mice eating my sound insulation and wire sheathing in engine bay

[450knotOffice]

I've been noticing chewed up foam padding on the garage floor for a week or so near and underneath the 997. I looked all over the place for the origin with no luck, until I finally got smart enough to use a flashlight and peek deep into the engine bay. Aha! About 8 to 10 square inches of sound/heat insulation has been chewed away. Looking more closely drew my eyes to a few wires that have had tiny holes chewed into their sheathing/wrapping, although the wires themselves seem to be fine - so far. The bastards have even chewed holes in the rubber floor seal on the garage door.

So, what do you suggest I do to get them outta there? I'm dreading eventually finding my car down for the count because of these little furballs of destruction.

[rusnak]

Go for a drive?

[Craig T]

POISON! Quick.

My neighbor had the same issue, eventually leading to a new wiring harness in his 993 C4S....at about $6,000. Luckily, his home owner's insurance covered most of it.

My sister has a similar issue with mice in Temecula. She was having weird and random electrical issues in her M3. Dealer found several wires chewed through. That was NOT covered.

I put out that green mouse and rat poison in both garages and in the shed. I must have found 10 dead rats and mice over the next three weeks,

Here is a mummified mouse I found when I restored my old 911.

[john70t]

Prevent: Block perimeter openings with steel wool.

Dissuade: Ultrasonic emitters plug into any outlet.
Purchase at any big box store.
The noise is uncomfortable for them.

Destroy: Sticky traps, snap traps, poison, use them all.
Bait w/PB and sunflower seeds.

[Bugsinrugs]

I got two rescue cats that live only in the garage. No rodents at all since they moved in. Oh....get female cats, better hunters.

[450knotOffice]

Thanks for the ideas guys. In all the years I've lived in this house, I've never had them inside the garage - till now.

[sammyg2]

Mice got into the engine compartment of the wife's car and cost us $750.
I put a couple of those sticky glue trays under the engine where she parks and caught two mice.
I figured that was it, but a month later it caught a rat.

[syncroid]

Scott, We get about six cars or so a year just for this problem. In fact, we have one customer with a 2005 GT3 that I have had to replace the wiring harness (rear of car) twice!
The wire insulation is soy based and the rodents like it! They usually go for the O2 sensor wire area, throttle body wires, or knock sensor wiring on top of the block first. Another favorite perch for them is on top of the rear fender housings inside the engine compartment. That is where they KILL the harness. Look for a nest in that area. It is much cooler for them there.
I just did a clutch on a 2011 Cayman S that had a huge nest on top of the under chassis splash shields. Yech!

[NoRush993/951]

Make up a batch of peppermint oil / water and put in a spray bottle and use it every couple of days. Mice can't stand the smell and leave. And your car will smell good too. I actually started using this on the house air conditioner all the time to keep them out. I spray it around the garage perimeter and don't have to use it on the cars in the garage as the mice don't come in.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by john70t

Prevent: Block perimeter openings with steel wool.
Destroy: Sticky traps, snap traps, poison, use them all.
Bait w/PB and sunflower seeds.

THis. In the garage I use glue boards and snap traps. (I don't care for poison in the garage since the little buggers go and die somewhere and stink up the place).
There will be none for a while and then I'll get a few in a week's time. Don't wait until something is chewed up. Keep them around all year long. Refresh the bait about once every 4-6 weeks.

[gshase]

Set half a dozen spring traps in garage with dog food with a little peanut butter. Years ago I caught 3 mice in 1 trap at 1 time. And if you see 1 then you have 10 mice.

[speeder]

Timely thread. I have some free parking at a friend's ranch near Angeles Forrest, (high desert about 60 miles from L.A.). The mouse population is out of control out there, it's a full-time job keeping them out of the shop and vehicles.

I left my VW Jetta TDI out there over the summer when I was in MN., they chewed through the wires to the coolant level sensor causing a big, constant warning on my instrument display. Replaced that pigtail and plug but what a PIA. Obviously, it could have been worse.

They really like engine compartments. Please tell me more about traps, what are "sticky traps"?

[sammyg2]

do not use where cats or dogs could get into them.

[motion]

Please do not use glue traps. They are so inhumane. Use a bunch of snap traps. You can get them at Home Depot. Mice love peanut butter

[wdfifteen]

Don't waste money on those ultra sonic gizmos. The ones I've tried are useless.
Don't put baited traps in the vehicle, you don't want to attract the little rascals. I've heard mothballs will repel them, but haven't tried it. I use cayenne pepper to repel chipmunks. It would prolly work on mice.

[billybek]

Little red squirrels ripped apart my firewall insulation on my 3/4 ton.
This reminds me that I must get revenge....

[porsche4life]

These are the best snap traps you can get. You can set them to super sensitive, smear a little peanut butter on the blade, and i bet your mouse friend is gone in no time.


Hot glue the trap to a square of cardboard so the little bastard doesn't drag it off or leave a stain on your garage floor!

[DanielDudley]

There is also a trap you can make with a five gallon bucket, some wire, a can and some anti freeze.

DIY Five Gallon Bucket Mouse Trap | Gentleman Homestead Consulting

Ratzapper...seriously

[450knotOffice]

Well, I put 5 dryer sheets in and around the engine last night as a temporary deterant. lol!! Well, the little ****ers pulled all the dryer sheets down into a pile under the intake. Haha! So much for the dryer sheets theory.