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Rodent proof air intake screen installation

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thousandwords

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Made a short comment on a different thread a while ago about finding signs of rodent activity around my cabin air filter and one of the forums members (thank you again Elgaucho!) suggested one of those metal screens that replaces the plastic cover for the cabin air intake.
It finally got here a couple of days ago and today I finally had some time to figure out where it goes. Well, it turns out I am too stupid for the task ha ha.
If I take the cabin filter out I think I can see the plastic cover it replaces, but it is recessed pretty deep beyond the cabin filter- I would hope there is easier access to it from the engine compartment? Do I have to remove some of those plastic covers around and below the windshield wipers and then access to the plastic cover is made possible?

Thanks for any hints, for those of you who already installed one.
For quick reference here's the screen that Elgaucho suggested.

Image
 
#2 · (Edited)
yep, trim removal needed.


you need to do this outside, with trim removed from windshield bottom (cowl cover) and also wipers pulled
so this cowl-cover can come out


pull trim from both lower ends of windshield, lift hood, remove wipers (use a wiper puller or a tapping hammer and patience)
then pop two plastic rivets and remove the large cowl cover from the bottom of the windshield

then you can access the plastic cover of the air intake, move it aside, and then place your screen in

start with these two pieces
Image

Image

Image



cowl removal is covered here in this PDF (pics I posted are only a part of the full procedure)


Image



TIP: get an old toothbrush ready, when you remove trim you'll need to clean
out these tiny seams on the clips from crud (there will be crud) so that when you
snap them back when done, they will seat and latch correctly. same for the long
section at bottom of windshield, it pays off to get all grime outta the tiny slots
you'll be snapping back into when done
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
crisps said:
yep, trim removal needed.


you need to do this outside, with trim removed from windshield bottom (cowl cover) and also wipers pulled
so this cowl-cover can come out


pull trim from both lower ends of windshield, lift hood, remove wipers (use a wiper puller or a tapping hammer and patience)
then pop two plastic rivets and remove the large cowl cover from the bottom of the windshield

then you can access the plastic cover of the air intake, move it aside, and then place your screen in

start with these two pieces
View attachment 201545
View attachment 201546
View attachment 201547


cowl removal is covered here in this PDF (pics I posted are only a part of the full procedure)


View attachment 201548


TIP: get an old toothbrush ready, when you remove trim you'll need to clean
out these tiny seams on the clips from crud (there will be crud) so that when you
snap them back when done, they will seat and latch correctly. same for the long
section at bottom of windshield, it pays off to get all grime outta the tiny slots
you'll be snapping back into when done
Click to expand...




Thank you soo much!

Will tackle it tomorrow morning.
 
#5 ·
IMHO, there is no way to keep the rodents out with screens. They can fit through the tiniest of cracks and crevasses.

To keep them away, use peppermint oil on cotton balls scattered around. Some people report success with moth balls or dryer sheets.
 
#7 ·
anav_ds said:
Is a common problem or only some pesky rodents in a particular state? Why is the Rav4 prone?
Click to expand...
All contemporary cars--including the RAV4--have soy or vegetable based insulation on their wiring. This attracts rodents by smell and taste and they nibble it and cause short circuits. In the old days the insulation on car wiring was petroleum based polymers. Rodents also are attracted to nest in warm cars in the winter. Rodent damage to cars is a common problem everywhere. If you live in an urban setting you will get rats and mice. I live in a rural fir and oak forest. In the rat traps under my RAV I have killed grey squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks and even a woodchuck. I commonly find dead mice in my carport that took a bite of the tasty poison blocks I have placed all around and under the RAV. So far no damage in my RAV for the last year. I also use peppermint sprays and mothballs in the engine compartment.
 
#9 ·
anav_ds said:
The mothball smell doesnt work its way into the passenger compartment?
Click to expand...
No--mothballs are only used when the engine is off and RAV not driving so no airflow to carry the smell from the engine bay into the cabin.. Use the naphtalene formula mothballs. You MUST remove them from the engine compartment before driving because they are a fire hazard.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
I just installed the mesh screen. Thank you very much to all of you for your help with the info! It was probably overkill but I actually taped the rim of the mesh screen to the oval raised frame passageway that the mesh screen inserts into, so that it is secured and not wiggling around so to speak.
Not sure what you guys did but I left the plastic cover that sits under the mesh in place, even though it was chewed on by whatever creature deposited the acorn on top of the cabin filter (seeing the whole they made for themselves through that plastic cover, I would guess chipmunk or squirrel).
 
