No more mice!

[poishishikochi]

“... Dr. Bobby Corrigan, noted rodentologist and award-winning pest management consultant, states that if you can put a #2 pencil into a hole, a mouse would be able to get through it as well. Others like to use the dime as an example of the width a mouse can exploit. Basically, we’re talking about a space that is roughly ¼-inch across.“

It’s a losing battle.

Yeah, this is interesting information, thank you for sharing it. For about a month, I hear strange noises in the garage and I think it's mice. Do you think I should call for pest control or I can throw some bait in the garage and solve this problem cheaper? Actually, I searched Google and found a blog where there is an article about pest baits, you can check it out. But I don't know which way is more effective to get rid of pests once and for all. If you can give me some advice I will appreciate it.

 

[texadelphia]

After 2x having mice get into the heater fan assembly, I finally got around to doing something about it.

1/8 in. galvanized mesh with fibreglass window screen under layer. Fits right over the air inlet port in the dash. Is't not the prettiest thing but it will never be seen again once it is put into place. Why didn't Toyota do this??

Surprisingly, it was easier to get the template than I expected. I worked upside down from below.

Does this fit over the inlet from the outside under the rain tray, or does it fit over the inlet from inside above the blower motor? A little confused on placement.

 

[Kanoe]

Does this fit over the inlet from the outside under the rain tray, or does it fit over the inlet from inside above the blower motor? A little confused on placement.

Yes to both really. It fits over the inlet from the outside under the rain tray but the only way to access that spot is from beneath through the blower motor hole. I'm pretty average with thin arms (nice picture) and I could not do anything from the top side, too tight.

 

[texadelphia]

Yes to both really. It fits over the inlet from the outside under the rain tray but the only way to access that spot is from beneath through the blower motor hole. I'm pretty average with thin arms (nice picture) and I could not do anything from the top side, too tight.

Makes sense. I was looking at this filter mod someone did on a Tacoma and trying to visualize how you got the screen on there but I haven't looked to see if the Tacoma's inlet is shaped differently.

95-04 Tacoma Cabin Air Filter | Page 3 | TTORA Forum

Does it go over that metal shroud that covers have the hole or does it fit under it?

 

[photoleif]

i can second the peppermint oil suggestion. we had mice coming in through our dryer vent and messing all around in the lower part of the dryer. when i shook peppermint oil droplets all around the vent, no mice. as it weathered over a week's time, they'd be back. i eventually put mesh around it and that's that. obviously you can't drive a meshmobile around, so i'll say block what you can, and definitely make the area uninteresting to them with peppermint oil. i've read it is a bit rough on paint and such, so be careful what it goes on.

edit: where my wife works, they have horrible rodent problems with fleet vehicles, and have to leave hoods open and such. it's not the only answer, but it does help. apparently mice and such don't feel as cozy when they are exposed like that. plus it helps the engine cool off faster so that's less of a draw.

 

[XJeepguy]

Since this post popped up, thought I would update what I did . I bought some stainless steel wool and stuffed it into the openings that are by the hood hinges. I had a feeling that's where they were sneaking in through and into the heater duct.
Not a single mouse since .

Cheers :wave:

 

[3bears]

I did the mesh over the air intake after finding a chewed up air filter and kept Irish spring under the seats. that seemed to work in the passanger compartmennt . I was going to make a heater filter like Kanoe has posted, but did not get to it, That was in Oregon. Mice were bad in cars, homes, anyplace, even with having cats around.. Now living in Alaska and family has 3 cats. have not seen a mouse or evidence in 2+ years Ive been here. Maybe its too cold for them

My wife ( now passed) had a horrible time with mice in her volvo and got 12 volt electronic repellers, and they worked for her.

 

[repo]

Just keep a few snakes inside your 4runner to eat the mice.

 

[4Reak Show]

My cat always sleeps next to the car, so I only see the dead mice

I second the motion of a natural solution

 

[texadelphia]

I bent up some stainless hardware cloth to create a barrier at the cabin air intake above the blower fan, blocked the entrance to the engine air intake with another piece of hardware cloth cut to size, shoved copper wool into the gaps in the windshield cowl by the hood hinges, have an ultrasonic repeller zip tied to the underside of the hood, and I keep an electronic mouse trap next to the front tire in a plastic box with a hole drilled in the side so they can get in. With all this in place I haven't had any in the cabin, but I still find bits of insulation and nesting materials on top of the intake manifold.

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[4Reak Show]

I bent up some stainless hardware cloth to create a barrier at the cabin air intake above the blower fan, blocked the entrance to the engine air intake with another piece of hardware cloth cut to size, shoved copper wool into the gaps in the windshield cowl by the hood hinges, have an ultrasonic repeller zip tied to the underside of the hood, and I keep an electronic mouse trap next to the front tire in a plastic box with a hole drilled in the side so they can get in. With all this in place I haven't had any in the cabin, but I still find bits of insulation and nesting materials on top of the intake manifold.

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Great solutions and very thorough. My wife’s 5th sleeps outside and one morning it had a horrific misfire.

Investigation located some damage to an injector wire pigtail

Luckily Toyota is awesome and I had some spare pins with wires from my 95 scrap parts bin. Pins and wires were the same size 20+ year later. I was able to replace pins and reconnect the wires.

Anyway, blocks are great for interior, traps are good also. I cannot recommend AGAINST strongly enough bait/poison. The critter will eat it. But then it crawls somewhere and dies. Either in your house’s walls or in the HVAC ducting of a car. I had to tear apart a customer’s car once almost down to the bones in the interior to find and remove the body.

 

[texadelphia]

Almost forgot, get into the habit of switching your a/c controls to recirc every time you park your car. This step alone should really keep mice out of the cabin.

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