H2O MAN

Hello, I searched, but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.

The in cab air filter housing in my fathers '98 RL has become a favorite nesting spot for rats, BFRs.
A few hours parked in the hot sun with the windows up forced one big rat into the the cabin, but he couldn't escape... DRT.
The dealer is currently cleaning out the source of what I can smell but not see.

My question(s):

Does anyone have a an idea how the rodents gain entry?

Could someone suggest methods to block their path and prevent re-entry?

Thank you.

H2O MAN

Also, the dealer mentioned that this problem is pretty common with this body style.

Has there ever been a service bulletin covering this problem?

Ken1997TL

I've never heard of such a thing with the RL. I'd have a look under the hood, the intake for the cabin air is at the base of the windshield. Otherwise rodents have apparently learned to open gloveboxes..

H2O MAN

I appreciate the quick response.

This is the 2nd service of it's kind this year ... I 1st became aware of the problem when the service writer called me back to show me the mess they found when they replaced the cabin filter for the very first time earlier this year. We knew it was rodents, but no critters were found.

Its obvious they moved back into their apartment right away as if nothing had happened. I checked the area below the windshield last Friday and saw nothing out of the ordinary, I will inspect it closely when I get the car back.

Also, there is evidence that they have been busy under the hood chewing on the under hood insulation blanket.

Pro-Pilot

Very strange. Unless there's a hole somewhere between the vent and the air filter area.....never heard of something like this before.

H2O MAN

The way it looks now, the rats came up the wheel well on the passenger side and gnawed a large hole through the 'box' directly underneath the cowl panel on the passenger side. I will take pictures once we figure out how to prevent re-entry.

Fabvsix

I would rid the RAT/RODENT issue by getting some of these....http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_3e1ng28njv_b

Fabvsix

They work too! Buy on and place it near your car.....good luck

dillonj177

When I got my rl it was sitting for a year and I smelt like rat the they had chewed the wires for the brake lights I had to bomb the car then it took me 2 weeks to clean it out