Mice!

[Fishguy]

Mice got into my 2016 Edge. I should have trapped them as soon as I noticed droppings and chewings. But, I didn't.

 

I thought they would jump out the first chance they got. No! They built a nest, had babies and, then, jumped out. The babies died and the stink started. If this happens to you, you will soon hate life.

 

First, you have to find them Follow your nose. I eventually had the glove box out, the outside cowl cover removed and the cabin air filter and housing opened up. No bodies. Lots of stink. Hummm...

 

Remove the passenger seat, carpet, electric inverter (smell getting stronger), duct work, YIPES!! Go outside and catch breath. Found stink source.

 

Vacuumed up all bedding and bodies. Stink still present. Now what? I considered calling my insurance company and "totaling" the Edge. It was that bad.

 

After I finished rolling around in the front yard while tearing out my hair, I washed and bleached everything I could access. However, as I cleaned I could see my cleaning solution seeping around and under the sheet metal welds and attachments. I knew I would never get all the "mouse-ness" out.

 

Coffee, "Nature's Miracle", and Ozone to the rescue. Nature's Miracle is an enzyme based solution that neutralizes the organic compounds I could not get to. After it dried -- and, it has to dry thoroughly before all the stink is consumed -- Celine, the wife, convinced me to put a sock filled with fresh coffee grounds and beans under the seat. I then turned on my Ozone generator for a couple 30 minute doses.

 

Success!! Mouse stink gone! However, now I seem to be drinking more coffee than normal. Oh well. FYI.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Wow, what an experience! And thanks for the tips, sure to help others down the road, as this pest issue is more common than reported.

[enigma-2]

You may have just discovered a new Starbucks drink, a Souris Latte. Ouch!

 

Man that's a horrible thing to have to contend with. Question I would have is, where did the parents go? Have you considered putting traps everwhere?

[Christina D]

Where did you find them? 

[enigma-2]

He disappeared from the board back in Sept, 2017. Think he said he found them inside the passenger seat, in the seats'  heating/cooling ducting.

 

I can understand mice inside the engine compartment, but how do they get inside the cabin (unless you leave the doors open, i guess)?

[pintokid]

On 2/4/2022 at 4:34 PM, enigma-2 said:

how do they get inside the cabin

Good question. I had mice inside my Camaro. There was evidence in the trunk, with a chewed mat, and in the glove box. I can (almost) understand the glove box, because I would always leave my windows open. But I don't leave the trunk open, and there is no obvious path from the passenger compartment. I placed poison cakes in the trunk and glove compartment and I never saw it again, and no smell either. If they died, it was not in the car. I keep my cars in the garage. And I never actually spotted one, just the evidence.

[enigma-2]

Probably crawled up into the back seat bottom (where it meets the floor) and chewed through the back seat upright. Little dickens can squeeze through the smallest openings.