Cabin air system help please!

Mendel Leisk · Jan 2, 2014

NutzAboutBolts has an excellent video regarding removal of parts at the windshield bottom. It's theoretically about spark plug replacement, but definitely a case where the journey outshines the destination.

LisaRSmith · Jun 5, 2014

Hi Bill,
My husband installed a screen on the cabin air inlet opening. Now we need to cover the two vents in the rear cargo area. I have been scouring the web for photos for the Gen III of what needs to be removed and the location of the rear vents. Do you have photos?

Thank you,
Lisa

Bill Serres said: ↑

Hi everyone,
Sorry for this slow response to your posts. I have been busy designing and installing rodent prevention screens on my 2011 Gen 3 Prius. After spending $1800 to clean and deodorize the passenger area cabin interior I am not going to risk more rodent damage.

I am screening openings to the passenger cabin area and the engine air intake as these areas are very difficult and expensive to clean but fairly easy to effectively screen.
My research indicates that screening the 5” by 10” cabin air inlet opening through the passenger side of the “firewall” ( between the upper cowl grille and the lower cowl water collection pan) and the 2 rear “flapper” vent openings on the rear quarter panels (accessible by removing the rear cargo area floor panels) will prevent rodents from entering the cabin area. I have designed and fabricated a set of 4, ¼”mesh, 23 guage, galvanized steel screens to cover the 3 cabin openings and the 1 engine air intake opening.

The dealer who cleaned my Prius for $1800 mentioned warranty problems if screws are used and holes are drilled to install screens so my design provides non invasive methods of installing all the screens to address the warranty issue. The engine air intake and 2 rear flapper vent screens can be easily installed by a handy Prius owner. The upper cowl grille cover must be removed to install the 5” by 10” cabin air inlet screen and then reinstalled to complete the installation. This can be done by a skilled Prius owner or Prius dealer.

I don’t think it is feasible to keep rodents out of the area between the cowl grille and the water collection pan(and thus out of the passenger cabin) by improving the fit of the upper cowl grille around the windshield wipers and baffles and the fit of lower cowl water collection pan to the “firewall”. I also do not think it is feasible to screen the engine compartment. I plan to periodically check for and remove any rodents found in these reasonably visible and accessible areas. I plan to research the use of sticky pads and baits placed in the cooler areas of the engine compartment to control rodents.

In my 52 years of owning vehicles I have never experienced such an aggressive invasion of any other of my vehicles in such a short time. My previous experience has been one rodent nest in the engine area of a stored van and one rodent nest on top of the battery on a stored tractor about 5 years ago. Based on this experience I find it prudent and necessary to install screens on my Pruis.

If anyone has questions or comments please reply. If anyone wants a set of 4 custom made screens and attachment hardware for a Gen 3 Prius along with installation instructions let me know and I will provide them for a reasonable price.

Thanks, Bill Serres
Click to expand...

LisaRSmith · Jun 6, 2014

Hi Bill,
My husband installed a screen on the cabin air inlet opening. Now we need to cover the two vents in the rear cargo area. I have been scouring the web for photos for the Gen III of what needs to be removed and the location of the rear vents. Do you have photos?

Thank you,
Lisa

Bill Serres said: ↑

Hi everyone,
Sorry for this slow response to your posts. I have been busy designing and installing rodent prevention screens on my 2011 Gen 3 Prius. After spending $1800 to clean and deodorize the passenger area cabin interior I am not going to risk more rodent damage.

I am screening openings to the passenger cabin area and the engine air intake as these areas are very difficult and expensive to clean but fairly easy to effectively screen.
My research indicates that screening the 5” by 10” cabin air inlet opening through the passenger side of the “firewall” ( between the upper cowl grille and the lower cowl water collection pan) and the 2 rear “flapper” vent openings on the rear quarter panels (accessible by removing the rear cargo area floor panels) will prevent rodents from entering the cabin area. I have designed and fabricated a set of 4, ¼”mesh, 23 guage, galvanized steel screens to cover the 3 cabin openings and the 1 engine air intake opening.

