Critter in engine bay
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 26,745
Likes: 694
From: PA
Mice filled my first Corvettes mufflers with dog food one winter........it was not good. The smell of burning/cooking dry dog food is something I wont ever forget.
Had to cut the mufflers off and get a different set. I started the car and realized there was an obstruction in the tail pipes so I gave it some more gas and dog food started shooting out. Caps over the tail pipes when its being stored and as others said, traps and moth *****.
Had to cut the mufflers off and get a different set. I started the car and realized there was an obstruction in the tail pipes so I gave it some more gas and dog food started shooting out. Caps over the tail pipes when its being stored and as others said, traps and moth *****.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 158
You are right to be worried. Had a mouse get into the 98 Corvette I had over the winter and chew some wires. Think once the see the car as a home it boils down to them or the car. A cat sounds good but after they jump on and off the car a few times and scratch the paint more problem than value IMO. I would try to re locate the car for a couple weeks if possible. Either way I would put down traps and bait. Peanut butter is good bait as well. I have used glue paper where ever you see signs. If they walk on it they stick tight and can't get away. Got some from Orkin guy. Good luck
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 26,745
Likes: 694
From: PA
You are right to be worried. Had a mouse get into the 98 Corvette I had over the winter and chew some wires. Think once the see the car as a home it boils down to them or the car. A cat sounds good but after they jump on and off the car a few times and scratch the paint more problem than value IMO. I would try to re locate the car for a couple weeks if possible. Either way I would put down traps and bait. Peanut butter is good bait as well. I have used glue paper where ever you see signs. If they walk on it they stick tight and can't get away. Got some from Orkin guy. Good luck
2. Take cat to vet.
3. Pay to have nails taking out.
4. Take cat home.
5. Cat can still catch mouse and wont leave scratch marks.
6. Funny as hell to watch the cat spin out on the hard wood and tile flooring.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 3
From: Jupiter Florida
Sam cruises my garage and never had one scratch and if one occurred I would never consider feline mutilation as an option. When you love someone or a critter friend you allow for those flaws as you would ask for the same for yourself
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 26,745
Likes: 694
From: PA
Sorry..not my intent to side track this thread but what you suggested in 3. Taking..... is called mutilation... to translate to human terms that means cutting of the tips of your fingers at the last knuckle.
Sam cruises my garage and never had one scratch and if one occurred I would never consider feline mutilation as an option. When you love someone or a critter friend you allow for those flaws as you would ask for the same for yourself
Sam cruises my garage and never had one scratch and if one occurred I would never consider feline mutilation as an option. When you love someone or a critter friend you allow for those flaws as you would ask for the same for yourself
Your opinion is your opinion and we can agree to well.....not agree.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 7
From: Litchfield Minnesota
I have to agree with the cat suggestions. Never a problem through two Minnesota winters. This is the "natural" solution to the problem. Whitey has all of her claws and knows how and "when" to use them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I keep a couple peanut butter baited mouse traps in my garage facing the walls, and seem to catch my share. Check the "bugspray.com" site, click on "M" for mice, and you'll learn all about these critters. Lots of people refer to having cats around, but usually leads to food and water out in the open, sometimes making matters worse.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 26,745
Likes: 694
From: PA
I left my garage door open one day in the winter and a cat came in and I never new it. I found him sleeping in the back seat of my 69 Camaro. lol I got him food, water and a litter box and put a few towels in the back seat of the car and he slept in there and used the litter box and ate his food and water every day. It stays about 50 in the garage so he was nice and toasty. I couldnt ever pet him and when good weather came I opened the door and he left.....never to return.
I must note that the Camaro is a complete running car but needs restored. Texas car so it is solid as a rock and not a rust bucket.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,445
Likes: 1,144
From: Wayne Township WI
Mouse got into the ventilation system on an old car I owned some years back. Sucker tried getting itself out & got stuck IN the fan shroud. Turned system on & could hear the thing being pummled by the fan's blades. Sounded like a machine gun, killed it dead. I'd be damned if I was going to tear down the system to get it out so it stunk to high heaven for weeks.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
thanks everyone for your suggestions. I got him. It was a mouse. He was bringing in nuts and would eat them and then poop all over the top of the engine. His favoriye spot was on top of the battery. Moth ***** had no affect on him. Maybe he couldnt smell because they stink bad. The 2 "humane" traps didnt work. He grabbed the peanut butter and left. They seemed simple to set but maybe i didn't have it just right. A regular cheap slam trap with a little peanut butter sitting on top of the battery capped his *** good though. Hopefully he has no family.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,840
Likes: 65
From: Tree City
It's easy to cure this problem. Just place two or three mouse traps filled with cheese around the walls in your garage. Turn the traps so that they snap TOWARD THE WALL. That way they have to get the bait from the side of the trap. Then I would find where they are getting into the garage and seal up the hole with cement. Leave the traps there 24/7 and change the bait every month or so. Good luck.