I took my truck in for a warranty repair this AM to have them repair the environmental system that went into "fail-safe" mode. No matter what position the switches were in, all the air was coming out the defroster vents. It had done this the first day I drove the drive, so I blamed Ford again!

I got a call about 10AM from Ford garage telling me to sit down. They had removed enough nesting material to fill a garbage can. Dang squirrels had completely chewed a number of wires in two!! They had to order a brand new engine wiring harness. Material and labor = $1600.00 !!

After talking to my insurance company, they told me that as I had zero deductable comp, the repair would cost me nothing!! Whoooo, great!

The adjuster also told me that my call was her second of the day with the exact same result. Other vehicle was a another brand of truck...Tundra I think. Anyway, anyone in the mid-Atlantic states. Go open your hoods...the squirrels are nesting in your engine compartments!! Also the mice and chipmunks.....dang critters. Was told that they can build a nest in less than a day if undisturbed. They evidently love the taste of wiring too!

 

I guess every now and then insurance actually pays off, good for you! Had your truck been sittting idle for a long time?

 

Block heater left on all night every night will get you the same in my part of the world.

 

I sat for about a week. Holidays, ya know?

 

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! We have that problem up here in New England as well so please don't feel alone there

 

Happened here to a couple of government Expeditions. One in particular went to the shop (chewed injector wires) it was back within a day. This happened 3 times. Final cure was to spray the engine with MACE. Never came back after that.

 

I have an uncle that lives in the greater Houston (TX) area and he had a squirrel do some custom wiring work a couple of years ago to their Honda mini-van. Knock on wood, the only squirrel problems I've had with the truck is under the tires.

 

I read that soaking cotton ***** with natural peppermint essential oil,(also called “oil of peppermint”) placed in the engine compartment will repel mice since their sense of smell is very sensitive. I think you can purchase them at a health food store.

Marty

 

I just recently heard a company was marketing a blend of peppermint and spearmint for rodent repellent in travel trailers. I will ask the friend who told me and post the name of the company and product. This seems to be a bad year in the mid-west for rodents in trailers.

 

My son and I are currently practicing the .177 cal method of squirrel management around our property

 

How damn funny! Yesterday I came back from lunch and one of the smokers walked over to my truck (we have a parking garage and I always back in for convienience) and said "you have a mouse in your truck!

Sure enough, I shut it down and got out to look. There was a small field mouse under the hood at the front corner...right on top of the headlight with the long tail and a foot hanging out. I gave her my leather gloves and told her to grab the tail while I popped the hood latch and we'd just throw him over in the grass. Nope....before she could grab the tail, it took off into the engine compartment. Once I got the hood up, there's no sign of it. So...after work I stopped by my regular shop and the mech told me to bring the truck in Monday...it's due for an inspection sticker anyway. He pointed out the huge opening to the air cleaner (lift the corner of the fan shroud on the drivers side) and said that's where we'd find the lil bugger. He'll clean out the filter box and install some wire mesh over the opening to prevent the lil jerks from moving back in.

I spent the whole damn afternoon (before I went to my mechanic) thinking...if a nest catches fire...I'm insured. But how in the heck to you explain chewed harnesses or vacuume lines to your insurance company? Obviously I'm feeling a whole lot better about all of this NOW. Yesterday afternoon was a different story!

LMAO!!! Joe

 

How damn funny! Yesterday I came back from lunch and one of the smokers walked over to my truck (we have a parking garage and I always back in for convienience) and said "you have a mouse in your truck!

Sure enough, I shut it down and got out to look. There was a small field mouse under the hood at the front corner...right on top of the headlight with the long tail and a foot hanging out. I gave her my leather gloves and told her to grab the tail while I popped the hood latch and we'd just throw him over in the grass. Nope....before she could grab the tail, it took off into the engine compartment. Once I got the hood up, there's no sign of it. So...after work I stopped by my regular shop and the mech told me to bring the truck in Monday...it's due for an inspection sticker anyway. He pointed out the huge opening to the air cleaner (lift the corner of the fan shroud on the drivers side) and said that's where we'd find the lil bugger. He'll clean out the filter box and install some wire mesh over the opening to prevent the lil jerks from moving back in.

I spent the whole damn afternoon (before I went to my mechanic) thinking...if a nest catches fire...I'm insured. But how in the heck to you explain chewed harnesses or vacuume lines to your insurance company? Obviously I'm feeling a whole lot better about all of this NOW. Yesterday afternoon was a different story!

LMAO!!! Joe

 

Did the Mace last for a long time? I have put bags of moth ***** in per people's advice but I like the Mace idea. On the one hand it sounds cute and funny but they can be a real pest (pun intended) AND expensive.

 

Go to Home Depot and get a snap trap for mice. Put it under the hood and check before moving the truck. A little peanut butter on the trigger is all it takes. They can't resist it. If there is a mouse there, you should have it the first night/day or two. After you get one, keep putting the trap back until you don't get any for a few days. Usually there is only one, but there could be a nest of a few. Also they usually nest in the airbox or on top of the motor , so check it and clean AFTER you get the mouse/squirrel so he does'nt just make another.

For the squirrels get a large HavaHart trap. Peanut butter is again the bait of choice.
You can either put a squirrel down in a garbage can filled with water. Or relocate them at least 10 miles away. Squirrels have been known to make it back up to 10 miles. In some states, like here in NJ, it is illegal to relocate wildlife so check your state laws. Here it IS OK to put a squirrel down humanly. Go figure.

Alot of info on squirrels and mice in the message boards here....
http://www.unexco.com/ The site owner has a well known pest control bussiness and says NONE of the mothball, peppermint, fox urine, mace etc. remadies work. They are wives tales and have minimal results at best. Trapping is the only way.

I've never had them in a vehicle, but mice did a number on my travel trailer last winter and we had squirrels in the attic a few winters ago. Not fun.

I now keep snap traps in the trailer and garage and always get a few mice when it starts getting cold.

Good luck.

 

You need thisto protect your truck!