mouse nest in blower motor, need cage advice

Hello and thanks for your time, I'm wondering if anyone has installed a squirrel cage on their Tacoma. I have an 07 taco and have been dealing with this issue for years constantly vacuuming it out and replacing the cabin filter where they build it. I usually try and leave the cabin vent button closed but sometimes after using the defrost I forget to put it back on. The stealership says they install cages under the hood where the intake is.They charge 300$ to epoxy some metal screen around it, WTF!! Can anyone provide me with some advice or pictures as to where to do this? What I see under the hood by the windshield has existing plastic grates and although I know mice can squeeze down to the size of a penny and get through I cant figure out how they're getting all their large acorns through. I must be looking at the wrong spot or just missing something obvious. Appreciate any help you have to offer, thank you.

 

Not sure of your 07 - is it like the 2023 I have? Mine has the plastic mesh too. You have to get the outermost opening closed off.

I had an 03 that was wide open. I just got the covers out of the way next to the windshield and put some metal 1/4 inch screening over the opening. 6x9-ish overall. There are probably holes there to zip tie / metal thread tie to. Once it's tied in you can bend the edges around to close it up or epoxy as desired. I liked to leave sharp pointy cut ends so as to help deter lol. Metal is the key!

You may also want to pull the airbox intake tube from the fender and jiggy some mesh in their too. Did this on day one also...

There may be pic's here of someone else that did this, I think it's discussed. Search and google.

 

You can put a metal screen cover on your cabin air intake. It's under the cowl where your hood and windshield meet. Easy job,did it years ago and no issue since. The other area you want to screen is your engine air intake where it goes into your inner fender,pull it out and screen it. Check your air filter area for a nest also bastards have been known to chew through the air filter.

 

I use @dpele screen that came in a kit.
You may not see it in this photo, but there is a screen below that angled piece.

And there is a screen blocking both passenger and driver side cowl holes.

You can just buy some chicken wire and add sealant.

 

Thank you sir for your time, I was able to pull back the main plastic covering to find the air intake hole was wide open and accessible from the side, so thats how the acorns were getting in. I have some metal gutter guard on hand that ill use for that opening, it almost seams like toyota was going to do that, like you said there are a couple holes to mount one. ill try and search the other side for an opening as well. As for the airbox it sounds like you pulled it out to add screen or just to check for debris but then went in through the wheel well to add screen? As for the "pointy ends" I like your style!! thanks again for your time!!

 

thanks for your picture, that helps. I was able to pop off the plastic cover and found the main opening to cover up, I'll check the other side to see if that well goes anywhere or is just and empty space. That second picture looks like it was taken from inside the engine compartment, you said you had to do both sides of fender well? thanks for your time.

 

Thank you kindly, Ive located the main opening on passenger side an about to install gutter guard, Ill check the other side for one, fender openings and pull air box, thanks for your time.

 

I put my phone inside the cowl tray, roughly where the HVAC intake would be.
I was only able to do the passenger side, the driver side I needed a 90degree drill to install, so for now I just used VHB tape.

Some other examples for inspiration would be to google “Cowl Air intake”, others installed some kind of screen while they were under there.

Here is a chicken wire example.

 

I honestly can't remember how exactly I did it on the older trucks or how they are arranged, but the new 23 I got last fall I just pulled the airbox and it's associated intake tube off. It just pops out of the fender area. Yours is probably very similar. I cut and rigged a round piece of the metal mesh, jammed it in, and secured.

 

Cabin Air Intake Screen Mod | Tacoma World

 

Thanks @BluberryBCtaco for the tag!

Here's a picture of my KIT2 (intake not included):




Here is KIT1 (with intake) or KIT4 (no intake):



More information HERE!

 

You know what

I was gonna use chicken wire. Because that was the latest greatest technology.

then PELE came around and outdated that. So I got the PELE kit.
Why?
Because it is a basically bolt on, 3d printed kit, with mesh and a shield. And side meshes. Designed for this.

rather than doing that with Home Depot jury rig flashing and chicken wire.