Mice in Elise - need advise

[Northern Joy]

Good evening,

I went to check on the mistress and when I started her up for a quickie the most awful smell came through the blowers, I instantly knew it was rodent related. I followed my nose and located the main source under the driver side scuttle.

 

I currently have the front clam removed and found an empty nest behind the brake system. I have cleaned it all out with some autoglm caravan cleaner (hope that is enough).  But the rest of the engine bay still smells of mice. They have eaten the insulation as well. I have looked over all the wiring I can see and they does not appear to be any damage apart from the smell.  I have been in the cabin and no signs they made it inside or behind the dash so fingers crossed I found out before they properly moved in for the winter.

I have searched the usual forums for an answer but can't seem to find a 'what to do'.

Question time...

1) Does anyone have some more advise on what to do to before the front clam goes back on.  I can't really think right now as I'm abit gutted. Never had a problem with mice the last 5 years so never bothered with prevention - until now. As they say experience is the greatest teacher in life.

 

2) Is there any way to get inside the air ducts / heater unit to check for another nest/dead mice etc without taken the whole front end apart as the car is a 2014 and don't want to void the warranty.

 

3) This sucks bolla***.

 

thanks for any input in advanced.

Edited December 25, 2015 by Northern Joy

[Barrykearley]

That's bad luck - buy a cat???

the smell is mice piss - and it will stink for ages unless you can clean it off

[Northern Joy]

haha I don't want to buy a cat ?. Damn so I better get it all out. Found the insulation deep down to have been completely chewed so I think they may have gotten into the air ducting.

[pete]

http://www.gluetraps.co.uk/mouse-glue-trap-boards-1-c.asp

[ramjet]

The smell is the problem as Barry has said. Can't offer any advice other than cleaning and maybe replacement of any place you can see they have been. Never know, the insulation may have knocked them off. Can't see it as being very palatable, but I am not a meece so who knows?

And you are know the proud owner of the first topic on TLF of what to do when mice take over your car.  

[Bibs]

Mice live electrical insulation. If there's a lot of damage,  you can make an insurance claim. A friend had this with his Ferari California and they paid out about 8k to repair mice damage. 

[CocoPops]

Yep, a vx guy had mice issues, they made a nest in the sills.

car stank of mouse piss for years and years.

[Jacques]

I have placed a line of 8 mouse traps all around my car, just in case. I frequently inspect. As my garage is only some 100 meters from a horsestable, I need to make sure no mice are close to my car. No mice caught so far in 2½ year. I've seen how they can chew in an Esprit, both wires, insulation etc. so best to avoid. Fortunately not my car and not near me. But still, best ot avoid.

In my case, it's only a potential problem during Winter. There's a small forest close to my garage as well. I Wonder where they come from

Thing is, if there is just one mouse, there are more. Think of what they can eat and where they can nest, or gather material for nesting. Wrap up anything they could be useing in Sealed hard plastic boxes. Spread mouse poison a few spots, and avoid

Cleaning your car, I was thinking something we have here in Denmark, called Rodalon, which is very good in removing dirt, smell and bacterias. Use it undilluted and Wear gloves. Othere than that, a tar/nicotine remover, as in cleaning up say an appartment from a heavy smoker, to avoid future smells, would be a suggestion.

Best of luck,

Jacques.

[Northern Joy]

Thank you for your replies. Jacques I live in the Scottish country side and the garage backs onto a farmers field so it really is my own fault I guess. I have a friend coming round with a fibre optic camera thingy majig, to inspect the air vents, I had a look and the insulation right down where the pipe comes of the heater unit looks chewed through so I think they have nested also in the air system.

 

I researched mouse deterrents so now I have 4 traps around each wheel, peppermint oil around every vent and garage doors, bounce sheets everywhere, moth balls and ultrasonic do-hickies. Surely one of them will work. Caught 4 so far though (in traps before I put the other deterrents in - nothing since then).

 

I think the best course of actions is to get Lotus to sort the problem depending what I find in the air system although I'll do my best to clean as much as I can. The car is 18 months old so I'm not smelling mouse p*** for years to come. But to get to the air system the radiator looks like it has to come off. I will post some images later and update this thread with the outcome for future reference since it is the first thread on this problem (Plenty on Seloc).

Edited December 26, 2015 by Northern Joy

[Barrykearley]

I have a big tub of rodent bait in the corner of the garage - they can knock themselves out on an all you can eat buffet.......

the modern rodenticides are superb - just kill rodents - and are of little danger to other stuff like owls etc

[Northern Joy]

4 minutes ago, Barrykearley said:

I have a big tub of rodent bait in the corner of the garage - they can knock themselves out on an all you can eat buffet.......

the modern rodenticides are superb - just kill rodents - and are of little danger to other stuff like owls etc

Thanks Barry I'll look into that as well. Trying hard to not have them in the garage in the first place.

[Barrykearley]

You won't stop them - no matter what !!! Theys meeces - they could squeeze through a McDonald's straw if they had to !!!

[Northern Joy]

1 hour ago, Barrykearley said:

You won't stop them - no matter what !!! Theys meeces - they could squeeze through a McDonald's straw if they had to !!!

That's what I thought so now I have 4 traps at each wheel now. I have also done the house.

Edited December 26, 2015 by Northern Joy

[Northern Joy]

Just to sort of close this thread off. I removed the front clam. Cleaned out the mouse nest under the passenger side. Cleaned it all out with caravan cleaner. Then used multiple car odour bombs which is supposed to neutralise the mouse urine etc. After a few tries the smell is completely gone. After speaking with Murray Lotus I pulled off the main heater pipe going to the distribution box and stuck a bore scope down to make sure there wasn't anything in there. All clear. So apart from half eaten insulation I hopefully have sorted out the problem.

the garage is now protected by multiple deterrents and traps.

Jobs a good-un (Hopefully).

 

[Bibs]