Mice eating my firewall insulation

[amstel78]

Since the weather has been unusually cold the last several weeks (sometimes dipping to 11 degrees at night), mice have found their way into my garage. I've been battling these bastards since I saw evidence of rodent intrusion and recently discovered that they've now taken to chewing on my firewall insulation. I've laid out traps (snap and bucket) and haven't caught them yet, but I have a feeling they've scattered due to the copious amounts of pine oil I've been spraying around my engine bay.

Anyway, the damage thankfully isn't that bad. None of the wiring looms or harnesses seem to have been touched. However, if I ever wanted to replace the insulation pad behind the engine, it looks like I'd have to drop the chassis and lift the body off. Not something I can easily do at home with a small amount of power tools and jackstands.

Since the area is relatively small, I just want to make that area that got chewed up a bit more presentable. Was wondering if fabric adhesive and a felt pad cut to shape would work. Or perhaps, just spray that area with some black fabric dye? Anyone here experienced and repaired anything similar? If so, what are your thoughts or suggestions?

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[tomk62]

That cat is slacking ...

 

[amstel78]

We have two... both of them don't chase rodents. They do keep the mice from entering our house from their scent though, so I guess that's good.

 

[Tread4Lo]

Damn mice. Good luck finding them too. They can wreak havoc especially if they start eating wires.

Last time I had to deal with them on a Jeep, they had made their home inside my airbox. They drug my shop rags and a few other things inside. Even chewed a small hole in the filter. Luckily nothing went wrong, I guess I was still filtering air with all the shit they pulled in.

My wife's vehicle, they decided to make the home under the intake. Only discovered this one, when I took the beauty cover off. I guess it was warm there (nice little built in fireplace for them).

 

[TrentYoung]

Glue traps or glue boards. As inhuman as it sound, that is the only way you will know that you got them. I have had friends try all the humane ways including the simple mouse traps, but they always go to the glue traps after they spend about $600 redoing their wiring. You are going to want to know that you eliminated them and the only way you will know that is if you see their little dead bodies.

 

[vetygud]

I had chipmunks chew up firewall insulation on a pickup. I used black cheap landscaping fabric to cover the carnage with spray adhesive. It was a cheap fix and did not look bad. Do not use any flammable material. Open your hood while in the garage. Mice do not like the open space. I got my garage sealed from rodents but one will occasionally come in with my Jeep. Then it is multiple traps with peanut butter until I get the little bas...d.

 

[AZJL322]

I had the same experience as Tread4Lo, the mice chewed the firewall insulation and then made their home in my air box. It was packed so tightly that I was surprised the engine would run.

 

[JL.FR]

In France we also have a lot of rodents, the way to prevent them from eating the components of the car is to put them bread or leftover cheese under the car, as well as leave the hood wide open so they leave your dear quiet JEEP.

 

[Pig-Pen]

supposedly laundry softener sheets help deter them?

had a major rat problem years ago. used the green poison cubes and rubbed peanut butter all over them and placed them all over the place. had about 15 dead rats within a couple of days. also put peanut butter on Dcon tray as well as glue traps. the glue traps worked great on the babies. didnt catch any big ones.

they outsmarted the spring traps i laid.

my german shepard killed squirrels but just sat there and watched rats run by

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