Mice nesting in engine compartment

[Thump553]

I checked my oil today (do this about once a week) and I found a handfull of shredded insulation on top of the engine block, wedged in there between the engine and the hood (where I suspect the insulation came from).

Thinking back, I've noticed quite a few acorns in the engine compartment over the past few months.

I park outside both at home and work, fairly near trees in each case. No real alternatives to my parking areas.

I just got rid of an old car (1992) that had very quirky electrical problems, with hindsight I'm suspecting perhaps the mice were the cause.

Any ideas on what to do to keep the mice out?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

put mouse traps in your engine compartment

 

[CptCrunch]

make sure you spray gasoline all over the engine compartment and set it on fire ever other day. that'll teach 'em

 

[amdhunter]

Same problem here. I just paid $300+ to fix the wiring in my brand new Jetta. I originally thought it was rats too, but it was squirrels doing the damage. I've found acorns in my engine compartment neatly laid out, lol.

Little bastards. I don't know what to do.

 

[PingSpike]

My parents parked their car in the garage (typically used for their tractor so this is rare) for two weeks and a squirrel chewed up a bunch of electrical wiring and cost them $300 awhile ago.

I have a car I left parked in my garage for about a month not moving it. During that time I had set numerous mouse traps to kill the rodents that were sneaking in the garage to get out of the cold. I got a fair number of kills but when I went to check the oil I found a massive mouse nest build next to the battery.

Industrous rodents are the bane of our existence. Its one of the reasons I'm happy to see weasel tracks all over my driveway.

 

[Thump553]

Good idea on the mouse traps, time to swing by Home Depot in the morning. Also good point on the squirrels (we have a zillion of them) but I don't think there is enough room for them to nest.

Hopefully I remember where I put the traps the next time I reach in to check my engine. I'll probably end up wire-tying them down so they don't fall out when I drive.

 

[f1r3s1d3]

Time to buy a .22

 

[LTC8K6]

Install a cat.

 

[SonicIce]

Actually we had a cat under the hood and drove for a while before noticing. She was ok but eyes were very wide O_O

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: SonicIce
Actually we had a cat under the hood and drove for a while before noticing. She was ok but eyes were very wide O_O

lol, that must have been quite a ride for the cat.

 

[SearchMaster]

I was about 30 miles into my daily 40 mile commute, stopped at a stoplight, when a mouse popped out from under the hood, ran down the end of the hood, and disappeared. Obviously I was startled - when I got to work I opened the hood and he had built a little nest out of stuff from my garage (some pine needles, a couple of work gloves, etc.). I cleaned it out and never saw mice again.

 

[thomsbrain]

OMG! Catch those mice before it is too late! Those are actually what power your car, but you must have developed a crack in your engine block that allowed them to escape. Most cars have four cylinders with mouse wheels inside them, except for "big-block" engines, which use rats, and "diesels," which use wombats. The mouse wheels connect to a central crankshaft that powers your vehicle. The "camshaft" opens little windows that allow cameras to look in and check on the mice to see if they need air, food, or water. The computer controls the rate of air, food, and water delivery to the mice. Your throttle is connected to little pieces of cheese on string. Pushing it down lowers the cheese to lure the mice to run faster.

Look it up, I swear I am not making this up.

 

[1prophet]

Mothballs.

 

[Thump553]

Great point about the mothballs. Googling around a bit, I see a lot of comments about mothballs being ineffective but one remedy that intrigues me is the claim that mice hate Bounce brand dryer sheets. Maybe I'll stuff a couple of those inbetween the hood and the insulation attached to it, it's there that the mice seem to be nesting.

At least then I'll have a daisy-fresh engine compartment.

 

[alkemyst]

If you have a honda that's normal...they run around on a wheel when you turn the key...if you have VTEC you get a pair of hamsters, more power=faster. Type R means they have rabies so be careful reaching around under the hood if that's the case.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: amdhunter
Same problem here. I just paid $300+ to fix the wiring in my brand new Jetta. I originally thought it was rats too, but it was squirrels doing the damage. I've found acorns in my engine compartment neatly laid out, lol.

Little bastards. I don't know what to do.

speaking of squirrels, one day i was pumping gas on my old car and i smelled a strong gas odor, i look down, and i was standing in a puddle of what i just filled. took the car to the shop, and sure enough, the fuel hose going from pump to tank was completely chewed through by squirrels. i wish i took pics of the hose, itwas hilarious and angering at the same time!

 

[M2008S]

electric pest deterrants. look forthem maybe in hardware stores? home depot. etc. some battery op ones.