Critters Destroyed My Heater/AC Box

[RChesney]

Just a heads up for anyone who lives in rural areas! My 1998 2500 was not driven much for awhile and mice/rodents found their way into the heater/ac box near the heater core. I headed for town one day and a few miles down the road, smoke started coming out of the heater vents! I pulled off the road and opened the doors and hood, no sign of fire, just smoke! Mistakenly, I turned on the blower to blow the smoke out and promptly burned a hole through the heater/ac box!
I took the truck back to the same dealer I bought it at in 1998! Turned it into my insurance and the shop was able to find a replacement heater/ac box at a wrecking yard. $500 later, I have a new system in my truck! I was also able to find some rodent repellent (peppermint oil spray) that keeps the critters at bay so far! Just keep an eye out if you live out in the boonies! They like heaters!

 

[Topzide]

Already started that prep with the dropping night time temps! Advised a neighbor to do the peppermint oil and cotton balls to ward them off! The tractor guys are putting in there cabs and cable runs with winter approaching! Have got the traps set, no trophies yet! Still plenty of time!

 

[BigPapa]

Was the blower wheel blocked from turning and the motor got hot enough to catch the junk on fire?

 

[petersonj]

Likely the resistor blocks in the blower housing were glowing if the blower fan was set to any speed but high speed with a stalled or heavily loaded motor.

- John

 

[RChesney]

Was the blower wheel blocked from turning and the motor got hot enough to catch the junk on fire?

No, the blower was free to turn. Bedding material was packed up against the heater core which ignited it. The blower just fed lots of air to the fire!

 

[GAmes]

Your dealer's hourly rate must be pretty low. $500 to remove the dash and replace the heater plenum is a bargain.

 

[BigPapa]

Bedding material was packed up against the heater core which ignited it.

That must be a hot heater core. Paper and leaves don't ignite till it gets 400* plus.

 

[GAmes]

No, the blower was free to turn. Bedding material was packed up against the heater core which ignited it. The blower just fed lots of air to the fire!

Your plenum must be a lot different than mine. Leaves and trash are prevented from reaching the heater core by the evaporator. I agree with Scott, the fan motor was more than likely the ignition source.

 

[Ozymandias]

Shouldn't there be a screen at the air intake within the cowling?
To keep that from happening.

 

[petersonj]

Shouldn't there be a screen at the air intake within the cowling?
To keep that from happening.

No screen on my truck, but I did make one.

- John

 

[GAmes]

Shouldn't there be a screen at the air intake within the cowling?
To keep that from happening.

Not from the factory.

 

[BigPapa]

When I bought my ‘95 out of north Georgia, mine was FULL of pine needles. I pulled the blower motor and they were matted up against the evaporator.

 

[Topzide]

There wasn't much protection on the early years! If you had anything, it was a plastic grate that let most anything through it! And of course, vermin can squeeze through the smallest of openings! Had one that was using the drain tube on an older Toyota that drove me nut trying to figure out how they were getting in! Put 2 pins cross ways through the tube, that stopped them!

 

[RChesney]

Shouldn't there be a screen at the air intake within the cowling?
To keep that from happening.

Not on the 2nd gen. I tried to make one but couldn't get enough access.

 

[Ozymandias]

Not on the 2nd gen. I tried to make one but couldn't get enough access.

Thanks, didn't know that. The 3rd Gen ha a little screen on it.
So I was wondering about that.

 

[BigPapa]

Pretty sure you could remove the plastic cowl between the hood and the windshield and put a screen under it. I can’t imagine even a mouse getting in through that cowl.

 

[Topzide]

Wouldn't put it past them getting in through any where! The will climb anything that they can grab onto and then squeeze through the smallest of openings! Traps and deterrents are a must if living rural and country for sure! Sore for I haven't had a repeat of them chewing the battery cover! The peppermint oil and the traps put a hurt on them last year!!!