cabin air filter carnage

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Robert W. Horsey, Aug 26, 2016.

  1. Robert W. Horsey

    Robert W. Horsey New Member

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    I bought a 2010 Prius IV at 88,000 miles and found this last night festering in the dash>

    The last one shows insulation that was sitting on top of the filter. It looked like mice
    were living in that nice warm nook.

    -Robert
     

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    #1 Robert W. Horsey, Aug 26, 2016
  2. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    go check underneath the plastic below the wipers/....
    just saying/
     
    #2 StarCaller, Aug 26, 2016
  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    If I remember right the original advertising slogan for the Gen 3 was "Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine".

    Looks like rodent- nature- got a little too harmonious with your Prius.

    Kind of amazing that it got that bad and evidently never smelled too bad.
    Or did you notice any odd smells?

    Those pictures are a diet aid.
     
    #3 The Electric Me, Aug 26, 2016
    malmon and WilDavis like this.
  4. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    looks like he just bought the car/
     
    #4 StarCaller, Aug 26, 2016
  5. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Looks like the work of Mr. Mousie! (I had similar problems with my old 1993 Corolla DX Wagon - despite it being garaged) - solution was to leave some mothballs aroung the skirting boards (worked like a charm!)
     
    #5 WilDavis, Aug 26, 2016
  6. Robert W. Horsey

    Robert W. Horsey New Member

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    That's a good recommendation to check under the cowl for more carnage.
    I've had the car for about 1 month. It is a peach. My other car is a Lotus Exige S240
    so the Prius drives like a Rolls Royce to me. (not that I've ever driven a RR)

    The coolest part about the car is the Solar Roof Package: it has the remote
    AC and vent
     
    #6 Robert W. Horsey, Aug 26, 2016
  7. Robert W. Horsey

    Robert W. Horsey New Member

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    There is a flap above the air filter location that appears to have been gnawed on by a rodent.
    Will this pose a problem? What is the flap's purpose?
     

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    #7 Robert W. Horsey, Aug 26, 2016
  8. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Is the flap spongy? (that's what it looks like) Might be able to replace it with another piece or fabricate one from a piece of sponge foam. I think I'd be more worried about teeth marks on wiring harnesses or connectors. Good luck! (BTW Welcome to PriusChat!)
     
    #8 WilDavis, Aug 26, 2016
  9. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    It is a bypass vent -- it's just a rubber flap. I think it's to make sure the system is not starved for air should the outside intake become blocked.
     
    #9 yeldogt, Aug 26, 2016
  10. Robert W. Horsey

    Robert W. Horsey New Member

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    The material is some type of stiff vinyl fabric. Thanks.
     
    #10 Robert W. Horsey, Aug 26, 2016
  11. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    The flap acts as a sort of one-way valve to allow some interior air to bypass into the HVAC system when the fan is on, but block unfiltered, unheated, uncooled outside air from coming out through those holes---which would happen mainly when driving at high speeds with the fan off.
     
    #11 CR94, Aug 28, 2016
  12. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    There is a way to block mice from coming in. It entails small-gage galvanized wire available in good old-timey hardware stores, and some sheet metal screws. There are threads on mouse proofing on this forum. One of the mouse entryways is on the plastic cowling under the windshield wiper on the passenger side (pretty close to the cabin filter). Another entry way is behind the 12 volt battery in the trunk. With some time and patience, it's not a hard modification especially since they found their way in once.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #12 DadofHedgehog, Aug 30, 2016
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