After a mouse died on top of my cabin air filter, I had to do something! Lexus of Albuquerque offered a "screen" for $600 including installation. But I thought I'd give it a go before spending that type of money.
Basically, the cabin fresh air intake is located under the wiper assembly, in the engine compartment. I removed the plastic cover, then the wiper assembly, and could easily access the inlet ports for the cabin fresh air. I then simply installed approx 1/4" roofing screen I got from my local hardware store with come self tapping sheet metal screws with a drop of red loctite. Total cost $12.54




Plastic Cover removed





Large openings for fresh air intake for cabin air





1/4" screen installed over air intakes for cabin fresh air





close up of screen installed over one side of cabin air intake. there is also one more on the driver side, under the wiper assembly





wiper assemebly reinstalled after screen installed for cabin fresh air intake

 

That must of been one smelly discovery! What are the 2 circular openings on the drivers side? Is that the fresh air vent opening?

 

Yes, it was a very smelly discovery!

The black wholes on the driver side are unused, sealed grommets.

The green circled areas are the air vent openings (that I covered with the screen), the red circled areas are the unused, sealed grommets.



Green=Air Opening & Red=sealed grommets
#StopMiceGettingInCar

 

Great post with all of the photos. I will have to put this on my to-do list.

 

hi, I am about to attempt this screening method, what length of self tapping screws should I use? Is it possible to get an answer today? September 7, 2021?

 

I think I used 1/2" self tapping, button-head, sheet-metal screws. I don't remember exactly. There is a chance I may have used 3/8". The threaded part of the screw was approximately 1/4" longer than the screen (just enough to thread through the car's metal). I hope that helps a little. Good luck!

 

Follow up to screening for Mice. I pretty much did exactly what you suggested and also purchased peppermint oil and have several areas in my car that have a scent inundated sanitary pads! Lol! but it's a good way because the glue on the bottom keeps it in place. i'm keeping my fingers crossed I put in about $1200 worth of ripping the seats out even found mice in the moon roof area.

 

Step one not often mentioned - store NO food in your car. No crackers in the glovebox, if you eat in it, vacuum up the crumbs regularly.

 

So simple yet brilliant.

Being honest I keep windows always closed when I park so I don't get cats or rodents in the car and always forget the McDonalds bag. haha

 

Great point for some, but its basic commom sense.........

 

Why don't you kill the root cause which is the pestering (hungry) rats. You need a pest control expert.

 

I didn't know until I seen threads like this there was a way for rodents to get in with the windows closed.
Mostly worried about neighborhood cats sleeping in the car.

Guess I been lucky my dash wires aren't chewed up by rats- I'm bad about leaving food and drink in the car.

>> If rats can get in maybe snakes can too...