Rattle in cabin air intake - suspect rodents

[wrbix]

‘21 2 door, badlands - have a new rattle behind upper dash, only when above about 35mph, no matter how smooth the road. Suspect a foreign body in cabin air intake system. I pulled the cabin air filter and there is evidence of mouse activity. I suspect one of the little bastages has brought in one of our tiny Live Oak acorns that’s getting blown/rattled around by airflow above 35mph.
Anyone direct me how to disassemble for inspection/cleaning of the fresh air cabin intake please? TIA.
(many YouTube videos on cabin air filter but none beyond that)

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[John94]

Sadly (and perhaps shockingly given how this is a popular enthusiast truck) I have seen no such videos.

I would be weary about disassembling anything plastic in the Bronco however. Likely won't go back together the same way again.

 

[wrbix]

Perhaps a dealer service technician can review service manual and chime in.
I suspect removing the plastic cowl at rear of engine bay and the cowl under the windshield would get me there but thought I’d ask here first.

 

[HotdogThud]

There's a pretty decent video out there by Crutchfield, I think, showing how the entire dash comes apart (for stereo installation), that might give you something to go on.

 

[0ne]

There's a pretty decent video out there by Crutchfield, I think, showing how the entire dash comes apart (for stereo installation), that might give you something to go on.

Gotta link handy or shall I go googling?

 

[HotdogThud]

Gotta link handy or shall I go googling?

whoops, wasn't Crutchfield, looks like it was this guy:


When I do things like this, I find it helps to get in the mindset of a factory, and just imagine it as a thing that can be assembled as quickly as possible by a gorilla. Super easy after that.

 

[Canyon Coolers]

A boroscope might be a good way to verify. They make affordable ones that work with cell phones these days.

 

[wrbix]

A boroscope might be a good way to verify. They make affordable ones that work with cell phones these days.

Good thought! Got one but it’s currently an 11hr drive away.
An excuse to buy another tool - yes.

 

[Ground_zero298]

Just read a article the other night. All the wire looms are made out of a soy based material. This has led to a uptick in rodents chewing wires on new vehicles. It’s not going to stop.

 

[0ne]

Just read a article the other night. All the wire looms are made out of a soy based material. This has led to a uptick in rodents chewing wires on new vehicles. It’s not going to stop.

Thought that was a Toyota/Japanese/foreign manufacturer eco-friendly environmentally conscious thing? I see lots of plastic loom in my Bronco…

 

[wrbix]

Found a rock under the under-windshield cowl.

…..and here’s a PSA: removal of the wiper arm hubs requires a two armed puller tool, they are really on there for keeps.

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