Crumpler

Otis, my solution was to release several large black snakes in the car...your idea seems better, in hindsight.

​​​​The snakes minimized the Venturi effect in the air tubes....

dr bob

Maybe only until there was that fat part of the snake with a mouse inside.

M. Requin

Great idea Otis, just picked up some of this gutter guard at Lowes and will try to do as neat a job as you did.

Randy V

Does it restrict airflow?

dr bob

Yes. Everything restricts airflow. The throttle plate is a great example of an airflow restriction, the common limiting factor in all but the most serious full-throttle top-speed operation.

RKD in OKC

How does a throttle plate keep debris out of the intake?

The be more serious. How much area is there at the mouth of where the scoops are compared to the throat of the scoop assuming that is she smallest area leading into the airbox?

A typical screen type mesh that stops debris allows about 72% of the air flow or blocks 28% of the available area.

YT1

Resurrecting this old thread because I had a visitor in my car this winter. 😬 I was meticulous about rodent proofing my shed, so this caught me by surprise. I wanted to show an example of how this can be done on S-4. Unfortunately the car is still running rough after I replaced the air filter. I’m thinking I will need to replace the spark plugs because I drove it for for a while before I discovered my squatter. If that doesn’t work, cleaning the MAF. Unless anyone has a better idea?

linderpat

That stinks! Maybe the critter chewed a wire or two?

dr bob

Inspect the area under the intake manifold for more debris and damage to wiring there. The valley is a favorite spot for mice to winter.

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Lots of ways to keep mice out of the engine bay. I have the car up on tall stands, but still place some punctured zip-lock bags with a mothball or two at some strategic places. A couple in the tray at the top of the radiator, forward of the air intake funnels will limit foot traffic there. Stuff one gently in next to the oil filler neck, under the manifold by the water bridge. A few more on the fuel rails so the fragrance can waft gently into the space under the intake from the sides. Another couple at the rear corners of the intake just forward of the air cleaner box. Then some placed around the perimeter of the belly pans, in the wheels if they are still mounted to the car. I strongly recommend that you keep careful track of where you put them, and consider making some long tabs/flags out of blue painter's tape to make them easier to find in sparing. They become extremely fragrant if left in there with the engine running. No need to ask how I might know that.