Chipmunks and Oil

[YodaBird]

The chipmunk is getting though the top of the hood though where the wipers are located, is that what you're telling me ?

I have a piece of grid metal I was going to lay on top of the filter ?

If you search online they recommend to use Bounce dryer sheets, I tried that it doesn't work !

If you look though the cabin filter from inside the car, there is a hole on the cabin filter part that is there due to the manufacturer. The chipmunk is drilling it's way though the filter, tearing it apart, literally going to the base of the filter due to the fact the fans are on the parameter and sleeping inside.

I have removed the cabin filter, I don't have a cabin filter, I can't drive in rain or snow.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by YodaBird

The chipmunk is getting though the top of the hood though where the wipers are located, is that what you're telling me ?

I have a piece of grid metal I was going to lay on top of the filter ?

If you search online they recommend to use Bounce dryer sheets, I tried that it doesn't work !

If you look though the cabin filter from inside the car, there is a hole on the cabin filter part that is there due to the manufacturer. The chipmunk is drilling it's way though the filter, tearing it apart, literally going to the base of the filter due to the fact the fans are on the parameter and sleeping inside.

I have removed the cabin filter, I don't have a cabin filter, I can't drive in rain or snow.

When you remove the wiper tray and cowl, this is the intake for the fresh air. It looks like it seal nicely to the cowl to prevent intrusion and it does on the top side.

Fresh Air Intake 1.jpg


Here's the problem though. When you remove the plastic piece there are some holes that allow water to drain. They are large enough the let critters crawl right it.

Fresh Air Intake 3.jpg


And, here's my solution:
Fresh Air Intake 2.jpg

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by YodaBird

I don't have a cabin filter, I can't drive in rain

I had my 07 Yaris for years before I knew (via a thread here) that I didn't have a cabin air filter. I know others have been in that same boat, so to speak. Perhaps none of the others drove in the rain while missing a cabin air filter, but I did and it didn't make any difference that I noticed.

[YodaBird]

All cars are the same in this aspect ? The images you posted don't look like a 2012-2013 Yaris ?

What about laying a steel mesh on-top of the filter when putting in the filter ?

Can you turn on A/C or Heat without a filter, can you use a substitute temporarily ?

Last but not least, who would I get to do this; I don't know how to take apart a car as you do, and how much may someone charge for this, eeks !

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by YodaBird

All cars are the same in this aspect ? The images you posted don't look like a 2012-2013 Yaris ?

What about laying a steel mesh on-top of the filter when putting in the filter ?

Can you turn on A/C or Heat without a filter, can you use a substitute temporarily ?

Last but not least, who would I get to do this; I don't know how to take apart a car as you do, and how much may someone charge for this, eeks !

My pictures are of a 2nd gen, but the 3rd gen is very similar. I also had the same issue with my Tacoma, which I parked outside and suddenly realized that mice were living above the cabin air filter, when I pulled it and a coffee can full of chewed hickory nuts came pouring out. The fix for it was very similar. A piece of screen mesh on top of the cabin filter would definitely work for now, but blocking it before entry should eventually be your target.

[YodaBird]

I checked the cabin filter it appears as though the metal mesh is working, although it does look like one of two things, either the squirrel / chipmunk is getting it's torn cabin filter from another car parked near our car, or this seems almost impossible unless he's doing a balancing act, he is pulling whatever he can get his hands on of left over filter I didn't clean out beneath the metal mesh and putting it on top of the metal mesh as I found a small wad of filter on top of the metal mesh.

I say it's almost impossible because the metal mesh is near perfect size to the size of the area for the cabin filter, if anything there is a few millimeter space, and the metal is sorta sharp.

I have to get some foam for now on top of the metal mesh because the mesh does bend slightly.

If the rodent is literally ripping another cars cabin filter apart and coming to our car with some cabin filter, that is priceless.

Originally Posted by CTScott

My pictures are of a 2nd gen, but the 3rd gen is very similar. I also had the same issue with my Tacoma, which I parked outside and suddenly realized that mice were living above the cabin air filter, when I pulled it and a coffee can full of chewed hickory nuts came pouring out. The fix for it was very similar. A piece of screen mesh on top of the cabin filter would definitely work for now, but blocking it before entry should eventually be your target.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by YodaBird

I checked the cabin filter it appears as though the metal mesh is working, although it does look like one of two things, either the squirrel / chipmunk is getting it's torn cabin filter from another car parked near our car, or this seems almost impossible unless he's doing a balancing act, he is pulling whatever he can get his hands on of left over filter I didn't clean out beneath the metal mesh and putting it on top of the metal mesh as I found a small wad of filter on top of the metal mesh.

