Posted 2010-04-20 11:03 AM (#119066) Subject: mice damage under hood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
My mother just called - she's very upset... had over $400 damage to her car from mice under the hood. They chewed thru wires and made nests out of the insulation. Now my mother is 91 and dosn't drive this car a whole lot. One of her friends suggested a concoction with cloves, garlic and who knows what else... sounds like something to ward off evil spirits... and other suggestions? Thanks!
Posted 2010-04-21 10:56 AM (#119120 - in reply to #119066) Subject: RE: mice damage under hood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
If you are not going to drive the car for a while, try putting moth balls in some old socks and placing them in the engine compartment. I also heard the dryer sheets work. You would have to remove them prior to starting the engine.
Posted 2010-04-21 11:56 AM (#119121 - in reply to #119066) Subject: RE: mice damage under hood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
my mother can't put any kind of bait around the car since there is a chance her dog would eat it. mothballs are an idea but wonder if she could hang them in there permanently? she probably won't remember to take them out every time she drives the car. I thought this would be a relevant topic since a lot of people keep their truck hooked up and don't drive it on a reg. basis.
Posted 2010-04-21 12:06 PM (#119123 - in reply to #119066) Subject: RE: mice damage under hood
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Make sure Mom is not feeding the dog in the carport.I use to be able to name the brand of dog food when looking at rodent damage.There would be handfuls of Ole Roy stuffed around the engine.
Posted 2010-04-21 1:16 PM (#119126 - in reply to #119066) Subject: RE: mice damage under hood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
no, the dog gets fed in the house and usually gets let out in an enclosed area but occasionally might get loose out the front door into the driveway where the car is parked. I think the problem is the car sits for a week at a time and mice (rats?) see a nice cosy home.
Posted 2010-04-22 8:37 PM (#119214 - in reply to #119066) Subject: RE: mice damage under hood
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: Central WI
I can relate to your frustration. I took the dually in for service this morning because the air conditioner wasn't working. Spent $280 getting wires spliced back together where the mice had chewed on them last fall. Never had a problem before but there was a bumper acorn crop which drew them out around the truck. I guess they found a safe dry spot to store their harvest and hang out. I'll be more vigilant next fall!
Posted 2010-04-23 8:30 AM (#119234 - in reply to #119066) Subject: RE: mice damage under hood
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
After a friend of ours had this happen 3 times with his dually, and sitting up with a 22, he was told to leave the hood up some and leave a 110v small light on with an extension cord. He did so.......working for over 3 years now. He did have to take out the factory little 12v bulb under the hood so it would not run down the battery.
mice damage under hood
