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Old 08-18-2009, 03:51 PM   #1
DustoMan
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Default Mice in the Vents?

So I think while I was on a week-long work trip some mice made a nest in my air vents. When I turned my car on after getting home I had this lovely "dead smell" coming though the vents. It went away after a few moments only to resurface again a day or so later. Now there's a slight flicking or creeking sound coming from under the dash. Where do I even start looking for a nest inside my 2005 WRX!?!?
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Old 08-18-2009, 05:35 PM   #2
yarrgh
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Try looking in the vents just below the windshield on the outside. If nothing, you can try opening up the cabin air filter door(if so equipped). I think on a wrx, they're behind the glove box.
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Old 08-18-2009, 08:50 PM   #3
Clint Cart
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OMGHi2U

Get a small cat?.
A blow gun may help find it. I'd buy some mouse traps too.
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Old 08-18-2009, 10:14 PM   #4
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d0000000000000d

ya GONNA HAVE TO take the whole bloody thing apart and clean it out

there is NO easy way to do this
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Old 08-19-2009, 10:26 PM   #5
raw17050
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there is no easy way. I would start pulling and looking in the vents to see if I see anything. Good luck.
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Old 08-20-2009, 12:16 AM   #6
Wussman24
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Might want to pull the cover off around the vents above the radio trim piece. When I took mine off there was mouse poop on top of the din pocket.
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Old 08-25-2009, 10:04 PM   #7
KootenayWRX
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You could take the vents off and slide a flex hose(one that would fit in there). Try vaccume it out. Check the filter Box behind the glove box.
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Old 08-31-2009, 04:49 PM   #8
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The noise hasn't come back and the smell happened one more time in the early morning maybe a week or so ago. I do more investigating just to be sure.
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Old 08-31-2009, 06:39 PM   #9
mems3
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leave them there... they keep u company!
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Old 09-10-2009, 02:41 PM   #10
vetteboi88
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In the future, leave the hood cracked open with a 2x4 laid on it's side if you'll be gone for more than a week. The mice like it in the engine compartment because it's dry, and no breeze. Then they find their way into your vents.

I had an old '88 GL10 wagon that sat outside for almost two years. Mice got in the vents and also ate EVERY wire under the hood down to the connections. Couldn't even tell what color the wires were anymore since they gnawed it down to the connectors. THAT was a FUN project, lol. Nothing like making your own complete wiring harness from scratch
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Old 09-11-2009, 01:00 AM   #11
dead flag blues
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Oh no.. That happened to a car my brothers and I inherited from my grandmother.. A 1976 Ford Granada. The dealership tore the dash apart and took out 3+ paper shopping bags full of fried mice, mouse nest, mouse crap, and a few wires. Every time that car got up to temp, it just stunk..

This reminds me to keep a cat in the garage this winter!
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Old 09-12-2009, 10:51 PM   #12
nkodemus82
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Next time you leave the car, try covering the intake openings and vent covers with a dryer sheet. I've heard from a lot of people over the last few years that this keeps the buggers out.
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Old 09-14-2009, 08:32 AM   #13
gilg2533
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This happened to my car after sitting all summer. I was able to get the vents cleared up by removing the cabin air filter. I also am a Mazda technician and can say that nine times out of ten when I have ran into this issue at work, removing the cabin air filter and using a shop vac has cured the issue. Just be glad they didnt get above your headliner....
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Old 09-16-2009, 09:20 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gilg2533 View Post
This happened to my car after sitting all summer. I was able to get the vents cleared up by removing the cabin air filter. I also am a Mazda technician and can say that nine times out of ten when I have ran into this issue at work, removing the cabin air filter and using a shop vac has cured the issue. Just be glad they didnt get above your headliner....
I saw this issue a few weeks ago. A whole family of baby pinky mice & the mother dead. Smelt terrible..all in the cabin air filter.

Then another car where the rats chewed the wiring harness..
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Old 04-17-2020, 04:27 PM   #15
Visian
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Default How to get behind vents

Hi - we're constantly after mice getting into our 2002 Bugeye... but I think the little ba**ards are now deep inside the middle of the venting system.

We are *experts* at removing the glove box and replacing the cabin filter. I tried using the vent control to close off outside air and the mice built a huge nest outside of it. So... we've filled that area with steel wool to discourage them.

Now we leave the glove box out of the car, but are afraid the mice have built a nest in the central console.

How does one get into this area to check?

Thansk!
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Old 05-10-2020, 06:13 PM   #16
kerdizo
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Smile Try this

Hello, im partially replying to your thread with sincere intentions of giving advice, while simultaneously trying to get my three replies over with so I can get some help with my own issues!

When you leave a car in an area where mice or little critters can get in the cracks and crevices of your air intake, the best way to prevent this is to leave your car on four jack stands a solid foot off the ground so that no little guys can easily hop up into your engine bay and reak havoc on your engines breathing' tubes.

another way is to keep hood and trunk open with air intakes OPEN to prevent critters from seeing the dark and secure reality of the air intake and AC ducting. If there is visible light and obvious openings to open space, mice and other such creatures won't see it as a secure place to make a home.
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Old 05-13-2020, 11:08 PM   #17
surowrxa
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Visian View Post
Hi - we're constantly after mice getting into our 2002 Bugeye... but I think the little ba**ards are now deep inside the middle of the venting system.

We are *experts* at removing the glove box and replacing the cabin filter. I tried using the vent control to close off outside air and the mice built a huge nest outside of it. So... we've filled that area with steel wool to discourage them.

Now we leave the glove box out of the car, but are afraid the mice have built a nest in the central console.

How does one get into this area to check?

Thansk!
You can't access these areas. But there is hope: field mice where we are hate mint. My advice, peppermint oil. Try it out, saturated rag in the duct or such. Their sensitive noses can't stand it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kerdizo View Post
Hello, im partially replying to your thread with sincere intentions of giving advice, while simultaneously trying to get my three replies over with so I can get some help with my own issues!

When you leave a car in an area where mice or little critters can get in the cracks and crevices of your air intake, the best way to prevent this is to leave your car on four jack stands a solid foot off the ground so that no little guys can easily hop up into your engine bay and reak havoc on your engines breathing' tubes.

another way is to keep hood and trunk open with air intakes OPEN to prevent critters from seeing the dark and secure reality of the air intake and AC ducting. If there is visible light and obvious openings to open space, mice and other such creatures won't see it as a secure place to make a home.
But what if the car is outside (as with most cases of mice issues)? Try mint as well my friend. Moth balls pale in comparison. Actually, our field mice will eat moth balls. Mint makes them reconsider life decisions.
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