archery hunting, so I always have "Scent Killer" spray on hand. When the wet dog smell in my truck gets a bit too strong, I spray down the inside with this. It works like a charm. Maybe do the same, or a scented product to your cabin air filter to pull some product into the HVAC system. I'm sure there's plenty of stink still trapped in the system, which blows it into the cab when you use heat/ AC.

 

Here's a pic of my screen work. If you open the hood this inlet is in the vicinity immediately above the glove compartment. You have to remove one tab that holds the plastic covering the inlet ( generally below the passenger windshield wiper).