My car started smelling really bad Tuesday (just started heating the defrost in the morning last couple weeks or so)
Clean out the interior still smelling something decided to check the cabin filter. There was a mouse nest in there cleaned out some dead baby mice and nesting.
Past replacing the filter what should I do? I didn't find a mama mouse for the babies...
How did they get in there?

I'm going to head to a car wash for one of their vacuums. My shop vac is pretty weak and I don't want the dyson full of mouse poo.

Also not the issue but an f-u from new country mini hartford. Only one of the four screws holding the cabin air filter cover were installed and one of the screw mounting tabs was broken off... At least I know the filter was replaced during service

 

Look something like this.. .


Yup been there.
Take shop vac & stick it up there.
Let's just hope the rest of those varmints were away.
While your at it check your under hood filter BEFORE you start it!

Starting engine with occupants in there can cause serious damage.

 

Add a lot more mouse nesting and some baby mouse corpses.

Thanks I didn't think to check the intake air filter.

Now im going to make myself sick on air fresheners and dysinfectants . I got some enzyme cleaner to spray into the vents (does miracles with pet odors). Have the hula girl airfrshener. The febreze car vent freshener that won't clip on the mini's round vents. And sprayed som Lysol dysinfectants into the filter hole. (Of course nobody carries mini parts, autozone has to special order the cabin air filter)
I also put a sticky trap in the car to. Totally inhumane but I want any surviving mice to suffer for what they've done

 

Rodents don't like air freshness like moth *****.

 

The mouse setup a vacation home under the filter in the intake box but didnt eat the stock filter so i can still drive it until the new filters are delivered
(Under the filter is where air comes in right? I haven't been clogging the supercharger with mouse nests and skeletons have I?)

 

I was advised bounce dryer sheets which I have installed

 

Been there also. Moth ***** and dryer sheets. Make sure to have the AC on recirc when you park your car, this will close the hatch by the battery and keep them out of the area where the cabin filter is.

 

^
Any things possible what is in there. If there's debris I'd be taking the box apart with vac in hand.
Air delivered opposite side of intake leading to engine or most likely the dirty side.

^ +1

 

So simple but so obvious, would have never though of it

Where does air enter the intake. I'd like to make sure mice don't get in there

 

On the passenger side behind the battery by the firewall.

 

What year car? My '04 Gen 1 doesn't have screws - the cabin filter cover just snaps on and off.

 

You can't blame the mice for wanting a ride in your MINI! Air has to pass through the filter to get to your engine so it does not matter if it comes from the top or bottom as long as the filter is in tact you are fine.

 

Mine is an 06 (from 05) The back has clips the front has screws only have one screw holding it in because 2nd front mount is broken off. Not the best seal but it's closed. Might duct tape it but a little air leak at the filter shouldn't hurt anything. I'm guessing tech at the dealer forgot the later models are screwed and broke it off...

Also it's very bad if the engine side of the filter is unclean because that sh#t will get sucked into the supercharger and f it up.

 

My Mini is stored all summer at my brothers in Olympia,WA. I had mice problems in the past till he got cats. Now, I cover the hood with a beach towel and secure it so that the cats can get under the cover to sleep in the daytime or at night. Seems to work.

 

For all you folk with rodent invasions here is a very effective low maintenance trap.


http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/easterly110.html

 

Those rodents can chew wires damage items and make a mess. Had them chew wires on Gen 1 MINI multiple times.



The bottom lid can sometimes break and make sure you get a new filter with the active carbon.

Cabin filter DIY 64319257505

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...irty-side.html




Lid DIY.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ir-filter.html


Taken them off many times to sore fingers. If you bust the clip in part of the tab on the lid side, front or the rear then you have to replace the lid. They snap in very tight.



#3 Cover For Microfilter Housing 64311497542


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/64311497542/

Thanks

 

Noticed a big mouse running on the floor in my garage. Tried to shoo the mouse out of the garage door but evidently failed. Wife heard something go thump, thump, thump, thump as she was headed down the driveway and shortly thereafter, the sickening smell of decomposing mouse! Ugh. Thanks for this thread. Gave me some options as just letting the smell wear out is my last option...

 

Revisit the link on post #15 to help prevent a repeat. It really helped in the T-hangar after a mess was found in a Cessna. Not something you want discover too late at 6000 feet.

 

# 15 is more inventive than I normally require. We leave a flower watering can in the garage that invariably ends up with a suicidal mouse in it. I am amazed at the persistent nature of the odor. We live at about 6000 feet and the odor is no less dense there!