Mice In Engine Air Box

[ldusseau]

I just changed both the engine and cabin air filters and I found evidence of mice in both. The left engine airbox had birdseed in both the filter and the bottom of the box. The cabin air filter had seed in it as well. They can't possibly be getting in the same way for both spots. How do I block them off?

 

[D.J.]

I just changed both the engine and cabin air filters and I found evidence of mice in both. The left engine airbox had birdseed in both the filter and the bottom of the box. The cabin air filter had seed in it as well. They can't possibly be getting in the same way for both spots. How do I block them off?

They can easily enter from under the engine compartment and easily enter the passenger cabin from the HVAC fresh Air event on the passenger side firewall.

Your best bet is probably some kind of commercially available "rodent be gone"

 

[Thomby]

How do I block them off?

They make little mesh bags of mouse repellent that I believe are basically wood chips and innocuous oils (peppermint, pine/cedar, lavender) which mice find annoying, instead of chemicals. You could probably toss one in each airbox, if you have cone filters (in case they shed dust/fibers...probably better to be ahead of the filter instead of past it).

They should also be safe in the cabin air box, you'd just have to test to see if you could smell whatever aromatic they use, and if so, whether you mind it.

 

[ldusseau]

They make little mesh bags of mouse repellent that I believe are basically wood chips and innocuous oils (peppermint, pine/cedar, lavender) which mice find annoying, instead of chemicals. You could probably toss one in each airbox, if you have cone filters (in case they shed dust/fibers...probably better to be ahead of the filter instead of past it).

They should also be safe in the cabin air box, you'd just have to test to see if you could smell whatever aromatic they use, and if so, whether you mind it.

I installed stock engine air filters so there's enough room to put the mouse repellent in the bottom of the box. I'll have to see where there's enough room around the cabin air filter for a baggie but the best thing will be to get them out of the garage in the first place. They already ruined my motorcycle helmet last spring and they're making a mess so far this winter. I hate to do it, but inside they're fair game.

 

[Snicklefritz]

A kitty cat, or even several. Let nature take its course.

 

[Thomby]

I'll have to see where there's enough room around the cabin air filter for a baggie but the best thing will be to get them out of the garage in the first place

Toss one in each corner of the garage too. You can even get cinnamon flavor.

 

[Buzzman12]

We have mice all over the neighbourhood. They are everywhere. I keep several traps in the garage at all times.
Just when you think you've gotten rid of them, another dead mouse shows up in one of my traps.
They reproduce faster than I can kill them.

 

[Monarch_GTS]

I spent years and years as a tech being paid to fix wiring chewed by mice and rodents; it's a common problem that can happen anywhere.

about 20-25 years ago, the wiring manufactures switched from a petroleum based wire insulator to a SOY based wire insulator; the rodents can smell the soy and they find a fun, warm place to build a nest and eat (they really enjoy spark plug wires; fortunately, we don't have those on the Stinger). They can get into anywhere and really make a mess, damage wires, get caught in the fan or belt and make a hell of a mess, and thy chew, piss and shit on everything. they love to tear up the underhood insulator for nesting material.

there is nothing you can do to prevent them from getting into the engine bay, and in most cases, being garage kept helps.....but does not prevent the issue. A cat does help too, as previously mentioned (but the cat can also jump into your engine bay and find warm places to curl up.... same big mess potential).

From my experience, Moth Balls and/or Peppermint Extract work the best. The rodents despise the smell of both. Amazon even has "peppermint flavored" moth balls, and that is what I use in my garage, around my driveway and my yard near the driveway, to keep them away.

Peppermint Oil Extract works great by itself, you can get it online or at GMC or healthy grocery stores like Sprouts. Its a syrup in a small bottle, mix with some water in a plant sprayer and spritz it all over your engine bay, air boxes, HVAC intake and undercar. It won't hurt anything and makes a pleasant odor for humans, and its safe for pets....and it works.

Apply several times a year.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I spent years and years as a tech being paid to fix wiring chewed by mice and rodents; it's a common problem that can happen anywhere.

about 20-25 years ago, the wiring manufactures switched from a petroleum based wire insulator to a SOY based wire insulator; the rodents can smell the soy and they find a fun, warm place to build a nest and eat (they really enjoy spark plug wires; fortunately, we don't have those on the Stinger). They can get into anywhere and really make a mess, damage wires, get caught in the fan or belt and make a hell of a mess, and thy chew, piss and shit on everything. they love to tear up the underhood insulator for nesting material.

there is nothing you can do to prevent them from getting into the engine bay, and in most cases, being garage kept helps.....but does not prevent the issue. A cat does help too, as previously mentioned (but the cat can also jump into your engine bay and find warm places to curl up.... same big mess potential).

From my experience, Moth Balls and/or Peppermint Extract work the best. The rodents despise the smell of both. Amazon even has "peppermint flavored" moth balls, and that is what I use in my garage, around my driveway and my yard near the driveway, to keep them away.

Peppermint Oil Extract works great by itself, you can get it online or at GMC or healthy grocery stores like Sprouts. Its a syrup in a small bottle, mix with some water in a plant sprayer and spritz it all over your engine bay, air boxes, HVAC intake and undercar. It won't hurt anything and makes a pleasant odor for humans, and its safe for pets....and it works.

Apply several times a year.

Very good. I have never heard of cats actually getting INTO the engineroom. They do love to curl up on a warm hood, or just the vantage point of a car roof attracts some cats. I keep a towel and bucket and drying microfiber handy. Since I attract cats into our yard with a daily offering of a snack, it would be stupid to chase them off the car, so, I put up with that irritant in order to encourage the mousers.