Cabin Air Intake Screen Mod

Great info! Didn’t know I had a problem until baby mouse dropped onto passenger side floor mat. My 2019 has slightly different cowl but opened up the same. Used a piece of 1/4” hardware cloth to cover opening. Thanks for posting such useful info!

 

I just finished screening my cabin air intake, following the guidance of the OP's thread here. I also screened my motor's air filter intake with the same steel mesh screen from Lowe's. I just cut out a circular piece of it and fitted it between the snorkel in the fenderwell and the tube running into the airbox. It "almost" snaps back together, the mesh is just a cunt hair too thick but when the airbox is bolted back down in the engine compartment, it keeps the snorkle very secure against it. No leaks. No more mice.

 

Guys just to the left of the air inlet rectangle there is another spot that the little critter hole up in. That area is another spot for the wire mesh

 

Awesome write-up OP! I found a mummified mouse in the cabin air filter when I bought the truck, so this is definitely going on in the near future.

 

Did this mod today. Nice write up too. Should've done it before the leaves fell



I going to have to touch up the pain on truck due to the sharp edges on the metal gutter guard so rust doesn't creep in

 

Adding to my list of cheap mods. Thanks OP.

 

I did this mod last week and had the first significant rainfall last night. I've never had an issue with moisture inside truck until now. Its not much (hopefully/shouldn't be) but you can see it on the windows inside. I guess I'll take it apart tomorrow to see whats going on but I have a feeling that its because i just proped up the cowl like OP. After installed i made sure it was installed properly but when I looked closer today there is a very very slight gap on the passenger side I'm guessing due to it being propped up. Hopefully there is just a fitment problem I messed up.

If I had to do the mod again I might just take the time and take off the wipers so the whole cowl can come out. It'll give you more room to work as well.

Not bitching cuz OP has a great write up for a solvable problem

 

Hell yea - saves me 20 minutes of bs @ lowes. TYVM OP & Fisher

 

Nice writeup. Thanks for the bead on the gutter mesh. I still have enough to make another for the next guy who needs it.

 

I have a dead mouse also on the vents somewhere. 2009 Tacoma. Found the den on top of Cabin filter. Cleaned everything, removed blower motor, replaced with new filter, and screened over the opening under the cowl. But that is not the air intake area. It blows air out that hole when not on recirculate. Does anyone know where the air comes into the cabin from outside. I have spent hours trying to find it, and the stinking dead mouse.

 

Under the cowl is where the intake is? Recirculate is under the seats.

 

Thanks for this write up! I just replaced my cabin air filter and found a bunch of mouse poop… bumped into this post. I will be doing this tomorrow!

 

Thanks for this write up!!!

 

Question about maintenance with this mod. Now the leaves and stuff will be on top of the screen but under the cowl, so you have to remove the cowl every now and again to clean as opposed to just replacing a 6-12$ filter?

 

I think most people do this to keep critters from finding their way in and making a nest. Pretty much there is no maintenance needed for cleaning purposes

 

My problem is the metric #$# ton of leaves i seem to get. How has this been for leaves for those that have done the mod?

 

I think I only get a standard #$# ton of leaves and such on the truck. Maybe I'll have to open up the cowl and check on it but I imagine they are not trapped on top of screen. I think there are probably floating around not clogging the screen up. I'll report back if/when I open it up

 

3rd Gen TRD Sport.
I managed to “hydraulic” 3 frogs into the cowl area running through puddles after heavy rains off road. A day or so later they started decomposing. Not sure what was causing the smell but decided to pull the cabin filter. Blood all over it. Removed cowl and found most of the frog setting on the plastic grille directly above the filter. Pulled it out and bleached and Lysoled things. Replaced filter. Smell didn’t go away. Pulled right fender liner and sprayed water everywhere I could reach. Two more dead, decomposing frogs flushed out. Going to add the clever intake grating found here.
I’ll see if I can also cover the holes at either end of the cowl area.

What a $hitty design.

 

I need to do this mod this 4 day weekend coming up.

 

Great write-up. I did this one a long time ago and still have mouse problems inside. At least they’re not in the air filter anymore!