Mice entry points. A/C drain

[larryrmnp]

Would like to hear about other entry points for mice into the passenger compartment of the 80. Our's were coming in the hole they made by eating away the A/C drain cover. I plug this with steel wool but they are still getting in. After reading the threads I checked and plugged

the steering shaft,
the parking brake cover,
the lo shifter cover,
the holes near the hood hinges.

I also inspected the air intake mesh cover, the gear shifter, and all the door gaskets. What am I missing?

There has been a mouse population explosion here and the danger of hantavirus is also an issue around here.

Thanks

 

[DSRTRDR]

mice really do not like the smell of RAID insect killer - use it liberally and they should stay away until it evaporates

purportedly, clothes dryer sheets in the engine compartment deter pack rats - hubby is still in the process of testing that hypothesis . . .

 

[gummycarbs]

When I stripped the interior of my '94, I found open holes (drain holes or assembly holes, don't know which) near the driver's left foot and in the rear, just behind the wheel wells. There are several more holes that are only covered with plastic disks. There are plastic plugs in the rocker panels and tailgate. The sunroof has four drains. The rear ones pop out the bottom of the rear quarter panel. I'm sure a mouse could crawl up one and then chew out anywhere.

Mice are amazing. They can fit through any opening that their head fits through, and they can climb virtually any surface but vertical glass.

I would start adopting cats and under-investing in cat food...

 

[larryrmnp]

mice really do not like the smell of RAID insect killer - use it liberally and they should stay away until it evaporates

purportedly, clothes dryer sheets in the engine compartment deter pack rats - hubby is still in the process of testing that hypothesis . . .

 

[larryrmnp]

Thanks, I will try that the next time I'm up in the mountains where our 80 is. I will take it a little easy because my wife is sensitive to chemicals. Dryer sheets didn't work for us.

 

[larryrmnp]

When I stripped the interior of my '94, I found open holes (drain holes or assembly holes, don't know which) near the driver's left foot and in the rear, just behind the wheel wells. There are several more holes that are only covered with plastic disks. There are plastic plugs in the rocker panels and tailgate. The sunroof has four drains. The rear ones pop out the bottom of the rear quarter panel. I'm sure a mouse could crawl up one and then chew out anywhere.

Mice are amazing. They can fit through any opening that their head fits through, and they can climb virtually any surface but vertical glass.

I would start adopting cats and under-investing in cat food...

Thanks, I will check for these holes the in January when we are back up in the mountains where our 80 is.

There are neighborhood cats patrolling, not to mention a bobcat, but too many mice. I have seven traps in the passenger compartment and three in the engine bay. This is the first time I've tried putting them in the bay. Usually when we are gone for weeks all the passenger traps are full but overnight usually just one on the floor of the front passenger side even with the A/C cover plugged with steel wool.

 

[LINUS]

Spearmint 'essential oil'.

I found it as a trick for my soy-based wire insulation in the Tundra (200's).

The soy-based wire insulation is known as 'mice food', but most new cars are going to it. Seattle mechanics are changing engine haresses in Hondas on a wholesale level, it's that bad. They make a Honda part# electrical tape to help, that's how bad Honda has this issue (will link below).

The spearmint oil is at any grocery store here, or at worst you may have to go to a Fred Meyer & check that 'natural stuff' section. $6-8/2-3oz bottle.

Mice dislike the scent & I dumped an entire bottle around the perimeter of the engine bay.

Honda also makes capsaicin-laced electrical tape (grey w dead mouse print) -for direct to harness covering.

https://www.amazon.com/Honda-4019-2...d=1513241734&sr=8-1&keywords=honda+mouse+tape

Bounce fabric sheets do work --- I keep my old cars wintered with a box in each spread all through the engine bay, cowl, floorboards, trunk. 1 full box/car each late fall & no issues in spring.

 

[YMT]

There are a ton of access points for mice, and trying to seal them all is IMO impractical. I would second using spearmint essential oil. I would also encourage using an electronic high frequency pest deterrent. They do work! I've lived and worked in remote areas for the last 15 years, and have had rodent issues in both personal and work vehicles.
I would highly recommend a thorough cleaning of the rig- get rid of food smells and other rodent smells- they follow the smell of their own in addition to looking for food and a safe nesting area.
I assume you're parking it in a garage. If so, I would suggest leave the doors and hood open with a garage light on (disco the battery on the rig). Also make sure you cool off the engine as much as possible before parking overnight, since they like the warmth.
Also, check the area where you're parking. If feasible, remove any woodpiles or long grass or anything mice use to keep hidden.

Good luck! Mice are a royal pain and do tons of damage.

 

[PossumPoacher]

Found a rats nest in my buddy's ac blower fan-box. The little beggars climbed up from the outside air intake and kept going until they made it all the fan, and then decided that was a good spot for a nest. Explains why it wasn't blowing much and made such a nasty squeaking sound.. . You might look into a walk-the-plank style mouse trap nearby since those self-reset while you're not there.

 

[larryrmnp]

There are a ton of access points for mice, and trying to seal them all is IMO impractical. I would second using spearmint essential oil. I would also encourage using an electronic high frequency pest deterrent. They do work! I've lived and worked in remote areas for the last 15 years, and have had rodent issues in both personal and work vehicles.
I would highly recommend a thorough cleaning of the rig- get rid of food smells and other rodent smells- they follow the smell of their own in addition to looking for food and a safe nesting area.
I assume you're parking it in a garage. If so, I would suggest leave the doors and hood open with a garage light on (disco the battery on the rig). Also make sure you cool off the engine as much as possible before parking overnight, since they like the warmth.
Also, check the area where you're parking. If feasible, remove any woodpiles or long grass or anything mice use to keep hidden.

Good luck! Mice are a royal pain and do tons of damage.

