So this is what was jammed into the cabin air intake where the two filters are when I just got my RX-8 out of storage. There were a few dozen walnuts along with grass, leaves and two destroyed filters! I removed the fan to clean it out. I had scattered Fleecy sheets throughout while the car was stored in a shelter. How in gods name do they get access to it?

What’s worse is that I must have left the fan on a low speed and while driving it out of storage, the fan was likely totally jammed and has burned out some circuit. However I still have speed 4 for some reason so the fuse didn’t blow. Is it possible some circuit on a PCB where the HVAC controls are may have partially fried? Or has the fan motor partially failed? Thoughts greatly appreciated! (I HATE squirrels!)

 

Tree rats have cost me thousands on 2 separate vehicles.

Do you know if you left the cabin air mode on?
(Recirculate mode)
If you did, then the varmints likely chewed their way through, or past the little vent door.

 

Max fan speed bypasses the blower motor resistor to provide max voltage to the fan motor. All other speeds are routed through the resistor. If you only have max speed, I'd suspect the resistor.

 

Thanx for your thoughts. I found a good DIY from 2010 that will give me the steps in doing this. I still need to figure out where in the body those TREE RATS get access to bringing all this crap into the HVAC plenum in the first place so I can block it off for next winter's storage!