Leaves and other stuff keep ending up in the blower.

Recently my AC stopped working, when I took the blower out I noticed a lot of stuff in it. Cleaned it out and replaced the resistor and everything was good to go for about 2 days... then it was full of stuff again, leaves, walnuts, etc. Posted this on reddit to try to get some help and someone mentioned squirrels getting into it, however I feel like here would actually be a better spot to ask. Where does the air flow in from? If it is squirrels I could probably put like some wire over the hole... or something. I'm just not sure where I should be looking.

 

Are you missing the ac filter?

 

Where are you that you need ac???? It's-17 celsius here! Damn, would love to use the ac right about now. Oh, good luck with the fix! Cheers

 

Well AC/Heater, it's the same blower. If I can't use the blower then my windows fog up because it's so cold .

 

The first time I took the blower out I noticed a big hole in the filter, figured I hadn't changed it in 9 years it just fell apart so I replaced that as well when I cleaned it out. When I cleaned it out the second time my new filter I put in was also torn up like the first one, so when people mentioned squirrels that kinda is making more sense now....

 

The air intake is under the cowl at the base of the windshield on the passenger side , there is no screen on it and rodents can definitely get into the blower area , the hole is about 3"x7"

I recently evicted a rats nest from mine

I'll see if I can find the thread

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/in-cabin-filter.460866/page-3#post-13676940

 

This happened to me years ago, with a different vehicle, it was the same damn rat remaking the nest.

 

There's actually quite a few threads on it when you search "mouse air filter" or similar

It took me a while to find where I posted those pictures

 

Sweet, thanks! Normally I don't do much to my own truck and finally decided to take matters into my own hands to fix things with it, was rather disheartened when the problem came back in a couple of days. Gonna block this off and hopefully that does it.

 

No problem , you're welcome

FYI , I was able to mesh over the intake in mine without removing the windshield wipers and entire cowl as some people have done

The cowl is held down with a push pin on either end and some tabs along its length

I was able to remove the push pins and disengage the tabs and then just jam a piece of wood between the body and cowl to hold it open enough to get my hand(s) in there to work on it

There is actually 2 tabs with holes in them on the front section of the intake that accept a #10 or 12 metal screw you can use to fix down the front of your mesh

 

I did this screening mod too. In my truck, they found a highway into my storage boxes behind the front seat (access cab), and made a nest there. If you have those boxes, you might want to open them up and have a look. I have to take the whole mess out to wash and sanitize it.

Is anyone aware of any other entry points? I recently found evidence of a mouse, but he may have just jumped in during one of my trips to the woods?

 

As long as you're under the hood you might check your intake too. Those little bastards get into everything.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mice-ate-my-air-filter.401025/

 

Had to wait til it stopped raining, but is finally done, doesn't look as nice as others... but it will get the job done lol. New filter comes in tomorrow and with that I'll be set. Intake looks good too. Thanks again guys.

 

Those fuckers are able to get into anything. I found a rat caught in someone's serpentine belt once. They chew wires, looming, filyers, take your pic. They are real dicks of the earth.