Thanks. Please let us know what kind of electronic deterrent you are using. Most of the reviews on Amazon are scams and we have not had good luck with the ones we have. In one case they built a nest right under the device.

Before we bought it our 80 sat outside for a year with no problems. We put it in the garage and immediately had problems. Now the garage is full of furniture that we are moving in and we put the 80 back where it was outside and the problems are increasing.

We will work on cleaning next time we are up there.

 

[larryrmnp]

Found a rats nest in my buddy's ac blower fan-box. The little beggars climbed up from the outside air intake and kept going until they made it all the fan, and then decided that was a good spot for a nest. Explains why it wasn't blowing much and made such a nasty squeaking sound.. . You might look into a walk-the-plank style mouse trap nearby since those self-reset while you're not there.

Looks useful but my kindhearted wife is vetoing.

 

[larryrmnp]

Spearmint 'essential oil'.

I found it as a trick for my soy-based wire insulation in the Tundra (200's).

The soy-based wire insulation is known as 'mice food', but most new cars are going to it. Seattle mechanics are changing engine haresses in Hondas on a wholesale level, it's that bad. They make a Honda part# electrical tape to help, that's how bad Honda has this issue (will link below).

The spearmint oil is at any grocery store here, or at worst you may have to go to a Fred Meyer & check that 'natural stuff' section. $6-8/2-3oz bottle.

Mice dislike the scent & I dumped an entire bottle around the perimeter of the engine bay.

Honda also makes capsaicin-laced electrical tape (grey w dead mouse print) -for direct to harness covering.

https://www.amazon.com/Honda-4019-2...d=1513241734&sr=8-1&keywords=honda+mouse+tape

Bounce fabric sheets do work --- I keep my old cars wintered with a box in each spread all through the engine bay, cowl, floorboards, trunk. 1 full box/car each late fall & no issues in spring.

Thanks. We'll try to oil and try the dryer sheets again.

 

[LINUS]

Thanks. Please let us know what kind of electronic deterrent you are using. Most of the reviews on Amazon are scams and we have not had good luck with the ones we have. In one case they built a nest right under the device.

Before we bought it our 80 sat outside for a year with no problems. We put it in the garage and immediately had problems. Now the garage is full of furniture that we are moving in and we put the 80 back where it was outside and the problems are increasing.

We will work on cleaning next time we are up there.

Another thing I use is cheap cayanne pepper (fine ground, in bulk foods) - It's cheap that way & I buy a 1/2 qt ziplock amount for $5.

Sprinkle it all around my boat (outside canopy stored) - no mice & no cats try to invade.

Cats hate sour citrus oil too - I grind/juice a couple lemons in the ol' Jack Lalane & toss that at both ends of the tent/canopy - we have a few feral/unclipped local cats around who like to spray your junk & ever since I've never had issues.

I've done a bit of homework on this & those are all my 'Cliff Notes'

 

[larryrmnp]

Another thing I use is cheap cayanne pepper (fine ground, in bulk foods) - It's cheap that way & I buy a 1/2 qt ziplock amount for $5.

Sprinkle it all around my boat (outside canopy stored) - no mice & no cats try to invade.

Cats hate sour citrus oil too - I grind/juice a couple lemons in the ol' Jack Lalane & toss that at both ends of the tent/canopy - we have a few feral/unclipped local cats around who like to spray your junk & ever since I've never had issues.

I've done a bit of homework on this & those are all my 'Cliff Notes'

Thanks. We will try the pepper. We buy it by the pound for cooking anyway. Cats we want to attract.

 

[YMT]

Thanks. Please let us know what kind of electronic deterrent you are using. Most of the reviews on Amazon are scams and we have not had good luck with the ones we have. In one case they built a nest right under the device.

Before we bought it our 80 sat outside for a year with no problems. We put it in the garage and immediately had problems. Now the garage is full of furniture that we are moving in and we put the 80 back where it was outside and the problems are increasing.

We will work on cleaning next time we are up there.

I got both of mine from Ace hardware in CO about 5-10 years ago. They're Ace brand units.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I recently had problem with them jumping in with just the door open

While traveling I caught an intruder in my 80 and ended up killing them.

 

[LS1FJ40]

I had two mice in my son's 92 a few weeks ago. First time I've ever had mice in a vehicle. Weather had just gotten cold here. Caught the little bastards and gave them a ride out in to the woods.

This morning I started my son's 92 to warm up for a couple minutes before he left for school. SONUVABITCH! He had left a cookie in a ziploc by the gear shifter.

Tonight after school we set traps. Caught one. It didn't get a rid in to the woods this time. It got to go for a swim.

Added dryer sheets and spearmint essential oil (my wife "sells" this stuff for Young Living and swears by essential oils...). She mentioned to try using it.

 

[Dudleyfj40]

I just cut rust out of the rear quarter bottoms and it had been a mouse hotel. I'm sure you don't have that problem in Cali.

Anyway, I have had them make nests with the dryer sheets I used. I have heard spearmint works good, glue traps are ok if it's not cold out. They are less sticky in the cold.

If you have one you can't get rid of, these traps are 100% effective. They are my go to mouse eradicators. Peanut butter goes in the middle bottom. No licking gently.

 

[Nors]

I just cut rust out of the rear quarter bottoms and it had been a mouse hotel. I'm sure you don't have that problem in Cali.

Anyway, I have had them make nests with the dryer sheets I used. I have heard spearmint works good, glue traps are ok if it's not cold out. They are less sticky in the cold.

If you have one you can't get rid of, these traps are 100% effective. They are my go to mouse eradicators. Peanut butter goes in the middle bottom. No licking gently.




View attachment 1591791

What are those traps
Source?

 

[subzali]

Put your fan on recirc when you park.