Hey guys I just wanted to say that I've had 3 cars this week with nests inside the engine bay . I have seen 1 or 2 here and there for the last couple of monthsbut now i'm searching for them when i open the hood of customers cars.

one of this little creatures damaged the power steering pump wires and shorted out the pump, and another one ate 2 of the spark plug wires... (not covered under warranty)

so once in a while open the hood and take a look around for any signs of this little bastards camping out in the engine bay. especially the drivers engine mounts bracket and the corners near the struts. it can save you some money!

 

thanks for the heads up... where are you located?

ive yet to see any rodents in any of my cars including the ones parked
outside.

 

The only little beasties I have are the ones that's been picking my wallet recently.

Nevertheless, a good reminder Fall is here.

 

i've sure heard of this with other cars but not with any MINIs, although there's no reason why they'd be immune. I know of one car (not a MINI) that gets its' wires chewed up regularly!!

 

^^ there was a lady that lived in a forest near our town that had some
rodents chew up her Subaru's plug wires. i mean, it was really chewed up
to a point she had to get the car towed.

 

this isnt related to MINI, but today I woke up to a rat scratching around in my attic... I was throwing my pillow at the ceiling to get it to stop

 

Pillows are for sleeping.

DECON is for killing.

 

Rodents love my MINI

Time to put in wiper fluid! ACK! That's happened more than once!!

 

Rodents love my MINI

Time to put in wiper fluid! ACK! That's happened more than once!!

 

I had something chew on the plug wires and the rubber boots where the plug wires enter the valve cover. Probably happened while I was parked outside at work in Northern NJ. So glad I retired and moved back to Texas.

Alan

 

I suppose the best course is a liberal sprinkling of poisoned grain around the engine bay!

 

THREE words "Maine Coon Cat"

 

Shudders to think of cat under hood of car! Almost lost one that way!

 

ROFL.

 

I was outside one night years ago, and heard mewing under the hood of our neighbors old El Camino. I popped the hood, and found a grey-striped tabby kitten huddled up next to the air cleaner (very cold night). I brought him into the house, and placed him in the laundry room with food, water, and a litter box (we had an adult male Main Coon). The next day he got out. We couldn't find him, and my ex took the car to the mall with her mom. A Nissan Quest. When they turned off the engine, loud crying under the hood! Guess who? The little twit had gotten in next to the battery, and rode to the mall. Several miles. He came home in a lap, and was named "Sparky."

 

Aww ... great story!

 

I had a rat living under my hood when I lived in the woods of San Diego county... only one way to get rid of them.

 

Funny you should post this...happens every fall with my car . The damn mice love the driver side motor mount as a bed...their bedding of choice to make the mount a comfortable place to sleep is the insulation that is attached to the underside of the bonnet.

Their max duration of occupancy is only 1 - 2 nights before they are sent packing...mouse traps and peanut butter under the car work great! Luckily I'm always popping the bonnet for one reason or another...

 

my gf found a dead mouse under a hub-cap....

bit wierd how it got in there - considering the hubcap was fully attached...

 

 

I have an ongoing problem with squirrels using the hood insulation of my 03 MC as nesting material. This will now be the second one I have replaced. I have tried every commercial repellent available including bobcat urine! (I know how did they get the bobcat to pee in the little bottle) Also tried dryer sheets etc. - none work - I also have tried traps both humane and lethal with no luck. I am afraid they will do more serious damage - the hood insulation is bad enough? Anybody had any success?

 

do the squirrels use the engine mount for a bed? or do they just damage the insulation and take off?

if they use the engine mount as a bed i saw a car yesterday where the customer had taped the engine mount with duck tape so nothing could lay there... i guess it helped him... i don't know what else to say, sorry!