Driving with mice
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 734
Driving with mice
For all I know, I was transporting a passenger today for 62 miles that I didn't know about--a mouse. Just below the armrest was the beginning of a mouse nest.
How can a mouse get inside my 1990 coupe? I always keep the windows closedly tightly. For years, mice have been trying to build nests on the engine. I've been keeping two types of rat/mouse poison in the engine compartment. I remove them each time I drive the car, which is two to three times a week. Now I've got a tray of mouse poison under the driver's seat.
I noticed the nest contained portions of the insulation from the ABS compartment behind the driver's seat. Using a flashlight, I found a hole in the bottom of the compartment. I found that light from the flashlight was shining through the hole and onto my driveway. The hole is the diameter of a pencil erasure. So, I put a wood screw in the hole, and it has a snug fit.
Can you think of any other places where a mouse could enter the car?
My wife says I'm a germophobe. So, it's disgusting to me that a mouse got inside my car, which is clean inside and has no food in it.
How can a mouse get inside my 1990 coupe? I always keep the windows closedly tightly. For years, mice have been trying to build nests on the engine. I've been keeping two types of rat/mouse poison in the engine compartment. I remove them each time I drive the car, which is two to three times a week. Now I've got a tray of mouse poison under the driver's seat.
I noticed the nest contained portions of the insulation from the ABS compartment behind the driver's seat. Using a flashlight, I found a hole in the bottom of the compartment. I found that light from the flashlight was shining through the hole and onto my driveway. The hole is the diameter of a pencil erasure. So, I put a wood screw in the hole, and it has a snug fit.
Can you think of any other places where a mouse could enter the car?
My wife says I'm a germophobe. So, it's disgusting to me that a mouse got inside my car, which is clean inside and has no food in it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 125
From: Dunstable MA
St. Jude Donor '05
I don't know how they get in, but Bounce dryer sheets are reputed to keep them out. I place some in the car during the winter (engine bay and all), and I haven't had a problem. I live in a wooded area, and I've had to shoo critters out of my garage on occasion, so this is a pretty good test. I suggest placing the sheets in the engine bay in a place where they won't catch fire if you forget they are there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
make sure he did not died inside ur car, otherwise a nasty smell will be there for months and months, i had a mice died in my mercury sable car 5 yrs ago and oh man it was a big job taking whole dash and lot a stuff just remove dead sucker.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,234
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
I don't know how they get in, but Bounce dryer sheets are reputed to keep them out. I place some in the car during the winter (engine bay and all), and I haven't had a problem. I live in a wooded area, and I've had to shoo critters out of my garage on occasion, so this is a pretty good test. I suggest placing the sheets in the engine bay in a place where they won't catch fire if you forget they are there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 3
From: MD
Mothballs keep 'em out, but if the car is sealed up the mothball smell is as bad as the dead mouse smell woulda been.
As for how they get in, my money would be on the vents. I've fished the suckers out of blower motors before after flipping it on and spinning them in the squirell cage (aptly named at that point). If air can get in, mice can get in. They'll flatten themselves out and squeeze through really freakin small spaces.
As for how they get in, my money would be on the vents. I've fished the suckers out of blower motors before after flipping it on and spinning them in the squirell cage (aptly named at that point). If air can get in, mice can get in. They'll flatten themselves out and squeeze through really freakin small spaces.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Windham CT
I get them from time to time in the garage. I take care of
them, with 3 mouse traps. One in the foot area for driver and passenger and one in the rear deck. Put a little peanut butter on them. I change them once a week. They don't repeat anything or explain it to the others.
Bounce didn't work for me or moth *****. Most traps and my cat seem to keep it under control. Winter I put them under hood also and check whenever out there..
We live on a horse farm so mice are a common problem here. My wife calls it my trap line. For sure any thing you cover up here, becomes a giant mouse hotel. One would think with all the owls, snakes, hawks etc on a farm they could control the population but it don't.
Good luck with the mouse problem.
Swampy
Bounce didn't work for me or moth *****. Most traps and my cat seem to keep it under control. Winter I put them under hood also and check whenever out there..
