How can I stop rodents from crawling into the cabin filter?

180

Asked by Sandyliret Jul 28, 2013 at 09:24 AM about the 2013 Toyota Camry XLE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

NewToyota Camry smells bad when AC is turned on, mechanic says rodent crawled in to
the air intake ?

24 Answers

199,785

Not sure about that one. Maybe put a cat in the garage? Lol

4 people found this helpful.
180

Thanks, better than some other unserious answers, new car smell ruined.

3 people found this helpful.
180

Page didn't open thru amazon, I will try to go to their site and thanks

2 people found this helpful.

http://www.abesmarket.com/fresh-cabr-botanical-rodent-repellent.html? gclid=CITT2Yiu0rgCFck7MgodoycApQ

12 people found this helpful.
180

Thanks so much, will investigate all your suggestions. I live on a bayou in swamp and this is a first for me.

4 people found this helpful.

at first I thought a sonic repellent...but could find none in 12 volts...that's when I found "cabin fresh" rodent repellent...by mistake~!?

7 people found this helpful.
199,785

Sorry you thought I was not being serious but truthfully I was. Here in the south I have had issues with snakes and rats but about twenty years ago an old man told me to get an out side cat. Guess what for twenty years now I have yet to see either in any off my sheds or old cars. Have four outside cats now that take care of themselves and keep all rodents in their place.

5 people found this helpful.
180

Thanks for feedback. My dog won't allow me to have a cat. I live near a swamp and have several vehicles, including an r.v. And have never had this problem in 10 years. The first six months of a new car and I am afraid of what it really might be. Apologise for my rudeness and thanks for taking the time to explain.

3 people found this helpful.

think 20 points is in order for "cabin-fresh botanical rodent repellent" stumbled into this and it's sole purpose is to solve the problem you've described...hit a homerun here and think that since they pay us NOTHING for helping you...punching the "best answer" will not alter the chi~

10 people found this helpful.

okay then...you gave it away to Mr. mothball fleet up there~ guess you cannot have more than one "best answer" even when it really wasn't~

3 people found this helpful.
180

Didn't realise this was a contest. I sincerely appreciated all the suggestions and hope I didn't hurt your feelings. I can't tell if you are upset or what. Am I missing something?

2 people found this helpful.

no...does not matter...only a matter of reputation...which I've got all I can use...just stumbled across your solution....maybe it works like crap...like "grants kills ants" well a hell no...grants does NOT kill ants...I beg to differ~

199,785

Sandyliret, on top right side of this page you will see a button marked "My Account" press it. Then on that page you will see a button marked "Settings". Press it. Once there you can change all your email setting to "No" and "Do Nothing" but don't forget to press "Save email setting" on the bottom left of page. Doing this should stop all the notifications. Drive Safe.

2 people found this helpful.

take note: i've reported you comment about legitimacy as "abusive and hurtful"~FYI...start thinkin about bein' nicer to people who are here just to HELP YOU~!

3 people found this helpful.
30

Sandyliret: try placing a laundry softener sheet in the cabin filter compartment. Mice do not care for the "human" scent.

3 people found this helpful.
70

In Thailand this is a very common problem with Toyotas. Some Thai guy over here sells online a metal plate with small slits for air to go in but keep the critters out. I bought one and have not had anymore problems. I am surprised Toyota does not do something abou this. It is the Asian way I guess. Out of sight out of mind. The part only cost about $5.

7 people found this helpful.

Recently my mechanic opened my car hood to find a packrat who he accused of making an obscene gesture, as he stood up on the intake manifold, then darted back into the engine compartment.Here in Arizona packrats are a common problem in vehicles. Every spring my mechanic's shop is filled with work to repair electrics and hoses. One trick that works fairly well is a fluorescent light under the car. (low voltage draw compared to regular shop light). It works! Note to those in states where this may apply... if you have rodents in your engine or passenger compartment, keep an eye out for the rattlesnake who may also be trying to rid your car of it's rodent population.

50

Just yesterday, I took my car into dealership to have my oil changed. They showed me the attached photo of my cabin filter, and said a mouse had ruined it. My car is mostly in my garage, where I’ve never seen mice before, so who knows how or why it got in there. My concern was the fact that it would just happen again and they said no worry and would dip it in a peppermint oil type solution that will keep the mice and rodents away. I use a mixture of peppermint oil and water to spray in corners for spiders, and other insects, and also as a deterrent for mice, so it didn’t surprise me that this was the fix!

5 people found this helpful.
10

Same deal, 2014 camry. See in the attached photo were he chewed through the plastic grid covering it! This is the ventilation system air intake above the cabin air filter, accessed easily under the hood. I have cut a piece of hardware cloth to fit over it - I will take a picture later if the JB weld I used to affix it holds...

1 people found this helpful.
30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjjAAHumatM This video clearly shows how to fix this problem, I had the same problem with my 2003 Camry, saw the video, took an old barbecue very cheap grill and went to the mechanic. They did exactly as in the video, rodents cannot get at the air blower or cabin filter.

3 people found this helpful.

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