Rodent Issue

[James K]

On my last trip up North apparently a rodent got inside of the garage. The rodent decided to knock a couple of thing over in the garage and munch on some of the electrical wires in my Maverick. The next morning when I started up my Maverick the engine light came on. I wasn't sure if it was the rodent or a real engine issue. At the time I noticed it knocked out my rear camera and the dash outside temperature read out. Also, on the first day of the heat wave here in MI I noticed my AC wasn't working as well.

I setup a service appointment with my dealership and brought it in yesterday. I was actually hoping it would be a truck issue but it turned out to be a rodent problem that chewed up my wiring harness. My insurance company will cover the damage and they classified it as vandalism. I asked them if this was a common thing and they said it wasn't unusual.

I have a cottage in the woods (9/10s mile down dead end road, 1st place on the left). Impossible to keep mice out until I started using peppermint extract. Some say dryer sheets, but I tried that one year for a car I stored in winter, come Spring found the mice used the dryer sheets to make their nest.

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[Zed79]

I keep Fresh Cab under the seat of the sport trac and under the hood of my tractors seems to work.

 

[TwoTone]

I spray this on our vehicles every few months.

Amazon.com: Mighty Mint Gallon (128 oz) Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil - Natural Spray for Spiders, Ants, and More : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[Exranger]

Stupid question - what did you spray ?

Good question…rodent spray from Home Depot. Spray in wheel wells and down into engine compartment every week.

Yes it smells minty

 

[Builder]

Stupid question - what did you spray ?

It’s actually very easy, cheap and effective to mix your own spray using essential oils and Castile soap as an emulsifier. I reverse engineered a popular rodent deterrent and have been using my formula for several years now at one twentieth or less than the cost of a premix formula. Happy to share if there is any interest. It is a combination of deterrent smell and taste.

 

[Uncle Fatso]

Please do share the recipe

 

[Builder]

Please do share the recipe

Happy to. All the items are easily acquired from Amazon. You’ll need one 32 oz, opaque spray bottle. Make sure it’s opaque because essential oils break down faster with light. Fill with 32oz of water. Using separate glass eye droppers, add 4 drops of GARLIC essential oil, 20 drops of PEPPERMINT essential oil, 4 drops of ROSEMARY essential oil, and 4 drops of a high scoville scale PEPPER EXTRACT. I go with a very high scoville pepper extract comprised of 1 million scoville for greater deterrence but, be careful handling this kind of high heat pepper extract. Lastly, add one teaspoon of CASTILE SOAP. Make sure you use Castile soap which is pure, fragrance free soap. This is your emulsifier to get the oils and water to mix. Shake well and spray on surfaces you want to deter rodents. Make sure you shake well before each use. The mixture is largely clear and non staining. Just make sure you don’t get it near your face or on your hands and touching your face. For reference, I’ve included a pic of my product line up. You should be able to get a couple of years of product mix from these quantities. This absolutely works for me.

 

[MavGirl!]

It’s actually very easy, cheap and effective to mix your own spray using essential oils and Castile soap as an emulsifier. I reverse engineered a popular rodent deterrent and have been using my formula for several years now at one twentieth or less than the cost of a premix formula. Happy to share if there is any interest. It is a combination of deterrent smell and taste.

I'm interested! Share your "recipe", please?

 

[Builder]

I'm interested! Share your "recipe", please?

I’ve been using this formula, noted in the prior post, for a couple years. The advantage is the fact that it deters through both smell and taste. It is 100% effective when I used to have chipmunks roasting acorns on my engine block. I also routinely spray my treated wood deck joists that squirrels were using to wear down their teeth. No more issues wherever I’ve applied my spray. I spray every 10 days to two weeks depending on activity. Mostly during the cold season. I sure would hate to be the mouse that gets a taste of 1 million scoville pepper …. That will really ruin your day!!

 

[Oreochip]

Yes soy beans…mine got hit @ 500 miles. Ac went out. I spray around and in engine compartment weekly now

What do you spray it with??

 

[Exranger]

What do you spray it with??

Get it at Home Depot, rodent spray

 

[Beekeo]

Alright, might have to try out some of these sprays

two weeks ago I found out that the hood latch receiver on my wife’s 2018 escape is a lovely spot for a mouse house (metal dome on the underside of the hood, covered by the insulation blanket).

Last Sunday my family complained that my Maverick smelled bad — checked all of the usual places periodically until I finally pulled the cabin air filter and removed a very stiff very dead mouse. Reinstalled the old filter just long enough to get to the parts store and swap it out.

 

[Silvaire]

I have a Dodge caravan that mice got into the air cleaner the cabin filter but luckily as far as I know I had no wiring damage. I bought rodent peppermint spray that was suggested to me and spray the inside the wheel well twice a week and under the engine. I haven't had any trouble since. When I bought my Maverick I started doing the same thing and haven't had any trouble with it.

 

[Bear]

It’s actually very easy, cheap and effective to mix your own spray using essential oils and Castile soap as an emulsifier. I reverse engineered a popular rodent deterrent and have been using my formula for several years now at one twentieth or less than the cost of a premix formula. Happy to share if there is any interest. It is a combination of deterrent smell and taste.

If you don't mind me asking what areas do you spray this. Do you spray it on the wires?

Also, my Maverick is still at the dealership at no fault of them. It's my insurance company who caused the delay. The quoted the repairs work way too low and had to go back to the dealership and re-quote the repairs. Hopefully, I will get my Maverick back either this Monday or Tuesday.

 

[Builder]

If you don't mind me asking what areas do you spray this. Do you spray it on the wires?

Also, my Maverick is still at the dealership at no fault of them. It's my insurance company who caused the delay. The quoted the repairs work way too low and had to go back to the dealership and re-quote the repairs. Hopefully, I will get my Maverick back either this Monday or Tuesday.

Typically, I spray the engine, including wires, firewall insulation, and hoses, the wheel wells, and the ground around each of the tires. I also put a rodent deterrent, aromatic pouch (found on Amazon) in the truck bed and just change that out monthly. I have a bed cover so the smell permeates the bed and underneath the rear of the Mav. No cabin oder at all.

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