The dealer who cleaned my Prius for $1800 mentioned warranty problems if screws are used and holes are drilled to install screens so my design provides non invasive methods of installing all the screens to address the warranty issue. The engine air intake and 2 rear flapper vent screens can be easily installed by a handy Prius owner. The upper cowl grille cover must be removed to install the 5” by 10” cabin air inlet screen and then reinstalled to complete the installation. This can be done by a skilled Prius owner or Prius dealer.

I don’t think it is feasible to keep rodents out of the area between the cowl grille and the water collection pan(and thus out of the passenger cabin) by improving the fit of the upper cowl grille around the windshield wipers and baffles and the fit of lower cowl water collection pan to the “firewall”. I also do not think it is feasible to screen the engine compartment. I plan to periodically check for and remove any rodents found in these reasonably visible and accessible areas. I plan to research the use of sticky pads and baits placed in the cooler areas of the engine compartment to control rodents.

In my 52 years of owning vehicles I have never experienced such an aggressive invasion of any other of my vehicles in such a short time. My previous experience has been one rodent nest in the engine area of a stored van and one rodent nest on top of the battery on a stored tractor about 5 years ago. Based on this experience I find it prudent and necessary to install screens on my Pruis.

If anyone has questions or comments please reply. If anyone wants a set of 4 custom made screens and attachment hardware for a Gen 3 Prius along with installation instructions let me know and I will provide them for a reasonable price.

Thanks, Bill Serres
Click to expand...

DaveTheSave · Nov 21, 2016

Bill Serres said: ↑

Hi everyone,
Sorry for this slow response to your posts. I have been busy designing and installing rodent prevention screens on my 2011 Gen 3 Prius. After spending $1800 to clean and deodorize the passenger area cabin interior I am not going to risk more rodent damage.

I am screening openings to the passenger cabin area and the engine air intake as these areas are very difficult and expensive to clean but fairly easy to effectively screen.
My research indicates that screening the 5” by 10” cabin air inlet opening through the passenger side of the “firewall” ( between the upper cowl grille and the lower cowl water collection pan) and the 2 rear “flapper” vent openings on the rear quarter panels (accessible by removing the rear cargo area floor panels) will prevent rodents from entering the cabin area. I have designed and fabricated a set of 4, ¼”mesh, 23 guage, galvanized steel screens to cover the 3 cabin openings and the 1 engine air intake opening.

The dealer who cleaned my Prius for $1800 mentioned warranty problems if screws are used and holes are drilled to install screens so my design provides non invasive methods of installing all the screens to address the warranty issue. The engine air intake and 2 rear flapper vent screens can be easily installed by a handy Prius owner. The upper cowl grille cover must be removed to install the 5” by 10” cabin air inlet screen and then reinstalled to complete the installation. This can be done by a skilled Prius owner or Prius dealer.

I don’t think it is feasible to keep rodents out of the area between the cowl grille and the water collection pan(and thus out of the passenger cabin) by improving the fit of the upper cowl grille around the windshield wipers and baffles and the fit of lower cowl water collection pan to the “firewall”. I also do not think it is feasible to screen the engine compartment. I plan to periodically check for and remove any rodents found in these reasonably visible and accessible areas. I plan to research the use of sticky pads and baits placed in the cooler areas of the engine compartment to control rodents.

In my 52 years of owning vehicles I have never experienced such an aggressive invasion of any other of my vehicles in such a short time. My previous experience has been one rodent nest in the engine area of a stored van and one rodent nest on top of the battery on a stored tractor about 5 years ago. Based on this experience I find it prudent and necessary to install screens on my Pruis.

If anyone has questions or comments please reply. If anyone wants a set of 4 custom made screens and attachment hardware for a Gen 3 Prius along with installation instructions let me know and I will provide them for a reasonable price.

Thanks, Bill Serres
Click to expand...

