Mice!

[PaulZ]

A mouse ate a candy bar, in the wrapper, of the seat of my '99. Might have left the window down. This is at my cabin in the woods. Last night I put a bucket trap with peanut butter on the floorboard, made sure all the windows were up. 4 mice in it this morning! How are they getting in, the vents?

 

[Snoranger]

I don’t know how they’re getting in, but if you put up this sign you shouldn’t have any more problems.

 

[RonD]

Maybe they never left............................

There is a fresh air vent under the cowl on passenger side, no filter on it so open down to the blower, cowl slats are pretty narrow though
Pull the blower motor out(just 3 or 4 screws) and have a look inside the air box for signs of rodents

Not many holes in the firewall, check shifter cable, throttle cable and e-brake cable grommets

 

[PaulZ]

Thanks guys, maybe they did never leave.. I'm going to put the trap in a few more times and see what happens, then remove the blower motor for a look Everything else looks sealed up.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

This is an ongoing battle for me. They are everywhere around home. The one winter I took 18 out of three trucks and 23 out of the bucket trap in my box truck

 

[RonD]

Google: Australia mouse plague

Videos will freak you out

 

[PaulZ]

Well I'm still averaging 2-3 dead mice a night, so they are getting in somewhere. Where exactly is that heater opening, firewall is pretty crowded on the passenger side. So I see it from up top or underneath?

 

[RonD]

Pull blower motor out(just 3 or 4 screws) and have a look inside for signs they are getting in there

 

[PaulZ]

OK just did, clean as a whistle. Crawled under, looked around, inside, firewall...Only spot I found is where I removed the jumper seats and left one hole open but it's only a 10mm or so threaded hole and it doesn't go straight to the ground, something else under there. I could set up my night vision trail camera under the truck, might give a clue..

Thanks Ron.

 

[RonD]

Maybe they have a Fob...........................

Check the under door gaskets

 

[Blmpkn]

Mice hate mint-y smells. Keep some cotton balls soaked in mint-y essential oils in your glove box & under the hood and see what happens.

 

[PaulZ]

Maybe they never left............................

There is a fresh air vent under the cowl on passenger side, no filter on it so open down to the blower, cowl slats are pretty narrow though
Pull the blower motor out(just 3 or 4 screws) and have a look inside the air box for signs of rodents

Not many holes in the firewall, check shifter cable, throttle cable and e-brake cable grommets

Still getting mice, two last night, but only when I'm at the cabin. So the only way they can get into the fresh air system is through the slats in the cowl top? Mine is welded on.

Door gaskets are good. I'm just stumped. Maybe I'll try the mint but rather have them not even come in.

 

[RonD]

Yes, there is no access to the fresh air vent from the outside, you can pull out the blower/fan and reach in and up to feel it but would be hard for them to access

Unless they are flying mice the only access to vehicle are the 4 wheels
It is said peppermint oil/smell repels rodents
Maybe spray the tires/wheels inside and out with it

 

[PaulZ]

I did pull the blower motor on your last advice, clean. My cowl has no slats, just small holes, but what about around the wipers, there are some big gaps there. Would that connect to the air intake? I can try stuffing rags in there tonight. These are small mice.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

In behind the fenders there are flaps of material that allow the water to run out of the cowl area.
Also look closely at the transmission floor shift area.
Make sure the door seals are attached properly .