Spent a few hours today trying to locate the source of a very strong mouse nest odor in our 09 Venza. Smelled like it was coming right out of the center console so I kept pulling off pieces until I found it.
The culprit:
The culprit:
Finding the Big Stink
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It's parked in the driveway & used every few days. I usually find evidence that they've been on the cabin filter but I'm surprised that they made it into the cabin. At least it wasn't up under the dash.
Baited & set 2 traps in the car. I'll leave it be for a day or two before buttoning everything back up as I'd like to catch them if they are still in there. I sprayed some peppermint oil around the inside which should drive them out but you never know.
Baited & set 2 traps in the car. I'll leave it be for a day or two before buttoning everything back up as I'd like to catch them if they are still in there. I sprayed some peppermint oil around the inside which should drive them out but you never know.
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We (used to) have a lot of field mice on our property and I spent over a good year trying to remove them. My wife's Venza had droppings everywhere so I baited and trapped the floor, trunk, etc.
I caught 2 mice a day for over two weeks in the Venza. They also broke 6 traps and two mice either lost or chewed through their own limbs.
My tC was sitting at the time and not one single mouse was trapped due to one simple rule.
Do Not Eat or leave food in your car.
A good (neighbor's cat which I love) cat has gotten fatter over the year and bucket traps still work best.
Good luck with that buddy. I'm going to send your photo over to my wife to remind her to not leave food in the car.
I caught 2 mice a day for over two weeks in the Venza. They also broke 6 traps and two mice either lost or chewed through their own limbs.
My tC was sitting at the time and not one single mouse was trapped due to one simple rule.
Do Not Eat or leave food in your car.
A good (neighbor's cat which I love) cat has gotten fatter over the year and bucket traps still work best.
Good luck with that buddy. I'm going to send your photo over to my wife to remind her to not leave food in the car.
No food in the Venza & it's been over a year since we were on the road & ate takeout in the car. Whatever brought them in it wasn't food. This time of year they are looking for a cozy spot to spend the winter.
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I've yet to find the area that they robbed all that insulation from.
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I've yet to find the area that they robbed all that insulation from.
Any idea how they got in?
Now I have to be extra careful when the kids are eating in the back seat. Thanks for the post.
Another night brings out another member of the displaced mouse family. Only catching them in the back seat area so either they are getting in back there or they were just hiding out under the carpet after I found the nest.
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The insulation looks like it could have been pulled from the floor carpet (layer between carpet and metal floor board). Keep at it and eventually they will get the idea that your car is not a safe home.
I've had mice chew
- ECU wires in my MR2
- Leave droppings everywhere
- store rice in my muffler (in 2 different cars)
So I have very little love for destructive rodents. If you can borrow some cats do it! They are the best hunters and even their presence or scent can deter rodents from making a permanent home.
I've had mice chew
- ECU wires in my MR2
- Leave droppings everywhere
- store rice in my muffler (in 2 different cars)
So I have very little love for destructive rodents. If you can borrow some cats do it! They are the best hunters and even their presence or scent can deter rodents from making a permanent home.
Hope the nest isn't from the seat cushion.
The only experience I've had with wildlife damaging a car is when I passed my old car on to my sister, and a squirrel chewed through the main coolant tube (I guess it was attracted to the sweet syrup smell). The next day she drove the car to her boyfriend's house and didn't get far before it overheated and killed the motor. Of course there were signs, like the temperature gauge, but she is a girl and therefor pretty oblivious to that kind of thing haha.
The only experience I've had with wildlife damaging a car is when I passed my old car on to my sister, and a squirrel chewed through the main coolant tube (I guess it was attracted to the sweet syrup smell). The next day she drove the car to her boyfriend's house and didn't get far before it overheated and killed the motor. Of course there were signs, like the temperature gauge, but she is a girl and therefor pretty oblivious to that kind of thing haha.
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My Ford Ranger beater sits for long periods. Upon taking it for a run not long ago I found it to be running VERY rough. Looked into it and found a mouse nest on top of the intake made of sound deadener taken from the firewall. Once comfy, they chewed the wires off of 2 fuel injectors, making the V6 into a 4 cylinder. Clean up, buy replacement injector pigtails from Ford to repair harness, etc. I keep a pretty close eye on it now.
I believe you are correct there. Here is a picture that was posted a while ago of the insulation under the carpet. Looks similar to me.
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I think I have the same problem. Different location though.
Just got the Venza back together again last week. Ended up pulling the front & rear seats so I could remove most of the carpet to clean & deodorize. Shortly after I pulled the car apart in late October a deer tick got me so I spent most of November battling Lyme Disease & Anaplasmosis. Second time for the Lyme disease so I wasn't too happy about it.
Sprayed peppermint oil all around the engine bay & in a few interior locations. I'm not crazy about the smell but it beats mouse piss.
Sprayed peppermint oil all around the engine bay & in a few interior locations. I'm not crazy about the smell but it beats mouse piss.
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