rat's nest

My truck has been idling rough (without codes) so I decided to see if cleaning the MAF. When I pulled the air filter box off, I discovered what appears to be a rat or squirrels nest inside the box. It was completely stuffed full in the area between the layers but clean where the air filter sits. Hopefully cleaning that out and the MAF will make a difference. I might change the air filter too.

Anyone else had this problem?

Yep, in vehicles that sit for a time. Be glad that's all they did

Back in the early 80s, my brother had a '72 Monte Carlo that sat a lot. One day, it wouldn't start .... Very slow, dragging starter. Put battery on charge and waited a few hours. Still slow, dragging starter.
He was checking the wiring connections and just out of desperation, he opened the air cleaner for a shot of starting fluid .... to find the whole housing was stuffed full of dog food. Rodents had stuffed it full and was choking off the air supply to the pistons.

I don’t think they did anything else, but it didn’t fix the rough idle.

Yep. My dads car has been sitting for a few months. He has since passed, and I am trying to get the car ready to give to a nephew - what a mess. The mice were building nests inside the interior, and airbox. Ick.

Once drove 250 miles in my last square-body with it just running like poop.
Cold late Fall, through mountain passes at night.
Couldn't figure it out. Everytime I'd hit passing gear, it'd fall on it's face. Coughing & sputtering. No get-up-&-go. Figured I'd picked up some water in the tank last time I fueled up.
Next morning, I get to diagnosing. Pull off the air-cleaner lid & inside it's packed full with straw. WTF?
Suddenly, up pops three sets of eyes. Field mice! Still alive, but looking really ruffled up & google eyed. Kinda dazed & confused.
They hesitated for just a second. Getting their bearings, I guess, before they moved.
When they did, I jumped & they jumped out, hitting the ground runnin'.
Removed probably 5 pounds worth of nesting materials! Packed in tight.
I was amazed that the truck could even run with all that in there.
Must of been a helluva cold drafty ride for those rodents!

sewlow said:

Must of been a helluva cold drafty ride for those rodents!

Click to expand...

No doubt.... Several hours worth.

Yea I have a hard body toyota and squirrels ate up the windshield wiper wiring, vacuum piping, all kinds of sensor wires, brake wires. They really went to town and all because the truck sat under a tree for about 6 months without being moved. Cleaned out acorns from everywhere

My buddy had a bird nest built under his hood when his truck sat under a tree.

1998 Monte Carlo. Car ran fine, but I pulled the air filter "just because", and found this:

No actual critters in sight.