Replacing cabin air filter?

RFERRIN

MEMBER
2019 TOYOTA AVALON
6 CYL
52,000 MILES

Have a new filter. Pulled the old one out. Noticed pieces of insulation on it looked up inside slot where it goes. Appears to be a large chunk of insulation up in the vent that is there. Noticed an odor of urine and saw mouse droppings. Just bought the car. Came from the Washington Oregon area. Can this stuff be pulled out? Did a previous owner put this in there to stop mice? Cleaned off old filter with compressed air and put back in. I am paranoid about hantavirus.

Monday, April 28th, 2025 AT 10:32 AM

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
15,233 POSTS

Textbook case of rodent damage. You can use a vacuum to remove the pieces you can see, Then wear a mask and use compressed air to blow out the ducts. Next you have a couple options. Use a foaming cleaner to spray into the ductwork or what a friend of mine does is to remove the vent air directors on the dash and then use soft sponges and fish line to pull through the ducts with cleaner on them. Then clean out the HVAC case and the blower fan and hope they don't return. Rodents are a pain when it comes to vehicles, they like to chew wiring and hoses and leave waste everywhere they go. This is a related query.
https://www.2carpros.com/questions/mouse-problem

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Monday, April 28th, 2025 AT 12:11 PM