HVAC intake, mouse proof?

[GearHd6]

I'm not sure if this is an issue yet but, I live out in the country and have lots of mice. They find their way into everything. Has anyone been able to verify whether or not a mouse can just walk into the HVAC intakes, which I assume are under the windshield cowl?
I know my Ranger had huge holes that I had to fill up with screening. I'm wondering if I have to do the same when the Bronco.

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[Willub]

I'm not sure if this is an issue yet but, I live out in the country and have lots of mice. They find their way into everything. Has anyone been able to verify whether or not a mouse can just walk into the HVAC intakes, which I assume are under the windshield cowl?
I know my Ranger had huge holes that I had to fill up with screening. I'm wondering if I have to do the same when the Bronco.

I’ve had them make a nest on top of the cabin filter. Luckily the cabin filter takes two seconds to check.

 

[MrParticular]

I am looking for similar thoughts on mouse proofing the cabin air intake. I believe I have mice living in there because I changed the cabin air filter that had been chewed and pissed on with a filter that looked less appetizing and the little bastards are still using it for a toilet.

It seems to me they might be getting in from the sides of the cowl... when the hood is up you can see the entry points. I'm thinking of parking the bronco in the garage for the night with traps by those points, make sure they are either not in there or eradicated and then put steel wool in those two points.

 

[GearHd6]

I am looking for similar thoughts on mouse proofing the cabin air intake. I believe I have mice living in there because I changed the cabin air filter that had been chewed and pissed on with a filter that looked less appetizing and the little bastards are still using it for a toilet.

It seems to me they might be getting in from the sides of the cowl... when the hood is up you can see the entry points. I'm thinking of parking the bronco in the garage for the night with traps by those points, make sure they are either not in there or eradicated and then put steel wool in those two points.

Good luck. I pulled the wipers and cowl and tried to make screening to cover the HVAC intakes. Unfortunately the holes are such an odd shape and are so hidden under the firewall sheet metal that access is super limited. I finally gave up.

 

[rayhil67]

I also live in the "sticks" near two farms, so mice and squirrelys are a problem.. What you need is some Feral Cats in the area!! I have 3 that i pick up on my blink cameras, I set out a can of tuna every now and then to make sure they patrol my yard..

 

[MrParticular]

Good luck. I pulled the wipers and cowl and tried to make screening to cover the HVAC intakes. Unfortunately the holes are such an odd shape and are so hidden under the firewall sheet metal that access is super limited. I finally gave up.

So are there other places besides the sides of the cowl where they can get into that area? (he said, knowing the answer is probably yes)

 

[GearHd6]

So are there other places besides the sides of the cowl where they can get into that area? (he said, knowing the answer is probably yes)

Oh yeah. There's tons of places for them to get by that plastic windshield cowl. I wanted to put screen over the actual intake of the HVAC (which I did on my Ranger) but the access to it on the Bronco is terrible.

 

[MrParticular]

I ended up using Mighty Mint Peppermint Rodent Oil Spray and that has done the trick so far this winter. I started with Shake Away pouches that I tucked in under the cowl and the bars with the square holes by the front wheels (name?) and then eventually just sprayed the engine compartment from the bottom and top once a week or every two weeks and that has kept the ROUSes out.

Smells like Christmas victory.

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