dead mouse in my blower unit

[beacon]

a really bad smell and really bad noise told me that something was up in my vent system. Sure enough, there is a bloody mess in the blower unit. I was able to remove the glove box and filter cover in order to find this out, but don't know how to remove the blower unit. Many bolts and screws and wires and no instructions that I can find in the repair manual. Also, even if I am able to remove this, will I be able to clean out the unit? Can you wash out the blower unit?
Thanks....

[YAR1S]

ewwwwwww thats effin grossss. :O

[CTScott]

a really bad smell and really bad noise told me that something was up in my vent system. Sure enough, there is a bloody mess in the blower unit. I was able to remove the glove box and filter cover in order to find this out, but don't know how to remove the blower unit. Many bolts and screws and wires and no instructions that I can find in the repair manual. Also, even if I am able to remove this, will I be able to clean out the unit? Can you wash out the blower unit?
Thanks....

Check out the Service Manual:

http://www.etimago.com/yaris/repairmanual/

Page 111 of the Air conditioning section covers disassembly. Typically, it is easier to rebuld the motor than to take the dang blower unit apart in a car.

If you look at page 164, it looks like you can take out the three bottom screws on the blower and drop the fan. That might give you pretty decent access to scrub out the guts.

Car manufacturers really need to better screen the outside air input. My Xterra was parked outside for a couple of months and when I run heat or AC I nearly puke from the smell of mouse urine. I am dreading pulling its blower apart to clean out the mouse nest...

[beacon]

Thanks for the tip!!
I was able to get access by removing those three screws, and luckily the mouse was in one piece (more or less).

[KCALB SIRAY]

:needpics:

JK, glad to see you were able to use the tip from above. This might want to be a Sticky since many of our owners live in areas where field mice are plentiful. :thumbsup:

[at3GG]

something like this maybe....?

[at3GG]

**No mice were harmed in this google search for "dead mouse"**

[gid]

been down that road before . There's something about TOYOTAs that critters seem to be attracted to and have easy access to the blower unit . We had that issue with the 2 Chevy PRIZMs ( Corollas ) , the '99 Corolla , and the '03 MATRIX ( luckily had a cabin air filter to stop access to fan itself ) . The blower from the COROLLA was easiest to remove , the PRIZMs had an AC Delco blower unit that was a bit more difficult . We've test drove new and used Pontiac '07 and '08 VIBEs ( Matrix ) that had mice in the blower units and in the air filter housing . One dealership had about 6 VIBES that had been invaded by mice :eek: . There was 1 '08 that the mouse had chewed through the air filter and got into the throttle body . Who knows what damage was done by mouse feces and foreign items brought into it . Told and showed dealer the issue and just blew it off :rolleyes: . Hate to be person(s) that bought one of these vehicles . So , always check air filter and turn on fan ( high setting ) to listen for excessive noise from blower in a new or used car . Mice and other critters like to make homes at dealer lots . Especially near fall and winter .

[darkmoon87]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm dead mouse

[seth_man]

sweet, ive pulled a few of these out of many cars at work. once i spent 24 billed hours on a 2004 gmc denali to pull 8 dead mice out of the dash and various parts of the interior and clean out the poop. it was pretty stinky and gross. Mice are good money makers.

[TheSilkySmooth]

The dealer fixed the mouse problem for my sister under warranty on her Eclipse. The nest actually wrecked the blower by unbalancing it. Mice should not get in there from the OUTSIDE but they can get in from the INSIDE of the car. Adding a cabin filter would help from outside invasion - I think we have a suck through heater ...? You could hot glue melt or epoxy a wire mesh screen over the inlet surface if you make a frame from polymer or wood.

Sonjas' bro

[gid]

we had a mouse chew a hole in the cabin air filter for the '03 MATRIX . Luckily it wasn't large enough to get into the blower , but when I removed the cabin filter some of the debri fell into the blower . Took a hose from an upright vacuum and used the tool to suck it out . I believe they come in through the water drainage for the vent system . As for the air filter , you can take a piece of the black plastic screen bought at hardware store and cut about a 4 > 5 inch circle ( trim off excess if needed ) . Then locate the plastic elbow connected to air intake hose that leads to air filter housing . The elbow is usually on drivers side near front of car . Remove plastic push in pin connected to elbow and car frame with flathead srewdriver and remove the plastic elbow by pushing in 2 plastic snaps ( lips ) on each side of hose ( may need flat head screwdriver ) and pull upward . Take plastic screen so it covers the opening of the plastic hose with about inch or 2 overlapping the hole . Last , take elbow and push down until it snaps back in place ( don't forget plastic push in pin ) . This will keep the critters out . Used this method for many years on the several Chevy PRIZMs ( Corollas ) without affecting gas mileage or power . You do need to remove screen every few months or so ( your call ) to clean off dead bugs , dust , etc.. Do this with a vacuum hose ( brush attachment ) and then rinse with water and dry to reuse . Otherwise could disrupt AIR flow . Hope this helps some .

[gm830]

this thread scares me, I hope I never have to go through this!

[gid]

we've had acorns in the blower and sounded like a roulette wheel :biggrin: .

[bigdoglover]

just last night i took my yaris in because of a funny noise when i put my heater fan on-no mice but there was a mcdonalds napkin in there that service pulled out. they said too many napkins in the glovebox and it isn't the first time they have found this problem. and there wasn't that many napkins in there so just a heads up for everyone

[gid]

that's where the cabin air filter would help .

[RagnaCaT]

that's where the cabin air filter would help .

No! Rather have it killed in the blower than running around inside the car!

LOL at least were I live there's not much mice around but we do have rats!:thumbup: Believe me my Cat struggles with these... Gladly there to big to fit but have had traces of them in the engine compartment getting another cat soon this hard work is actually killing my cat. LoL

[gid]

had no clue of your rat issue . :rolleyes:

[TheSilkySmooth]

Most stuff in your heater box gets put there by the animal - but is there a screen on the re-circ door? Didnt think of that. Can it suck your oil filter and servicer receipts out of the service booklet in the glove box and shred it in the heater? the Dealer must LOVE that. Me, "Gee- I KNOW I had proof of that oil change at 10K? Where did it GO!? Dealer, "Sorry Lad, engine warranty service is DENIED due to your lack of proof of proper service maintenance.

[gonzo452001]

A mouse put a bunch of dog food up in my head liner the dealer had to take the head liner down to get it out .They didn't charge me did it under warranty. but a few weeks later started to here something rolling around up there again its still there

[TheSilkySmooth]

A mouse put a bunch of dog food up in my head liner the dealer had to take the head liner down to get it out .They didn't charge me did it under warranty. but a few weeks later started to here something rolling around up there again its still there How does mouse know path into car - do mouse have a Forum for how to vinter over in the car? So the mouse goes up the tyre then where? Into HVAC vent flap? Into AC drain?
-Papa