I say it's almost impossible because the metal mesh is near perfect size to the size of the area for the cabin filter, if anything there is a few millimeter space, and the metal is sorta sharp.

I have to get some foam for now on top of the metal mesh because the mesh does bend slightly.

If the rodent is literally ripping another cars cabin filter apart and coming to our car with some cabin filter, that is priceless.

'cabin air filter breath'. Made me think of Johnny Carson and his sidekick Ed.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

suddenly realized that mice were living above the cabin air filter, when I pulled it and a coffee can full of chewed hickory nuts came pouring out.

I'm sorry this happened to you, but the image (and your expression of that image) is quite humorous.

[ern-diz]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

I'm sorry this happened to you, but the image (and your expression of that image) is quite humorous.

Critters!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by ern-diz

Critters!

....and varmints....There is an old post of mine on some thread where I quote one of the hosts of a local Houston car talk radio show talking about varmints nestling in different areas of vehicles....A mix of the knowledge/experience he obviously possesses and his unique local way of expressing himself....truly a hoot!

[Ben_]

This is the best thread ever lol

[canadian deacon]

We occasionally have problems with squirrels here. Then around July an owl takes up residence in the treed lot beside my house and the problem goes away.

I had an osprey pick one out of the yard one day while I was working on the car. Scared the crap out of me and the squirrel.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by canadian deacon

We occasionally have problems with squirrels here. Then around July an owl takes up residence in the treed lot beside my house and the problem goes away.

I had an osprey pick one out of the yard one day while I was working on the car. Scared the crap out of me and the squirrel.

One thing about Texas being a low service state (although types of critters might influence this as well)...dead 'wildlife' seems to stay splattered on the road longer than in California. No biggie....lower taxes = more important (to me).

[Hershey]

We've had these problems with a FIT and a Yaris sedan we had . I'll buy a large metal container of black pepper and shake it on the pavement where the car is parked . Will back car up and give the area a good dose of ground pepper and put car back . Seems to do the trick . Will do this on occasion as a deterrent . Also use cut up pieces of Febreeze scented cards in the cabin air filter and the glove box . The card comes from a Febreeze vacuum bag after it's full .

[YodaBird]

I checked the metal grid that is placed where I currently have no filter, surprisingly no change since the last time I checked, no excess of a destroyed cabin filter ontop of the metal grid; lets see when I check next time.

I'm not buying a cabin filter until I do a test with some foam to see if the chipmunk \ squirrel tries to destroy parts of it, hopefully not, then I can buy a filter again. I'll keep posted, hopefully this solution works, I hope, it wasn't my idea, it was my moms ! :)

[YodaBird]

Update: I checked inside the car today, after the car sat for two days, and there was, what looked like an interior of a car, inside of my car (I will post a picture soon). This little bastard has found another way inside the car.

I checked the best I could under the car, inside the car, and from my inspection, everything appears fine, so far.

I keep the two back seats folded down, when I lifted them up, I can't say how long it has been there because I haven't lifted the seats up all winter, but there was squirrel,chipmunk dropping on the seat. The interior piece I found today, wasn't there two days ago, it looked new, in good condition I was with a partner and they said, it looks very much like he ripped it from my car, I couldn't find any trace of it, it is a fair size piece, it doesn't look as if he used it, instead it was laying on the passenger seat.

My biggest fear is he rips the interior of the backseat, costing me to fix the interior, I've decided that some how, some way, and love animals, unfortunately I must kill him, he could cost me too much money, if not now, soon.

The only problem is; how to kill him, he appears very smart, but we all can agree, he is getting inside though an entry point, what is strong that would wipe him out, within a matter of hours ? There isn't any cats around so no stray animal would die in the process, unless another squirrel comes around. When checking the car, I saw him, same squirrel running across the wooden fence directly beside the car, that is the bastard I have to take out, he officially has made my car his home.

Two questions;

1. What would kill him ? He probably runs on the near by fence so if I can kill him there, the problem is any spray would penetrate the wood, I'm thinking squirrel traps ?
2. What other access is he getting in if he can't get in though the glove box, or is he bending his body some how around the glove box to get inside the car ?

[WeeYari]

Damn thing is jimmying the locks!


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[NYC-SE]

I see a Caddyshack sequel in the making.