mister moose
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2014
- Messages
- 22
- Reaction score
- 7
- Points
- 3
- Location
- NW CT
- Vehicle Year
- 2011
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 4L
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Total Lift
- None
- Total Drop
- None
- Tire Size
- OEM
- My credo
- Never work on a powder day.
Second time this has happened. First time was away from home, truck would stall 15 seconds after starting. Mechanic was convinced it was fuel problem, replaced electric pump at tank. After $700 of parts and labor, he checks the airbox. Finds a mouse nest, and the mouse had chewed through the air filter so the entire mess was clogging up the throttle body.
Second time was yesterday. Had to replace the vent fan, which requires you remove the plastic reservoirs, which requires you remove the air box. Boom, my second mouse nest, although this time I'm thinking chipmunk, all leaves. I'm so done with this.
I thought of what I hope turns into a cheap easy solution. First, remove the airbox from the truck. It's held in place only by 4 rubber pylons. Lift up from the engine side first, then there is a plenum in the front that it has to be lifted clear of, and then the 2 upper rubber pylons against the fender are last. You will see a small trumpet flare on the front of the box, the nice wide air intake, ie mouse tunnel. This fits into a small rectangular plenum. It is held only by 2 barbed body clips. Pry them out and take the plenum out.
My solution is to 1) get yourself some 1/2" hardware cloth type fence. The grid is ideal for mice, small enough to keep them out but not overly restrictive of air flow. And it's a decent gauge metal, so they can't chew through it. I cut a rectangular piece just oversize for the front of the plenum, and bent the excess around the front. The 2 body clips poke through their own holes. Re-install it, and the body clips hold the screen plenty tight.
Here's a photo looking at the screen with the plenum in and the airbox removed:
Second time was yesterday. Had to replace the vent fan, which requires you remove the plastic reservoirs, which requires you remove the air box. Boom, my second mouse nest, although this time I'm thinking chipmunk, all leaves. I'm so done with this.
I thought of what I hope turns into a cheap easy solution. First, remove the airbox from the truck. It's held in place only by 4 rubber pylons. Lift up from the engine side first, then there is a plenum in the front that it has to be lifted clear of, and then the 2 upper rubber pylons against the fender are last. You will see a small trumpet flare on the front of the box, the nice wide air intake, ie mouse tunnel. This fits into a small rectangular plenum. It is held only by 2 barbed body clips. Pry them out and take the plenum out.
My solution is to 1) get yourself some 1/2" hardware cloth type fence. The grid is ideal for mice, small enough to keep them out but not overly restrictive of air flow. And it's a decent gauge metal, so they can't chew through it. I cut a rectangular piece just oversize for the front of the plenum, and bent the excess around the front. The 2 body clips poke through their own holes. Re-install it, and the body clips hold the screen plenty tight.
Here's a photo looking at the screen with the plenum in and the airbox removed:
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