We live on a horse farm so mice are a common problem here. My wife calls it my trap line. For sure any thing you cover up here, becomes a giant mouse hotel. One would think with all the owls, snakes, hawks etc on a farm they could control the population but it don't.
Good luck with the mouse problem.
Swampy
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Greenfield IN
Years ago I had a mouse in the garage. It was stealing cat food and made a little nest under the fuel rail covers. When I uncovered it in the spring there was cat food on the engine. So I set a mouse trap and got rid of the critter. Made sure to keep the cat food in a closed container, and began leaving a flourescent light on in the garage 24/7.
I read somewhere that they don't like lights. Since leaving the light on I have never seen another one, or had any surprises under the hood in the spring. I think this really works - and flourescent lights never seem to burn out if you leave them on.
Good luck removing your extra passengers.
I read somewhere that they don't like lights. Since leaving the light on I have never seen another one, or had any surprises under the hood in the spring. I think this really works - and flourescent lights never seem to burn out if you leave them on.
Good luck removing your extra passengers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
I had one eat my spark plug wires; engine ran like sh** when I fired it up. Built a nice little nest on top of the intake too, using grass clippings from the last time I mowed. And all this happened overnight in my heated garage.
These little suckas can get through spaces you'd hardly expect them to fit through.
Jake
These little suckas can get through spaces you'd hardly expect them to fit through.
Jake
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 734
Thanks for the advice, guys. I had heard mothballs work. I'll sprinkle some under the car. I heard that peppermint oil on cotton ***** works too. I had been using cheese in two mouse traps. I'll switch over to peanut butter. Our house is surrounded by acres of woods. We have a dog who hates cats. So, we don't have any cats.
What is it about a Corvette that attracts animals. I was walking by the car last year, and a snake had threaded himself between the spokes of my wire wheels. He struck at me. If I leave the car cover off for more than an hour, a cardinal will fly over and attack her reflection in the black paint of the fender portion of the hood. This put scratches in the paint. Two years ago, I found a nest with baby mice on top of the engine.
What is it about a Corvette that attracts animals. I was walking by the car last year, and a snake had threaded himself between the spokes of my wire wheels. He struck at me. If I leave the car cover off for more than an hour, a cardinal will fly over and attack her reflection in the black paint of the fender portion of the hood. This put scratches in the paint. Two years ago, I found a nest with baby mice on top of the engine.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,991
Likes: 5
From: The Pines South Jersey
Mice are opportunist, and yes they can "flatten" themselves out to fit into places.
A TPI manifold is like a breezeway for them, perfect shelter.
I, at one time, had issues with chipmunks - when I keyed the ignition and the fuel pump primed the rail - it must have scared the hell out of him, I have my foot outside the door on the ground and the sob almost went up my pant leg - he had to come from the louver by the battery.
When I popped the hood, there were busted up acorn shells all over the place, and they were beginning to set up a homestead with carpet padding and other stuff.
A TPI manifold is like a breezeway for them, perfect shelter.
I, at one time, had issues with chipmunks - when I keyed the ignition and the fuel pump primed the rail - it must have scared the hell out of him, I have my foot outside the door on the ground and the sob almost went up my pant leg - he had to come from the louver by the battery.
When I popped the hood, there were busted up acorn shells all over the place, and they were beginning to set up a homestead with carpet padding and other stuff.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: Plano TX
Those little bastards just about ruined my car when it sat for quite a few years unattended. Take a look : http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1581408
Getting rid of the dogs actually took care of this one. Plus lots of poison and rat traps.
Getting rid of the dogs actually took care of this one. Plus lots of poison and rat traps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 1
From: Weymouth Dorset
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 416
Likes: 2
From: Aquilla TX
Dont Eat Food In Your Corvette, Had A Fellow Officer Eat Snacks In His, Went In For Servicing And I Took Him To Pickup The Car. As We Pulled Out On The Freeway He Swerved To The Side Of The Road Jump Out In Full View Of Passing Motorists Shucked His Gun Belt, Pant Belt And Jerked His Pants Completely Off, People Were Honking And Running Off The Road As He Shook A Great Big Rat Out Of His Pants, I Liked Ot Have Died Laughing And Wrecking My Patrol Car. Dont Eat In Your Vette.