DaveTheSave · Nov 21, 2016

Bill Serres said: ↑

Hi everyone,
Sorry for this slow response to your posts. I have been busy designing and installing rodent prevention screens on my 2011 Gen 3 Prius. After spending $1800 to clean and deodorize the passenger area cabin interior I am not going to risk more rodent damage.

I am screening openings to the passenger cabin area and the engine air intake as these areas are very difficult and expensive to clean but fairly easy to effectively screen.
My research indicates that screening the 5” by 10” cabin air inlet opening through the passenger side of the “firewall” ( between the upper cowl grille and the lower cowl water collection pan) and the 2 rear “flapper” vent openings on the rear quarter panels (accessible by removing the rear cargo area floor panels) will prevent rodents from entering the cabin area. I have designed and fabricated a set of 4, ¼”mesh, 23 guage, galvanized steel screens to cover the 3 cabin openings and the 1 engine air intake opening.

The dealer who cleaned my Prius for $1800 mentioned warranty problems if screws are used and holes are drilled to install screens so my design provides non invasive methods of installing all the screens to address the warranty issue. The engine air intake and 2 rear flapper vent screens can be easily installed by a handy Prius owner. The upper cowl grille cover must be removed to install the 5” by 10” cabin air inlet screen and then reinstalled to complete the installation. This can be done by a skilled Prius owner or Prius dealer.

I don’t think it is feasible to keep rodents out of the area between the cowl grille and the water collection pan(and thus out of the passenger cabin) by improving the fit of the upper cowl grille around the windshield wipers and baffles and the fit of lower cowl water collection pan to the “firewall”. I also do not think it is feasible to screen the engine compartment. I plan to periodically check for and remove any rodents found in these reasonably visible and accessible areas. I plan to research the use of sticky pads and baits placed in the cooler areas of the engine compartment to control rodents.

In my 52 years of owning vehicles I have never experienced such an aggressive invasion of any other of my vehicles in such a short time. My previous experience has been one rodent nest in the engine area of a stored van and one rodent nest on top of the battery on a stored tractor about 5 years ago. Based on this experience I find it prudent and necessary to install screens on my Pruis.

If anyone has questions or comments please reply. If anyone wants a set of 4 custom made screens and attachment hardware for a Gen 3 Prius along with installation instructions let me know and I will provide them for a reasonable price.

Thanks, Bill Serres
Click to expand...

Bill Serres said: ↑

Hello,
Although getting the vertical baffles properly placed is important, I do not think that reinforcing the baffles is a good way of keeping rodents out. I count 5 holes large enough for rodents to pass around the baffles in my Prius. The baffles are gasketed with half inch thick foam rubber which rodents quickly chewed up on my Pruis. The baffles are made of plastic which I believe persistent rodents can eat through. There are 10 feet of seams, cracks, and openings that would need to be sealed to keep rodents out of the area contained by the baffles, the cowl grille, the cowl water collection pan, the firewall, and the baffles - not a feasible solution in my opinion. The baffles may be effective in directing air into the cabin air intake opening but my experience is that they were ineffective in keeping rodents out of the cabin.
I have designed and installed a simple 5 inch by 10 inch metal screen cover for the cabin air intake opening in the metal firewall as an effective method of keeping rodents from entering the cabin from the cowl area. Please see attached photo for my solution. If anyone wants one of these screens and installation instructions let me know. I would appreciate comments on my solution.
Thanks,
Bill Serres
Click to expand...

Hi Bill,

I have a Third Gen 2011 Prius with a Cabin Filter Area "Mouse" problem. I like your pic of the air intake under the cowl area. it looks like you used HVAC Foil Tape around the perimeter of the 5" x 10" 1/4" Mesh/Screen. But, how did you attach it? Did you use the "30 lbs." Heavy Duty Double Sided Mounting Tape from Scotch or Gorilla? I have the 2' x 5' x 1/4" Galvanized Mesh. Also, where can I find the instructions/directions for removing the "Cowling" to get to that spot? Any and all info would be Greatly Appreciated. Thanks!

