Mice nest in the blower housing (by passenger seat) in my 98 Explorer. Dealer has removed nests 3 times but it's getting expensive. How can I screen off the openings the mice are using? How can I remove the latest nest myself (how do I remove the housing)? Am getting desperate... can't use heat or fan without chopping up the nest and mice... Thanks.

 

Mouse traps would be a good start.

 

Have used mouse traps, etc. I know this sounds funny, but can't get the mice to stop building nests. Seriously, how do I remove the blower housing and how do I stop the mice infestations?

 

theres a thread on this,go to search try blower house.

 

Do you park in the garage? If so try parking in the driveway with the garage door closed and set traps use dicon, get rid of the mice so it wont happend again...as far as the blower motor i've never done it so cant help you out there

 

Put the cat in there. That will get rid of the mice. Then put the dog in to get rid of the cat. Then throw a stick and tell the dog to fetch.

 

I appreciate all these humorous answers, but I was hoping to get some help here. I did search every imaginable topic before posting. Then searched again after a recent answer. Also checked Haynes and Chilton manuals. Saying "remove housing" is of no help to me as a non-mechanic. I really do need to know how to remove the blower housing and where to put screening to keep out the mice. How many bolts am I looking for? What are likely entry points for mice that I can screen off? Dealer is happy to take $150 every time he removes a nest and tells me I can't screen. That's ridiculous. My old bones don't let me squirm under the dash looking for screws I can't see... the manuals don't give details. Can someone here provide some guidance?

 

Not sure if this would help but you could try this stuff called "Fresh Cab". It has a bunch of uses and mice hate the smell. Comes in a box of 4 pouches. Each pouch contains a combination of all natural materials so it's safe for the environment.

Unlike mouse traps and chemicals this stuff does not kill the mice but persuades them to look elsewhere for a home.

I use it in my summer car during winter storage (outside) and has worked well for me. I used to hate cleaning out all of the mouse &#^%$ in the fan blower and engine compartment every spring. I searched the internet for a while looking for alternatives to using nothing and eventually came across this stuff.

I use 4 pouches each year...3 inside the passenger compartment and one in the engine compartment.

I order mine online through a company called Good Earth Enterprises (http://www.goodearthenterprises.com). Cost was around $13.00 for a box of 4 pouches + shipping.

Give it a try. Sure beats paying $150 every visit to the dealer.

If you do decide to try it, please post a response at some point on how it works for you.

Bill


P.S.
I am not associated with the company at all...just a satisfied customer!

 

Thanks, Bill, I'll give it a try. Also have tried, without much success, coyote urine and fox urine. As for traps, the mice now leave acorn shells on the glue traps and avoid the snap traps all together... I think they're messin' with me! Will try a combination of those packets and the "ultrasonic repeller" approach next, once I figure out how to remove the blower housing. Any ideas for that... can it all be done inside the passenger compartment or do I need to remove something in the engine compartment as well? Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 

I used to be a service writer, and I have firsthand experience dealing with mouse problems in a vehicle. Mice are very smart - it's most likely just one mouse that you're dealing with, as they will tune into a good nesting place - one of our customers had the SAME problem - and they'll continue to replace the nest. In our case, we realized later that the mouse was in the car the whole time we worked on it. Only when the customer came to pick the car up did we notice our repairs had been undone...it was very emberassing. I actually sat in the car a day before, honked the horn, listened, tapped on the dash, etc, and was satisfied that the mouse wasn't in the car. He was... We set several of the old fashioned traps and caught him the next day. I recommend peanut butter on the traps because they like salt. The prime points of entry are along the firewall and through the wiper cowl area. Get a flashlight to check for any chewed wiring or rubber seals. The nest material may give you a clue where he got in. Check the screens under the hood below the wipers, as the cowl connects directly to the passages where the blower cage rests. Check the rubber seals for the computer harness, steering linkage, and hvac system. You may need a small mirror to check some of these items - remember, mice can fit through passages the size of a dime. They're very limber critters. Good luck!!

 

Unfortunately, I haven't had the need to remove the blower on my '96 Explorer so I can't comment on exactly what needs to be done or how difficult it is.

Looking through my Haynes manual (ISBN# 1 56392 442 0) the blower is located in the engine compartment on the passenger side mounted to the firewall. You need to remove a couple of items to get to the blower, but does not look that difficult.

As a general overview here is what you would have to do:

- Disconnect negative battery cable.
- Remove Air filter assembly.
- Detach underhood light switch and cruise control servo from fender wall.
- Disconnect associated hoses and electrical connectors, bolts and nuts from the windshield washer tank and remove the tank.
- Disconnect electrical connector and vent hose on blower motor.
- Remove four screws holding the blower motor.
- Assembly is in reverse order.

(details available on page 3-10 and 3-5 in Haynes manual)

Best thing is to get yourself a manual so you can see the pics - they do help a little bit. If you don't feel confident enough find a friend that is mechanically inclined to walk through with you the first (and hopefully last) time....

HTH. Good luck.

Bill

 

Thanks for the suggestions!