A couple of times I've had to deal with mice getting in my 13 Fit. Both times, Mr/Mrs Mouse think the glovebox is a great place to build a nest. I've removed them. Set traps. Caught the current offenders. DOA..RIP Mickie.

However, I think there is more nest or next materials..when I run my heater, I get that distinctive mouse piss/poo smell. Not so much with the A/C but I do still smell it. Disgusting.

I'm rural. I'm constantly battling little creatures.

My question is how can I router out the heater vent? Is there a way to get to it to clean it, or vacuum it? I was thinking of finding the floor vent and running a wire coat hanger with a hook on the end and then vacuuming with a strong vacuum. Or is there a way to get to the ducts themselves? Is there someplace where I can see a schematic?

I don't eat in my car, never leave food in my car, so it's not a matter of them looking for food. Mostly looking for a nice shelter.
Thanks.
Perry

Thanks.

 

Hey, I can actually help with this answer, used to be a pest tech. Long story short it has nothing to do with how clean you keep your car. Those things are opportunistic, can sense heat and will seek it. They also eat almost anything, if their environment is lacking. Mostly the wire insulation off wiring looms but I've seen them eat plastic derived from plants, wood, all kinds of weird stuff. There's a way to mostly open up the bottom of the HVAC in the passenger side of the dash without removing a ton of crap. The blower motor, at least from memory, comes straight down under the cabin air filter. Ought to be able to snake a vacuum in and clean it out pretty good. I'll PM you a copy of the service manual but I'll start looking to find the procedure to get into the HVAC and if I find it I'll post here and PM you again.

 

 

I was able to find the nasty mess of a nest. I took out the glove box. Two easy screws underneath. There is also a molding under the glovebox I took off as well. Easy clips.
took out the cabin filter. From there one can see the trap door activate as you switch from recirculated air to inside air. With the trap door in a certain position that trap door made evidently the perfect spot to make the nest. Unfortunately the foam that insulated the trap door is mouse urine soaked. I diluted by soaking and then sopping most all out. My results make air quality a thousand times better, but I’d really like to change that trap door. OR second best, maybe get some activated charcoal in a small porous container to absorb odor and moisture
It was gross.
I also was able to snake my vac hose up inside somewhat.

 

Good lord, look at all that poop. Yeah, I hated the cleanup part. We had these hacky-sack looking things for charcoal, sort of looked like this:


You might get away with using a coffee filter tied off

 

Cabin air filter in our CIVIC. This car was driven 5 days a wk to work and off/on over the weekends. Industrious critters.

 

Actually allot of the wire insulation is now soy based instead of petroleum based. It's yummy food for them

 

The last time I changed the FIT cabin air filter, it was full of the clear-ish white plastic from the firewall inside the cabin. Maybe it's soundproofing but a lot of it was chewed off.

Keeping a car clean could help but it seems the mice will bring their own snacks if you aren't already providing.