Mice in the engine bay....really?
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Havillah, WA
Mice in the engine bay....really?
Well my ex is out of commission till my thread repair kit and parts come in. So in the last couple of days opening my hood I've been greeted with three or four little scurrying mice running for shelter. I live in the country, field mice abound and since we don't drive the ex much, apparently its turning into a home. What to do?! Don't laugh but I put a mouse trap with some peanut butter on my battery.....yes I the mighty hunter have set my snare......
I know mice can/will ruin wiring harnesses and cause terrible trouble, any advice to eradicate the devils? I was thinking maybe a fogger in the engine bay?
I know mice can/will ruin wiring harnesses and cause terrible trouble, any advice to eradicate the devils? I was thinking maybe a fogger in the engine bay?
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Central Coast of CA
Drive the darn thing around too, get the trans hot. They're probably nesting on top of the trans, between the body and the trans.
Those damn things can ruin your rig and cause thousands of dollars in damage.
Stewart
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From: Havillah, WA
yup i did that today (right before i decided to use an oldschool mouse trap i had laying around. But that's the plan from now on, drive it the 200 yards to my shop from my house and leave it running for a while each time. I think i might still try the foggers though. My folks had a chrysler 300, brand new that mice got into and the car never ran right again....
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Central Coast of CA
Yep, like I posted, those things can cause thousands in damage.
As suggested in my post, because they're probably nesting on top of the trans, drive it until the trans is hot.
Stewart
As suggested in my post, because they're probably nesting on top of the trans, drive it until the trans is hot.
Stewart
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Havillah, WA
How long does it take to get the tranny hot anyway? only back roads around here so lets say at 40mph. Also can i seriously just drive it around put-putting like it is with the plug out? is there a limit to the amount i should drive it? had it happen about a week ago and haven't driven it more than 2 miles combined since it popped (1 mile from my house).
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
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From: Central Coast of CA
How long does it take to get the tranny hot anyway? only back roads around here so lets say at 40mph. Also can i seriously just drive it around put-putting like it is with the plug out? is there a limit to the amount i should drive it? had it happen about a week ago and haven't driven it more than 2 miles combined since it popped (1 mile from my house).
I live 7 hours north of San Diego. 440 miles.
The noise woulda killed me, but it wouldn't have done anything to my engine.
Stewart
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From: Wildwood, Illinois
Around me the mice like it when the motor is warm thats when they climb under the hood the most. I use one of those little boxes that catch them on the floor. I put it under the oil pan/ front diff area, that works right away.
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From: Morgantown, WV
yup i did that today (right before i decided to use an oldschool mouse trap i had laying around. But that's the plan from now on, drive it the 200 yards to my shop from my house and leave it running for a while each time. I think i might still try the foggers though. My folks had a chrysler 300, brand new that mice got into and the car never ran right again....
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Havillah, WA
Well the foggers are meant for mice, but in a small area like an engine compartment, it'll be really strong and i figured it might at least chase them out.
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From: Paradise Found!
I learned a neat trick from a buddy that has a used car lot about ten years ago.
"Bounce" dryer sheets in the cab and on top of the air cleaner! Something about the smell they hate, and keeps them away. As my son Harley and I have over a dozen rigs around here, we've been using them for ten years or so, and never find any mice in them. We change them every 5-6 months.
"Bounce" dryer sheets in the cab and on top of the air cleaner! Something about the smell they hate, and keeps them away. As my son Harley and I have over a dozen rigs around here, we've been using them for ten years or so, and never find any mice in them. We change them every 5-6 months.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Morgantown, WV
It'll probably make more of a mess than chasing the mice away.
