Rodent in the engine

[psiems]

I heard that mice/rats do not like the scent of moth balls. It may be worth a try.

Good Luck.

If all else fails, go with the cat! )

 

[Carl_G]

Anyone think this has been chewed by a mouse? Maybe a point of entry??
This is just by the parking brake.
Could someone please have a look at theirs and tell me if it is a complete black rubber circle? And if those wires should be exposed?
Thx

 

[JB.]

Here's mine for comparison.

 

[Carl_G]

Thanks JB!
I appreciate the prompt reply as I try to solve this problem.

 

[philsey]

I used to live in the country and mice (rodents) were a continual problem getting into vehicles. As you have discovered, they eat the shite out of everything, and WILL eventually cause serious damage.

Worse, they breed like crazy, worse still they pee in their nests and will really cause your truck to stink. Finding a nest can be very problematic. I encourage you to find it. It likely has babies in it.

So far, you've been given good advice. I much prefer spring traps, as they are most effective. A glue trap can be drug off into places you really don't want them to be dieing. Do not use poison - they will indeed go to their nests to die - not good.

As to bait, I prefer peanut butter to bacon. Bacon can be gotten off the trap, whereas they will continue to lick at the PB.

For a car kept outside, you have got to stay preventive, and keep traps set beginning in the fall. Discovering them after the fact is bad.

[MENTION=51420]Carl_G[/MENTION] I don't want to sound like an arse, but did you do these things I suggested? You have got to set traps, and monitor them, all winter.

And this: "Obviously a mouse nest. Can anyone tell me where the mouse would have obtained these types of fiber/threads from? The only one that looks familiar is from the yellow firewall insulation.
Maybe the insides of the seats? Under the carpet?

Respectfully, where the fibers are from is irrelevant. Once mice are around they can and will get anywhere in your vehicle, and they will chew everything - rubber, plastic, paper, wire insulation.

I'd highly recommend the PB-baited spring traps as before set INSIDE the cabin, say on the floor. Put them on a rag or something, as they often bleed when trapped.

Very surprised your cabin doesn't smell like pee.

 

[Carl_G]

No prob, yes 3 PB spring traps set outside the vehicle, 2 in the engine compartment held in place by 2 way tape, and 2 inside the vehicle on the floor by the rear seats.

I also removed any type of gum or tic tacs from the vehicle as well.

 

[philsey]

... caught anything?

 

[Carl_G]

... caught anything?

Not a thing. The part I found strange was that the nest appeared to have been not used, and the fact that there were "micro droppings" on the console for about a week. Usually I can piece things together but this is weird.

 

[Carl_G]

Not a thing. The part I found strange was that the nest appeared to have been not used, and the fact that there were "micro droppings" on the console for about a week. Usually I can piece things together but this is weird.

I hate to say it but I'm thinking there was/is another nest somewhere.

 

[mrsboone]

Ugg, found chewed wires today & a small black snake in engine compartment. Snake rode 45 miles in there. It was probably as surprised as we were, when we popped the hood at home.

Got the 4r home today, after several attempts.

 

[mrsboone]

This will help with rodent problems.

 

[V8Man]

Two things work really well cotton ball with pure peppermint oil. Removes the smell of mice to humans and doesn't attract mice. Friends use it their wheat trucks on the farm. The other is a half filled bucket of antifreeze. The sweet smell attracts them. Leave a board so the can get in. In the morning you'll have a bucket of dead mice or pack rats. If you have the V8 look under the intake very closely. They love that space and inside the engine air filter box.

 

[Gunslinger-13]

Well, not rats or mice but I had squirrels eating my wiring, windshield wiper fluid lines and insulation a few years back- ****ers!!!

Only thing that worked was to add cayenne pepper (they sell commercial products to this affect) to water and spray it all over the engine bay and anywhere I thought they could gain access.

I would assume it should work for mice and rats as well- not many animals can take the heat from capsicum.

Just be careful with the heating/AC for a while...

I did so much re wiring and running wiper fluid lines it really pissed me off.

After I sprayed that stuff the squirrels stayed away. I also started shooting them with a powerful pellet gun in the back yard.

Good luck with your rodent problem- I know how frustrating they can be.

 

[KidVermicious]

Be super careful with the bucket of antifreeze, it doesn't just attract mice.

Antifreeze Poisoning in Dogs | petMD

 

[jdkilroy]

I bought my 4Runner from a guy that didn't use it all that much so it sat for long periods of time.

When I began taking the insides apart to install a sound system I found what amounted to an entire bag of those multi coloured Goldfish stashed in the wire runs beneath the door sills. You can't imagine how small an opening those friggen mice need to pass through. How they did it with a whole Goldfish in their mouth I'll never know.

 

[LandCruiser]

If you park in a garage, build a drowning trap out of a Homer bucket.

No mice/rats after a week or so.

 

[Ammomac]

got mice in my new truck - grrrrrrrr

looking for solutions. sucks to have to parks outside living in the woods

 

[V8Man]

Well, not rats or mice but I had squirrels eating my wiring, windshield wiper fluid lines and insulation a few years back- ****ers!!!

Only thing that worked was to add cayenne pepper (they sell commercial products to this affect) to water and spray it all over the engine bay and anywhere I thought they could gain access.

I would assume it should work for mice and rats as well- not many animals can take the heat from capsicum.

Just be careful with the heating/AC for a while...

I did so much re wiring and running wiper fluid lines it really pissed me off.

After I sprayed that stuff the squirrels stayed away. I also started shooting them with a powerful pellet gun in the back yard.

Good luck with your rodent problem- I know how frustrating they can be.

Squirrels are rats with fuzzy tails. Same family anyway.

 

[Ezlife45]

I am a fan of the green blocks at home depot. From my understanding the poison makes the rodents thirsty and they disappear in search of water. I used it in my shed for a while and it worked great.

 

[nb rob]

the problem with using poisons is that they can die inside your car somewhere. Door panels, headliner, etc. Only traps should be used for vehicles, along with a defensive approach at the same time.

My father had $1300 damage on his 2 month old is250. Once they start on the wires, all hell breaks loose!