Hello, First time changing the cabin air filter on my 2024 RDX Aspec. Car is 1 year old with 15,000 miles. Pulled out the filter and found all this fluffy stuff (see attached photos) on the filter. The entire cavity under the dash where the filter goes is packed with the stuff, all above the filter location. Is this "insulation" of some sort (that should remain), or do I have a rodent nest that I need to remove? I've never had this on any of my other cars. Your advise appreciated?

 

I'd say it looks like a rodent got in to build a nest. Probably need to remove the cowl under the wipers and clean the air cabin filter box out.

Check out prior thread on what a member did to correct it.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-rdx-...filter-999192/

 

well well well, look what the cat rat dragged in, definitely right call.

 

Might need to check around the garage to find out where the stuffing is coming from and disinfect all areas as needed? People can get sick from mice droppings, urine, and saliva out west because of hantavirus (Gene Hackman's wife died from this in Santa Fe, NM).

 

Thank you all. I've never encountered this before on one of my vehicles. Lived in the same house for 28 years. Cars parked outside. Just checked my other car and no debris. Since I bought the car (brand new), I've thought the heat and a/c didn't work very well. I think this nest was built in the car at the dealer! Now cleaned out, it works so much better than ever before! When I first saw it, I thought it might be some factory installed insulation that came lose. Guess not!

Thank you all again for your prompt responses!

 

The white fluffy stuff is from the insulation over the wheel wells on your car. If you grab a flashlight and pop the hood I'll bet you will be able to see where it came from. To the left of the windshield washer reservoir there is a gap where you can shine the light down and see the insulation. It's black on the outside but you should see the white fluffy stuff where the rodents have been tearing at it. On our car that's where most of the insulation came from but they also got a little bit from the drivers side.

 

Thanks for this information! I checked both sides (as you suggested and from the tire side) and can clearly see the black covering with zero fluffy stuff exposed. At this point, I’m hoping and do believe that the material used by the rodents came from elsewhere.

I pulled the cabin air filter again today after running the fan on full for a couple of days. No additional fluffy stuff! So, at least it looks like I got it all cleaned out.

 

It's possible it came from elsewhere but it sure looks like the same fluffy stuff that was on our filter.

 

I've owned a Porsche for many years and Porsche recommends some form of rodent repellent be used if or when the car is put in storage in the winter months, as might be likely here in SE Pennsylvania. For many years they recommended that moth balls be distributed liberally in the car and I kept about (8) tuna fish cans with mothballs in the car. Naphtha can be hazardous and you don't want it to directly contact plastic or vinyl. I later switched to a rodent control product that smells like balsam fir needles. It seems to work well as I've had no issues with my cars and do on occasion catch mice in traps especially in the fall. The product I use now is available on Amazon My local Tractor Supply also carries it. Not inexpensive however. The marketing hype says good for 30 days but I leave them in the car year round and replace them in late fall.