JH32552

Will someone give me a clue where the mice are getting in my car? ('94 Camry) When my nephew put my new quick struts in, they had nests under the shelf where the rear speakers are. We cleaned that out. A few weeks later I opened the trunk and found a basketball size nest made from some yellowish white stuff. I'm hoping that isn't from my seats!!!! They are chewing up the carpet in the trunk and I've just about had enough!!! Every night I set a trap in the trunk and catch at least one mouse. Please don't think the car is just sitting around, because the car is driven at least 70 miles every day. There is no food in the car. I keep all the windows up. I have evn loaded the trunk with mothballs to no avail. What can I do? I'm afraid they will chew something electrical and start a fire in the garage. Then, I'll be losing 2 cars, a four-wheeler, many tools, all my firewood in the attached woodshed, etc.

Any help would be appreciated to eradicate Mickey
Jackie

RIP

Only paths I can come up with are through the ventilation system, through a missing drain plug or through a rusted out hole. The inlet for the vent system is just in front of the windshield and runs about the width of the windshield under the hood. Make sure the plastic mesh/grate over the inlet isn't broken. Some cars have plugs in the floor panels to allow drainage if fludded. Put it on jackstands or on a lift and inspect for missing plugs and rust holes.

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07 Fusion / 06 RAV4 / 06 Accord / 96 Gr Caravan / 94 Camry

JH32552

Hi Rip....

Thanks for your ideas. I, too, thought a drain plug and tore my trunk apart. I have also checked the ventilation area as you suggested, but will look more closely at that area since I found little mouse footprints there today. UGH! I also had the thought of using a light in the car in the dark garage and look for openings. The car is virtually rust free, so that's not an entry point. What's strange is, I have had the car 8 years and have never had this problem before. I'll let you know if I find anything.

Jackie

Mike Gerber

Another thought is to run an extension cord out to where the car is and plug in a radio that you can leave on overnight. This is assuming you have that ability. If not, an old transister radio might also do the trick. It might be worth a few batteries to give this a try. Do this for a few days and the mice will probably find a new home somewhere else.

Mike

grandamlv

I hope i am not braking a rule answering a post that is to old.
If you have a black light you can see wear the mice have been. Mice leave a urine trail every ware they go witch will glow under a UV lamp!

JH32552

GRandamlv...

That is a something I did not know. Hmmmmm... interesting indeed. I could actually track them to the car and see where they enter, right?

According the the local newspaper (all 5 pages LOL) and television, this has been a boon year for mice. It's been a dry summer and there have been a lot of berries. I've noticed an increase in bear and deer too.

Thanks for your idea! :-)
Jackie

Brian R.

If you use a radio, play reggae music. I hear mice hate reggae...

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JH32552

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Toooo funny! Thanks for the chuckles, Brian!
Jackie

wkhaiaun

Heehheeheee...this is really something new. Any progress on the mice?

JH32552

Actually, there has been some progress, but it was from something I didn't expect! Of course, I had lots of traps baited and ready to catch these little suckers. Every morning I was finding 4 on average dead in the traps. Then, I started finding just heads in the traps! Hhhmmmmm.... I started looking around and also found little weasel turds in the garage. Yep, I have a weasel! I haven't caught a mouse in the garage or the car now in over a week!!!!!

The local newspaper and the TV news have both mentioned that this has been a boon year for mice. It's been dry and there have been a lot of berries. I have also noticed that there is an abundance of deer and bear, as well. Ahhhh... isn't Ma Ma Nature great? LOL!

Jackie

xfeejayx

official solution for a bunch of mice in the car: Weasel.

but what do you do about the weasel now

but damn, 4 mice a day is a LOT!

idmetro

Consider it a possible upgrade - after all mink are a member of the weasel family. So if you get enough mice you can attract weasels (perhaps mink), get enough mink and you could reupholster the car a singificant notch above the factory leather interior.

RIP

Are we bored from lack of posts?

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**We took the time to answer your post. Please give us some time and post the fix. It will help hundreds.
**Follow prescribed safety practices before attempting any procedures. Doubts? Consult a maintenance manual.
**DIYer and multiple automotive forums junkie for years. Air Force career in aviation electronics.

07 Fusion / 06 RAV4 / 06 Accord / 96 Gr Caravan / 94 Camry

2000izusu

i am glad you are on to a solution! had a family car 10 years ago that sat for a week in the driveway. went to start it and would not start? come to find out mice had chewed the main wiring harness in half! darn near 40 wires. completely severed. it was amazing to look at, but tragic to think about! mike

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