Country Living Strikes Again

As if my experience with the septic tank yesterday was not enough, another hazard of country living struck me today. Inside my car, the fuel gauge needle went to zero and the warning light came on. I knew I had fuel, but I went to the nearest garage to put some in, just to check. That made no difference to the light or needle, so I went to my own garage for them to check. They found the cable all chewed through by mice! No sign of the little horrors though. Maybe I should leave Ellie in the car overnight.

We live in the country too on three acres surrounded by farmland. Three of our four vehicles stay parked in the yard all the time and we never have had that happen. What are you going to do?

Yep country living. My 12 ft trailer parked outside usually has some wires chewed through by mice when we inspect it every spring. When we take firewood inside for the winter we always find mice nests or holes dug by woodchucks.

I have had a terrible time with deer mice. I have to check under the hood regularly to remove nests. They don't seem to have access in my current car, but in my previous car it costs me hundreds every winter because they built nests in my heating ducts in the car. It was a nightmare.

According to my mechanic it's a fairly common problem.

I guess this car has a different design and they can't get into the HVAC system, but, like I said, I have to remove nests from the engine area regularly.

PS I had some success with dryer sheets, with the old car. They have to be Bounce original. I had to take the panel off the area just outside of the dash and lay dryer sheets down. I also affixed screening to the holes that led to the vents. I also would lay them on the engine area itself, but sometimes forgot to remove them before driving. I also stuffed them in the vents. This seemed to help, but only temporarily.

Originally Posted by otto

PS I had some success with dryer sheets, with the old car. They have to be Bounce original. I had to take the panel off the area just outside of the dash and lay dryer sheets down. I also affixed screening to the holes that led to the vents. I also would lay them on the engine area itself, but sometimes forgot to remove them before driving. I also stuffed them in the vents. This seemed to help, but only temporarily.

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That is a good idea! I have just got my car back from the garage, all fixed at a cost of 77 euros. So I don't want it happening again. I shall park in a different place - there is a sand area where I groom the ponies, that may discourage the mice rather than the gravelled yard just outside the house.

I saw Ellie with a fat mouse this morning! MAybe she has solved the problem for me!

Moth balls under the hood works about the best. just place a few here and there around the wiring and it should stop the beasts. Just remember to remove them or they will reek when they get warm..........dont ask.

Brill ideas. Thanks.

Originally Posted by sk_pacer

Moth balls under the hood works about the best. just place a few here and there around the wiring and it should stop the beasts. Just remember to remove them or they will reek when they get warm..........dont ask.

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I did try mothballs under the car....but I because of my sensory intolerance I couldn't continue with them. The Bounce dryer sheets did not have a strong smell thank goodness.

I bought that bob cat urine repellent..didn't work so don't waste your money on that.

My landlord offered to put down poison, but there was no way I would allow that.

PS mothballs are toxic to cats so if you have cats outside, don't put them anywhere the cats have access.

Originally Posted by otto

PS mothballs are toxic to cats so if you have cats outside, don't put them anywhere the cats have access.

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Good point to remember

Last fall, DH took his truck in for inspection....he had to have five wires replaced under his engine because they were gnawed.

A few months ago, I took Clarence into the garage because his "Check Engine Soon" idiot light came on. Turns out that a wire had been chewed.

It's either mice or chipmunks.

My old boss was terrified of mice. I believe she said that peppermint oil on cotton-balls will deter them as well. She would put them around the drain pipes under her sinks to keep them from coming up into her house that way. I believe it was peppermint oil; a google check might confirm it but my eyes are about to close on their own here. Good luck!!

They are clever mice and they are still around. I set two traps last nght, one in the car and one under the bonnet, and this morning the cheese has gone but the traps have not sprung. Go yo Plan B.

This must happen only to vehicle parked outside and not in a garage (with doors closed).

In my garden shed I thought Hissy had recommended Bounce floral scented dryer sheets.

We can also get these really sticky sheets for mouse prevention. I wonder if the Tangletrap product that one applies to tree trunks to prevent insects from climbing up and doing damage would work. Its really sticky.

Try peanut peanut butter in traps too.

I was going to suggest mouse traps, but we use peanutbutter for them as its harder for them to still the bait without tripping the trap. Just make sure you label that peanutbutter so as not to mix it with the other.

I might try the peanut butter. I moved the car last night away from the house, and there was no sign of the mice this morning - the traps were still baited and untouched. I don't have a garage - it was turned into a shed a long time ago so there is only a sort of tractor shelter that at least keeps the worst of the weather off hte car and I usually only use it in really bad storms and snow. But maybe the car will be better there at least for the time being.