Rebound · Nov 21, 2016

DaveTheSave said: ↑

Hi Bill,

I have a Third Gen 2011 Prius with a Cabin Filter Area "Mouse" problem. I like your pic of the air intake under the cowl area. it looks like you used HVAC Foil Tape around the perimeter of the 5" x 10" 1/4" Mesh/Screen. But, how did you attach it? Did you use the "30 lbs." Heavy Duty Double Sided Mounting Tape from Scotch or Gorilla? I have the 2' x 5' x 1/4" Galvanized Mesh. Also, where can I find the instructions/directions for removing the "Cowling" to get to that spot? Any and all info would be Greatly Appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's not difficult but it takes some time. Just some basic 3/8"'ratchet sockets with a long extension. Directions are in the spark plug replacement video you'll find at the link below. I've followed this myself for a spark plug change so I know it works.
Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

DaveTheSave · Nov 23, 2016

Rebound said: ↑

It's not difficult but it takes some time. Just some basic 3/8"'ratchet sockets with a long extension. Directions are in the spark plug replacement video you'll find at the link below. I've followed this myself for a spark plug change so I know it works.
Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, I was actually in the process of viewing that same video (from a google search) and writing my notes (step by step) before I go to the dealership for air bag recall + EGR "sticking" problem, so that I can get anything clarified by the technicians. Like how exactly to position/move the wiper assembly to remove it without destroying the grommet in the center/back.

Are you aware of exactly how "Bill" attached the "1/4" Mesh" to the firewall? Again, I'm thinking heavy duty (30lbs.) double sided mounting tape AND "taping" the perimeter with HVAC Foil Tape to provide more surface area for the mounting tape to adhere to.

Any thoughts?

Thanks again for your reply. Happy Holidays!!!

DaveTheSave · Nov 23, 2016

DaveTheSave said: ↑

Thanks for that, I was actually in the process of viewing that same video (from a google search) and writing my notes (step by step) before I go to the dealership for air bag recall + EGR "sticking" problem, so that I can get anything clarified by the technicians. Like how exactly to position/move the wiper assembly to remove it without destroying the grommet in the center/back.

Are you aware of exactly how "Bill" attached the "1/4" Mesh" to the firewall? Again, I'm thinking heavy duty (30lbs.) double sided mounting tape AND "taping" the perimeter with HVAC Foil Tape to provide more surface area for the mounting tape to adhere to.

Any thoughts?

Thanks again for your reply. Happy Holidays!!!
Click to expand...

Incase you have not seen Bill's pic: Go here: Cabin air system help please! | PriusChat, hit "Ctrl" and "F", type in: 1043, and that will lead you to the pic.

Rebound · Nov 23, 2016

DaveTheSave said: ↑

Thanks for that, I was actually in the process of viewing that same video (from a google search) and writing my notes (step by step) before I go to the dealership for air bag recall + EGR "sticking" problem, so that I can get anything clarified by the technicians. Like how exactly to position/move the wiper assembly to remove it without destroying the grommet in the center/back.

Are you aware of exactly how "Bill" attached the "1/4" Mesh" to the firewall? Again, I'm thinking heavy duty (30lbs.) double sided mounting tape AND "taping" the perimeter with HVAC Foil Tape to provide more surface area for the mounting tape to adhere to.

Any thoughts?

Thanks again for your reply. Happy Holidays!!!
Click to expand...

He mentions something in the video about what you do before removing the wiper arms, but it's very straightforward.

I wouldn't go with tape. I'd use metal mesh and self-tapping screws. Pre-drill holes for them. Maybe 3" apart. I'm not the World's Biggest Expert and maybe there are better ways?

Buy some Clorox wipes from the grocery store and use them to clean, clean, clean the sheet metal you remove. It's your cabin air intake and everybody wants fresh air in the cabin!

Cabin air system help please!

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