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Cabin Air Filter Surprise

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Old 06-12-2016, 11:12 PM
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SLOWRYDE
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Default Cabin Air Filter Surprise

It's been a couple years since I changed out the Cabin air filter on my 2008 Z06. Car has 24K miles on it so I really wasn't too concerned.. Until I opened the cover in the engine bay and was stunned by the mess I found!!! A mouse apparently decided that the filter element was a great spot to build a nest (over the winter I assume). The car sits all winter long in the garage so I just never thought to check the cabin air filter. After tonight, you can bet I will be checking this more often. I'm am relieved the damn rodent didn't decide to chew on some of the adjacent wiring. A shop vac and cleaning wipes got the HVAC box back to looking new.




Let this serve as a reminder to check the Cabin Air filters on your Vettes.

Last edited by SLOWRYDE; 06-12-2016 at 11:18 PM. Reason: Added info
Old 06-12-2016, 11:26 PM
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Bert,M.
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Dammmmmm, i will be checking all my vehicles cabin filters first thing in the morning. Don't let me catch the little varmint that does this, he will be getting duct taped to a bottle rocket.
Old 06-12-2016, 11:30 PM
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SLOWRYDE
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Originally Posted by bert,m.
dammmmmm, i will be checking all my vehicles cabin filters first thing in the morning. Don't let me catch the little varmint that does this, he will be getting duct taped to a bottle rocket.
lol!
Old 06-12-2016, 11:37 PM
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jrose7004
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I've heard of that happening there a number of times.
Old 06-12-2016, 11:50 PM
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That's what you get for letting your car sit idle over the winter.
Old 06-12-2016, 11:58 PM
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SLOWRYDE
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Originally Posted by owc6
That's what you get for letting your car sit idle over the winter.
Ha! Probably serves me right... But in my defense, the car doesn't drive well in the snow
Old 06-13-2016, 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by SLOWRYDE
Ha! Probably serves me right... But in my defense, the car doesn't drive well in the snow
Look at your location and mine on a map.

Just jerking your chain. You don't have to drive it over the Rockies in a blizzard if you don't want to. BTW, that was not fun.
Old 06-13-2016, 12:12 AM
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SLOWRYDE
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Originally Posted by owc6
Look at your location and mine on a map.

Just jerking your chain. You don't have to drive it over the Rockies in a blizzard if you don't want to. BTW, that was not fun.
Nah, I drive my Tundra in bad weather. The Z is just a fair weather toy.
Old 06-13-2016, 02:12 AM
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So much for the two 120+ point inspections before purchasing...





Old 06-13-2016, 02:29 AM
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TerryL
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I found mice had been chewing on the plug boots on my CBX, not the other bikes, just the Honda. Left the car alone too. Traps got rid of them.
Old 06-13-2016, 06:24 AM
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Get a garage cat.
Old 06-13-2016, 06:34 AM
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K7MXE
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Had that issue twice. I made a tool out of copper pipe to route the flow of the vac cleaner so I got everything out and used a mechanics remote camera. When done used Lysol. Having a fresh filter trashed did not do me much good. I now have a mouse trap with a five gallon bucket with water and a ramp and drown the little devils.
Use peanut butter on a pill bottle and in the search engine will show up how to rig one of your own. Mice love Corvettes and Decon
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Old 06-13-2016, 07:06 AM
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The price, I change mine every other year.
Old 06-13-2016, 07:14 AM
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z06clif
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Originally Posted by SLOWRYDE
Ha! Probably serves me right... But in my defense, the car doesn't drive well in the snow
The filter is contained in a compartment with two latches on it. I would be concerned with how the little $#@&er got in there.

Clif
Old 06-13-2016, 07:17 AM
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BlindSpot
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yep...Think I'll take a look at my filter this morning!
Old 06-13-2016, 07:30 AM
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Joe B.
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Hopefully that's all it got into.
Old 06-13-2016, 07:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Jughead
Get a garage cat.
There's a whole other thread with cats around cars!

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Old 06-13-2016, 09:28 AM
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Smitsd
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Change mine every year after winter storage. It's not that expensive and easy to do.
Old 06-13-2016, 10:15 AM
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Not So Fast
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Originally Posted by z06clif
The filter is contained in a compartment with two latches on it. I would be concerned with how the little $#@&er got in there.

Clif
Yep, me 2, how in the world ??????????:confuse d2:
NSF
Old 06-13-2016, 10:29 AM
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SLOWRYDE
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Originally Posted by z06clif
The filter is contained in a compartment with two latches on it. I would be concerned with how the little $#@&er got in there.

Clif
I used a flashlight during the cleaning process and looked up into the HVAC to try and see where this little **** got into the HVAC. Looks like the outside air routes in through a channel from underneath the car and travels up into the box that contains the air filter. The air is sucked through the filter element by a cylindrical fan which also pushes the "clean" air through the vents into the cabin of the vehicle from what I can tell. Makes sense on why (thankfully) the mouse nested on top of the filter element instead of underneath it in the open chamber portion which leads to the fan.


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