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Old 11-02-2016, 10:44 AM   #1
leo
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Question Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

I was ruminating about this because of all the posts lately and my thought is that a non-open car should be sound enough to keep mice out if it is in good condition. I'm not talking about the motor because there are obvious access points to that. If your floors and roof are without holes and your doors are closed with the windows up I don't see how mice can get in. I know this is going to provoke a bunch of contradictions but hopefully we will learn something new.....
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Old 11-02-2016, 10:51 AM   #2
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Experience based response:

1) mice can indeed get into a closed car even if one tried to take basic precautions like buttoning up any openings in floor or firewall area

2) They can migrate in earlier in the season than you might expect.

3) They like NEW L-B headliners (little bas*****)

Always a tough battle, but they do find a way in. many posts out here on usual remedies - good luck; I would only suggest bolstering any efforts to block access with a repellent of sorts. I am using "Shake Away" right now but a little discouraged to find mice droppings near the packet I left in one of my cars a few weeks ago. Mothballs I think still tend to work best but the smell can be a bit much.
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Old 11-02-2016, 11:12 AM   #3
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Yes, indeed. They can really squeeze into tight places.
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Old 11-02-2016, 11:14 AM   #4
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Years ago I looked for any openings in my Omni, and I couldn't find any possible way for the mice to get in...........but they did. On the rear of my house I installed a new steel door and insulated screen door, and I made sure they were as tight as could be to keep any cold air out. Somehow the BOX ELDER BUGS have found a way past the .001" clearance.
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Old 11-02-2016, 11:15 AM   #5
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

yea if they can get into a piston thru the open valve they can get into your car...

and they chew everything. so all your pedal pads and everything will be eaten thru in no time.
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Old 11-02-2016, 11:39 AM   #6
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

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Mice chew through wood, thats what they do. So unless you replaced all your wood with metal, and welded all the seams, you can get mice. And yes, this I know from experience.
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Old 11-02-2016, 01:09 PM   #7
BILL WILLIAMSON
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

A Lady friend had mice chew the wall board under her sink. Patched it with plaster of paris, several times. Then she mixed Rat poison in the plaster & problem GONE!
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Old 11-02-2016, 03:03 PM   #8
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

They like dark places, love to hide.

You should see the damage they do to a Combine...... big bucks replacing all the wiring they chew up and all. There is always some grain left over in the tailings housing, clean grain elevator, (I've seen them eat away the rubber paddles), down in the grain tank, feeder house..... they have a field day in there along with rats. And they still get into the cabs and poop and pee and die and eat up upholstery in there
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Old 11-02-2016, 03:03 PM   #9
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Mice are definitely a problem for any antique car and they can be counted on to find a way in. I once went to look at an all original tudor that was for sale because mice had torn up the original upholstery that had previously been in nice condition. The older owner said he just didn't have the energy or money to replace the upholstery and couldn't bear to look at the damage any longer.
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Old 11-02-2016, 03:45 PM   #10
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

My coupe is happily in its inflated plastic bubble, so no mice in the model A. My '41 Hudson isn't so fortunate - no bubble - so it's protected by a combination of TomCat pellets all around the area where it is stored, and a bundle of mothballs inside. Rodents don't like mothballs and will avoid them if possible. With the TomCat, they might get inside but don't live long enough to do damage, although in the spring I have to look under the seats for their desiccated corpses.

With the Hudson, I thought I had closed up all the holes but mice have managed to get inside anyway. Other than the sealed bubble, I can't think of a way to prevent it other than the steps I mentioned above.
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Old 11-02-2016, 03:50 PM   #11
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

I watched a mouse climb 14' up the shop cinder block wall
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Old 11-02-2016, 04:15 PM   #12
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Wow, it seems your mice are on steroids over there. Just as well they're not carnivorous.
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Old 11-02-2016, 04:15 PM   #13
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

I've heard a mouse can get through any opening it can get its head through. Anyway, I put poison and mothballs around, under and inside (including under hood) my cars. Never had a problem although car definitely needs aired when taken out of storage.
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Old 11-02-2016, 04:24 PM   #14
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

I can also tell you from experience that if your wife opens the glove box in her Ford Explorer while traveling down the road at highway speed, and a mouse pops up it is hard to tell which one is more frightened!! (I thought it was hilarious!)
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Old 11-02-2016, 04:25 PM   #15
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Has anyone used one of the audible devices as a deterent and if so how well do they work?
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Old 11-02-2016, 04:28 PM   #16
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Carl, worthless in my opinion. FWIW dryer sheets, eh, ok, audible device worthless, mothballs pretty good, cat and/or traps better. We have seen more mice since our cat died, even the odor of a cat is a deterrent.
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Old 11-02-2016, 04:49 PM   #17
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

i still say installing a cat or a snake is the best solution - a deterrent and an active trap haha.

Ive done the dryer sheet thing and seems to work. Glue traps with a bit of peanut butter in the middle work well too
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Old 11-02-2016, 05:53 PM   #18
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

the mice/ rodent control answer is spelled C-A-T...as referenced above.
also, they will love you and sit on your lap.
I have saved several feral cats who walked out of the woods and found me. I had them fixed and they turned into great shop cats. no more mice and no more snakes.
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Old 11-02-2016, 05:59 PM   #19
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Glue traps with a bit of peanut butter in the middle work well too[/QUOTE]
When I had my own shop, one morning I had 4 rats on ONE trap!!!-----"Come on BUDDIES, join the PARTY"
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Old 11-02-2016, 06:00 PM   #20
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Default Re: Can Mice Really Get Into A Sedan or Coupe?

Ok, I got beat up pretty good. However, if mice need to gnaw through something like a floorboard or floormat to get into a closed car would that not be evident to the owner by an inspection on a regular basis. If you see that mice are working on getting in your car then action should be taken. I know, I'm a glutton for punishment.....
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