Winter Storage, Problems with mice
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Winter Storage, Problems with mice
I've had many problems with mice making a home in my car, usually during winter months. One chewed the fiber optic bundle going to the tail lights in half, another chewed some blades off of the heater fan, yet another died in the furthest end of the heater box requiring I take the entire heater out to remove the body. 
Even had one come running out of the floor duct when driving on the highway. Guess it got a bit too warm in there. Fortunately, no passenger in the car at the time.
Does anybody have a good strategy to deter mice from making a home in the car?
Even had one come running out of the floor duct when driving on the highway. Guess it got a bit too warm in there. Fortunately, no passenger in the car at the time.
Does anybody have a good strategy to deter mice from making a home in the car?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,856
Likes: 1,966
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I've had many problems with mice making a home in my car, usually during winter months. One chewed the fiber optic bundle going to the tail lights in half, another chewed some blades off of the heater fan, yet another died in the furthest end of the heater box requiring I take the entire heater out to remove the body.
Even had one come running out of the floor duct when driving on the highway. Guess it got a bit too warm in there. Fortunately, no passenger in the car at the time.
Does anybody have a good strategy to deter mice from making a home in the car?
Even had one come running out of the floor duct when driving on the highway. Guess it got a bit too warm in there. Fortunately, no passenger in the car at the time.
Does anybody have a good strategy to deter mice from making a home in the car?
If you start your car on a weekly basis through the winter, it will run them out.........
if not get a few mouse traps or CAT !!!
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
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From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Also try Bounce dryer sheets. Don't use the generic brands. I don't know what the difference is but the Bounce brand seems to work. My dad stores all of his toys each Wisconsin winter and completely riddles them with the dryer sheets inside and out. Only proof that it works is that he has never had any mice in his cars. May want to use traps or something alse along with the sheets.
Be sure to do something to rid these varmints. I have a friend here in Michigan who currently has a car (that was stored last winter) that he can't drive now. The mice ate through his wiring harnesses behind the dash and under the hood. Good luck!
Terry
Be sure to do something to rid these varmints. I have a friend here in Michigan who currently has a car (that was stored last winter) that he can't drive now. The mice ate through his wiring harnesses behind the dash and under the hood. Good luck!
Terry
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,468
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From: Sherman CT
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '24-'25-'26
I see you are from CT, like me, so I assume you won't be driving much during Winter, I take a few Bounce dryer sheets and place them all around the interior, (like member Roger said in an earlier post)I also buy a couple of bars of Irish spring soap and cut them up into quarters and place them all around the interior as well. I also buy a box of moth ***** and fill up 6 or 8 small plastic ziplock containers and poke a few holes in the lids and put them near the tires.As far as starting the car once a week, I wouldn't reccomend it unless you bring the engine up to full operating temperature and move it back and forth, or take it around the block.
Regards
Roy
Regards
Roy
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Melting Slicks
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From: PA
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
It was interesting..... he came running out, ran around the passenger side floor for a few seconds, then ran under the passenger seat. Couldn't do much about it while driving on the highway other than watch.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
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From: Carbondale Pa.
Sorta like me when I went into the garage to check something on my
'40 Ford and didnt notice the milk snake laying on the garage floor untill I opened the overhead door, but I hear they are beneficial cause they feast on the mice etc, irish spring works, ceder shavings too , the moth ***** stink too long for my liking, too bad I hate snakes. Peace,,, Moosie
'40 Ford and didnt notice the milk snake laying on the garage floor untill I opened the overhead door, but I hear they are beneficial cause they feast on the mice etc, irish spring works, ceder shavings too , the moth ***** stink too long for my liking, too bad I hate snakes. Peace,,, Moosie
Last edited by moosie982; Aug 27, 2010 at 07:51 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 113
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From: Shelby Twp. Michigan
I gave em a place to live. I stuffed a 10X10 box in the corner stuffed with rags. They made a little hotel out of and stayed out of my car.
after a moth or so I put a ton of decon around it and killed the little bastards!
after a moth or so I put a ton of decon around it and killed the little bastards!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 495
Likes: 114
Forget the poison, they'll die everywhere. I've been through it. I had an entire pound of D-Con disappear without finding a single mouse until much later. Put peanut butter on a regular old mousetrap by each wheel and near the garage openings. They'll go for that first- they can't resist it and you'll know when you've gotten one.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 542
Likes: 3
From: Bloomfield Hills MI
Forget the poison, they'll die everywhere. I've been through it. I had an entire pound of D-Con disappear without finding a single mouse until much later. Put peanut butter on a regular old mousetrap by each wheel and near the garage openings. They'll go for that first- they can't resist it and you'll know when you've gotten one.
Same trick I used in Australia - they LOVE peanut butter. I baited a trap once, turned my back, heard a *SNAP!* and could not believe I had one in seconds...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
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From: Saginaw Michigan
I bagged mine in a Car Jacket for about 15-20 years without a problem. Then one year, two of them chewed through the bottom of the bag and came inside the car by the air inlet near the wipers. Then they couldn't get out. They managed to deficate and pee all around inside before they died. I hope they had a slow painful death.
For the next year or so I used Bounce sheets inside the bag and also inside the car. No repeat visits.
Jim
For the next year or so I used Bounce sheets inside the bag and also inside the car. No repeat visits.
Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,704
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From: WI
I've done the bounce thing too and no problems. But, definitely trap or find a way to eradicat them. Even if they don't get inside the car, they can make a nest in the frame where you can't see them and their pee can (and will) cause rust ..and of course odors.
I've really been fond of these dark brown plastic mouse traps I got from Walmart. They are like a 2" square tube, about 6" long, with a flapper door on one end. They go in and can't come out. They work. Caught more mice with these traps than you can shake a stick at. Then I give them a ride and leave them off in front of someone else's house and laugh as I drive away.
Mark G
I've really been fond of these dark brown plastic mouse traps I got from Walmart. They are like a 2" square tube, about 6" long, with a flapper door on one end. They go in and can't come out. They work. Caught more mice with these traps than you can shake a stick at. Then I give them a ride and leave them off in front of someone else's house and laugh as I drive away.
Mark G
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,551
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From: Kulpmont PA
I started using moth ***** as a snake repellent, but found they work for mice as well. I may try the dryer sheets because they smell way better. If you think you know where the mice are coming in to the garage at, some steel wool (found in most wood working or paint centers) stuffed in the cracks holds them back too.