Mice in Cab - where do they get in from?

[HiYoAu]

Check the cabin air filter, they commonly get in Toyotas through the cabin air intake.

This. On my Prius, the cabin air intake is wide open to the crawling critters. The openings are covered by a plastic cowling to restrict rainwater, but everything else can get to the top of the cabin air filter. There is a whole diy for prius owners to install 1/4” screens to cover the air openings.

It’s likely something similar can be done for our trucks.

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[Montykeel]

Looks like it might be discontinued but there is/was hot pepper rodent deterrent tape from Honda. https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/honda-rodent-deterrent-tape-prevents-wire-damage/

Bought some after $1100 repair to '06 Kia.

I'm overdue to apply some under the hood of the Maverick.

Also, does anyone know how to access the fresh air intake opening on a Maverick?

 

[Montykeel]

Better link to Honda rodent tape. https://www.hondapartsnow.com/genuine/honda~tape~rodent~19mm~20m~4019-2317.html

 

[Nomoretaco]

Yeah, dont ask me how I know, both our Rav4 and Tacoma needed screens installed. Cant believe its not stock. Luckily comprehensive insurance tends to cover damage, including detailing.

 

[Paulyz]

Anyone else have this issue? Where do they get in? Every morning there's droppings in the cup holders other open places nearby.

When I store my mustang over the winter, I put steel wool in any openings mice could get in, plus peppermint oil on cotton balls plus dryer sheets.

 

[LM42]

While that is one possible way to deal with them, I'd rather find and seal up their path of entry.

Vehicle cabins are not meant to be totally sealed. That is why they can get in there. I've been repairing rodent damaged cars for years, and even had one late model car declared a total loss over rodent damage. There are a variety of ways to deter them, but it is unlikely you will successfully seal the cabin entirely.

 

[Timothyd]

When I store my mustang over the winter, I put steel wool in any openings much could get in, plus peppermint oil on cotton balls plus dryer sheets.

Steel wool rusts. Get stainless steel shavings.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

Vehicle cabins are not meant to be totally sealed. That is why they can get in there. I've been repairing rodent damaged cars for years, and even had one late model car declared a total loss over rodent damage. There are a variety of ways to deter them, but it is unlikely you will successfully seal the cabin entirely.

I'm not suggesting that vehicle cabins be totally sealed as in air-tight. That's unachievable outside of specialized environments.

I am suggesting that interior cabins should be rodent tight with no openings large enough for rodents to squeeze their bodies through. For example, cables could be run with connectors on both sides of a passage, instead of just a grommet for wiring access. It would theoretically be easy to leave unused wires on these connectors for customer expansion.

Exposed wiring possibly could also be covered in some type of rodent deterrent (mesh shielding, maybe?) from the factory.

 

[Finklejag]

They usually hang out in pairs. Set the trap again.

 

[JimParker256]

We use copper wool pads (available at Wal-Mart and pretty much any grocery store) to block vents, etc. while still allowing airflow. It doesn't rust away.

"Funny" story... I used to own a Mercedes SLK (hardtop convertible) that my 17 year old son thought was pretty cool. He begged to borrow it to take a girl to the Ft Worth Zoo, and I finally let him borrow it. When he got home, he casually mentioned that he guessed driving a Mercedes didn't merit a great parking spot, unlike a Lamborghini. He had to park it out in a field next to a "jungle" (his description).

Soon after he got back, I began noticing an odor outside the car. I could not find anything to attribute it to, so I casually mentioned the strange smell to the service manager a week later when it was going in for a brake job.

I got a call an hour or so later, asking me if I wanted the dead rat removed from between the oil pan and the skid plate. Well, duh! Of course I did... Seems that a fairly large rat had crawled up there, and when my son drove away, it was still there, and because they were on the freeway for over an hour, it got hot enough to kill it. (Guess it was afraid to jump off at first, then it was too late...)

That "ratetctomy" (that's how it appeared on the invoice) cost me a little over $1750 in labor @ Y2K labor rates! Seems that to get to the dead (semi-liquified decomposed putrid mess was the verbal description from the service tech), they had to remove one of the suspension arms so they could remove the skid plate to get to the rat remains. And of course, it required a front end alignment since they had to remove / reinstall the suspension arm.

I hate rats and mice!

 

[tellyouwhat]

Wow so many stories here. We also had a rodent chew up wires in our Range Rover. Usually garage it but left it outside one night and a rodent (prob a mouse) went to town on the wires causing a cool $2k in damage.

 

[Finnster]

Mouse trap showdown!

 

[willfordtruck]

While that is one possible way to deal with them, I'd rather find and seal up their path of entry.

I live in a rural area and had an issue with rats in the engine bay of a couple of vehicles I keep outside. My wife gave me some panty liners that I stuck around the engine bays of the vehicles which I then drip peppermint oil onto using an eye dropper. No problems since doing that. Please note that rodents seem to enjoy feasting on electrical wiring with soy based insulation.

 

[1929]

What's decon?

Active ingredient is bromadiolone. It is toxic to dogs and cats. Use caution.

 

[NJBob]

Steel wool rusts. Get stainless steel shavings.

Copper works well too.

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