topic Re: WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE ! in Community Chat

WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE !

Goodie2shoes — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 01:51:48 GMT

Let me start by saying it's been a bad winter, to cold and to much snow. Yesterday I was leaving my home to visit my mom, started my car when suddenly it started to idle very rough, the check engine light came on, started flashing off and on with a message to check the stability track. I was very concerned of course and took it straight to a chevy dealer who happened to be close to my home. I was sitting in the waiting room for a diagnosis when the service rep came and got me because he wanted to show me what they found. We walked up to the car, looked under hood and there was a huge rodent nest sitting right on top of the motor. I was shocked! The service rep and the mechanic explained that because of the cold snowy winter we are having even the rodents are looking for a warm place to stay. Luckily they hadn't chewed on any wires and the problem was not due to the rodents. Car fixed, $467 for a spark plug and something else then back on the road again after 2 1/2 hrs at the dealer shop. I now have moth balls in my carport and something called Fresh cab taped to the motor to keep them away because they don't like the smell. Anyone else have problems like this during this winter season? Apparently from the dealer, they have seen this happen a lot this winter and some wires have been chewed causing hundreds of dollars in repair.

Re: WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE !

kivah — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 01:53:39 GMT

So glad u got it taken care of. I would have freaked out.

Re: WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE !

viva923 — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 01:55:54 GMT

I have hard of this via the internet stories but I have not been told of anyone personally that this has happened to them.

Glad your dealership was able to repair the problem and get you back on the road again

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bonnielu — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 01:58:15 GMT

Decluttered my garage and I keep both cars inside. However, as we were "making the garage new again," I noticed lots of places that mice were living. So I imagine it was a matter of time before my cars would be victims also. We did clean everything out.

Re: WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE !

Venezia — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 01:59:41 GMT

Where I am (NE) it's a constant battle to keep mice out of our cars in the garage.

I'm always on the alert for any signs of mouse invasions and have electronic traps set nearby. When I see that they've been in my car, I vacuum everything out and put cotton balls soaked in pure peppermint oil in the footwells, back and front. Also in the trunk space, on top of the air filter and anywhere else I can think of. There is nowhere they won't get into.

Anyone who doesn't like the smell of peppermint (strong), needs to find a ride with someone else!

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hellie jo — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:01:56 GMT

Wow! How disgusting.How long since you started it last?

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Goodie2shoes — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:11:18 GMT

Venezia wrote:

Where I am (NE) it's a constant battle to keep mice out of our cars in the garage.

Anyone who doesn't like the smell of peppermint (strong), needs to find a ride with someone else!

Oh my !! I hope they have not been in my car, haven't seen any signs, hope I don't . The stuff called Fresh cab comes in packets of 4 in a box so along with taping one on my motor, I put a couple of packets in my shed and my screened in back porch. A friend recommended it and says it works well, they haven't seen any signs of rodents. I'm in St. Louis

Re: WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE !

Venezia — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:18:29 GMT

@hellie jo wrote:
Wow! How disgusting.How long since you started it last?

The OP has said she was going to her mother's house. I doubt it had been that long since she drove her car. Mice building a nest in the engine or on top of it generally won't cause an issue; as long as they don't chew any wiring.

If you've never dealt with mice getting into your car, you have no idea how fast it can happen. I drive my car pretty much every day and they still get in - and it's kept in the garage!

There's nothing "disgusting" about it. It's nature and it happens.

Re: WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE !

Venezia — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:15:26 GMT

@Goodie2shoes - Did the Fresh Cab say it was okay to tape it to the motor? I'm not sure what you mean by that, but just make sure it's not somewhere that the heat from the engine might set it alight.

I'm not trying to scare you; just trying to make sure it's taped away from the actual engine block, if there's anything flammable in it. I've never heard of Fresh Cab but I'll look it up. Any extra tools in the arsenal to defeat the little rodents is okay with me!

Re: WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE !

Goodie2shoes — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:17:58 GMT

Hellie wrote:

Wow! How disgusting.How long since you started it last?

I drive my suv everyday ! Just had a oil change 2 weeks ago so the hood was opened then. I took a picture of it with my cell phone, my daughter was shocked at the size.

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Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:20:03 GMT

OP is lucky there wasn't an engine massacre under her hood ........ When animals die under the hood, it's almost impossible to get the SMELL out .... might as well just buy a new car.

Re: WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS ONE !

Goodie2shoes — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:27:21 GMT

Venezia wrote:

Did the Fresh Cab say it was okay to tape it to the motor? I'm not sure what you mean by that, but just make sure it's not somewhere that the heat from the engine might set it alight.

No it didn't say ok to tape it to the motor but the shop rep said ok to tape dryer sheets to the cover over the battery. I have a 2013 Equinox, taped the bag over the covered area of the battery, nothing exposed to any wires. I thought about that because I didn't want any exposure that would cause a fire. Thanks for your concern.

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Venezia — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:29:40 GMT

@Goodie2shoes - I just checked online about this product and I'm going to be out tomorrow so will buy some. It sounds really good. Thanks for the information!

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croemer — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:51:16 GMT

We had that happen once to our DD's car...and oh the odor...for MONTHS! When we turned the car on...it made mince meat of the mice. UGH

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SXMGirl — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:44:22 GMT

@Goodie2shoes , I have never heard of that but I am glad that your car was not damaged by rodents and that you got your car taken care of quickly.

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BirkiLady — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:56:59 GMT

I have a friend who didn't realize squirrels had damaged her brakes. She drove her car about 1 1/2 blocks from her home and was unable stop when another vehicle ran a red light. Both cars were totaled, but no injuries. It was a residential area. When the insurance companies were going through her car, they found the damage to her brakes! Fortunately for her, the other driver had run the light and was ticketed. But, it did make her feel better about her own driving skills.

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Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:58:15 GMT

I have not had that happen, but one year I got the lawn mower out, cranked it up, and had body parts flying from the undercarriage - yes, there was a nest.

No need to call an exterminator.

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DiAnne — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 03:17:36 GMT

I had mice build a nest in my car and they did chew the wires. Several hundred dollar repair. I guess they were just trying to get warm. I do not have a garage but so far it has only happened once!

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GCR18 — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 03:28:52 GMT

My mother had issues with her sunroof leaking. Took it to the dealer and was told the wires were chewed leading to the sunroof. Told her it would run $3000 to replace the wires. Have to disassemble a lot to do it. We haven't done anything about it, but will have to do something. I have to deal with it next time I visit.

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WindingRoad — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 04:22:00 GMT

This problem is getting more common as cars converted from petroleum base wire covering to soy base covering around 2012 or so. There's been many reports of Toyotas with this problem but all the manufacturers have changed over to the new wiring.. It's mice and rats, they love it. Much better than the old rubber wires. Some repairs are 1k,5k and even over 10k, with car owners fighting with their insurance companies to cover their the claims. The lawsuits against Toyota and others have been dismissed in court.

It's not just up north where it's colder, it's all over, even in Florida. Nothing to do with the cold weather. Investigate all the preventative remedies, there's many, check on Amazon. This many be cheaper in the end for the car co's, but not for drivers