Can I clean this...

Hello,
I just got a 2008 Tacoma at Salvage auction. I am in the process of cleaning it up. The cabin air filter was really dirty and there was insulation type material hanging down. Has anyone ever had that before? Was an animal nesting in there? Is there a way to remove the piece that houses the cabin air filter and clean. It's hard to access that area to clean with just the small slot. Thanks

 

Air compressor, blast away!

 

Probably mice, they love nesting in places like that.
You can pull the blower motor and reach up from the bottom but beyond that you would have to remove the dash to diassemble the HVAC housing.

 

It may be from age as well. The insulation/ filter foam on my 06 is falling apart and I get some pieces that fly out of my vents lol.

 

Wear a good mask

https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/index.html

 

Not if that’s mouse crap, no way.

 

Shop-vac, duct tape, and 1” vinyl tubing.
Basically, you make your own smaller hose.
It may clog up at the end of the hose, but that’s an easy fix. Just pull the off the hose and continue.

You can even get creative and use different size plastic pipe if you need something more ridged.

I do this very thing to clean the lint trap on my dryer.

 

Pull the blower motor out

 

Yup, blower comes out easy peasy. Gives you way better access.

 

I found a video on how to pull the blower motor. Pulled it and cleaned it. Thank you to everyone that responded.