#11 ·
Toyoga said:
Hi, here’s a picture of my ugly homemade version:
View attachment 201552
Click to expand...
my 2022 has one I just made but inside the opening, I am going to re-do it tonight
and switch to your outside screen method. at least it will prevent
them making a pile....mine would allow them to build a stash
 
#13 ·
I have some rodent infestation on my Rav4. 1st of all, the engine air filter box and intake tube was FULL of acorns. But much worse is that they also filled up my ac vents with acorns. This ruined one of the flimsy blend doors. I'm now looking at a 1700.00 dollar assembly and ripping out the dash. I removed the cowling under the windshield wipers and was shocked to see a wide open hole in the firewall for cabin air entry. Are you telling me this is just how it is...? NO screen at all?
 
#14 ·
brianearlanderson said:
I have some rodent infestation on my Rav4. 1st of all, the engine air filter box and intake tube was FULL of acorns. But much worse is that they also filled up my ac vents with acorns. This ruined one of the flimsy blend doors. I'm now looking at a 1700.00 dollar assembly and ripping out the dash. I removed the cowling under the windshield wipers and was shocked to see a wide open hole in the firewall for cabin air entry. Are you telling me this is just how it is...? NO screen at all?
Click to expand...
What year is yours & trim..?
 
#17 ·
Finally got the AC unit un-installed from the car. It's a PITA. I cracked the air box open and as I suspected, it is full of acorns! I'm also going to have to blow out the floor ducts because they are full as well! I should be getting the new part in tomorrow, and I am anxious to see if it has any sort of screen for the cabin air intake. My advice to anyone - if you hear something rumbling around in your AC box - get it out and don't operate the climate control settings! If you don't, you'll be spending 2100.00 like me, and that's just for the part! I was at the big orange box store the other day to buy some wire mesh to make a couple of screens. The best I could do was 1/4" squares... It was either that, or window screening which won't last and is probably too fine. On my way out, I just happened to walk buy a stainless steel mesh trash can for 15 bucks. Perfect! I'll cut out what I need with a grinder and cut off wheel and fashion my screen from that. I don't know if anyone is interested in this thread anymore, so this is all I will say. Unless of course, someone needs help. If that's the case, I'm happy to share. Would hate to see this happen to anyone. Well........ most anyone ;-)
 
#18 ·
CORRECTION! I said before that I had NO screen, and that is incorrect. By the time I looked through the firewall, I already had the unit out. Mine does indeed have a plastic screen, just like the one in the picture above. It had one little grate piece chewed out, which gave it plenty of room to jam acorns down in there. My AC spit out an unidentified piece of plastic, and wouldn't you know - it's the missing piece of the plastic grate...
 
#19 ·
crisps said:
here is my redone screen from the inside

you can see where rodents chewed thru the factory plastic screen
ignore timestamps, [I don't set borescope clock]

View attachment 202431 View attachment 202432
Click to expand...
sorry can you please clarify whether you got the same external screen as in the OP's first post or if its internal where did you get that and how did you insert it from the inside?

where is the best place to buy these parts? i see one on aliexpress?

thanks
 
#20 ·
thousandwords said:
Made a short comment on a different thread a while ago about finding signs of rodent activity around my cabin air filter and one of the forums members (thank you again Elgaucho!) suggested one of those metal screens that replaces the plastic cover for the cabin air intake.
It finally got here a couple of days ago and today I finally had some time to figure out where it goes. Well, it turns out I am too stupid for the task ha ha.
If I take the cabin filter out I think I can see the plastic cover it replaces, but it is recessed pretty deep beyond the cabin filter- I would hope there is easier access to it from the engine compartment? Do I have to remove some of those plastic covers around and below the windshield wipers and then access to the plastic cover is made possible?

Thanks for any hints, for those of you who already installed one.
For quick reference here's the screen that Elgaucho suggested.

View attachment 201536
Click to expand...
Where can you purchase that screen?
 
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