Mouse extraction advice needed. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Paul D · #1 10-22-2003, 12:48 PM

I have a 98 e320 and while cleaning leaves around the hood at a gas station I noticed a mouse has taken up residency behind the engine wall. Saw it skurry into hiding. Sort of between where the rain would run off the windshield and flow through to the ground and the master cylinder. I can't reach in there very well so...

To extracate the critter I was wondering if I could just blast the garden hose back there with abandon or if another method is advised?

Thanks.

Paul

manny · #2 10-22-2003, 12:50 PM

Mousetrap with a piece of cheese, under or beside the car ?

connerm · #3 10-22-2003, 01:17 PM

Baited trap is the way to go. Lots of types available.

DuckMuck · #4 10-22-2003, 01:57 PM

wow...welcome to the club! My car also was recently ripped apart by a mouse...catching the mouse should not be much of a problem...just use a bait trap like a wooden Victor mouse trap for a few cents...use peanut butter for the bait...they love that stuff...however, after catching the mouse, I would somehow find a way to get back there to get rid of the nest...I'm sure the mouse has collected a bunch of stuff and left quite a bit of droppings back there to create quite a mess/stench if you leave it uncleaned...also, see if you can hear any high-pitched squealing...she may have left a nest of babies in your car...

#5 10-22-2003, 02:08 PM

particularly this time of year. Among old car hobbyists a particularly horrible event is when mice find their way into the tailpipe and, if the car sits long enough, they can set up housekeeping in the cylinders. Mouse pee a particularly nasty and corrosive substance.

One solution to this type of mouse problem is to slice into an old tennis ball and slip it over the tailpipe. To catch the one in your engine compartment, I'd leave the car for a day or two, put one of the "roach hotel" baited mouse traps on the ground under the car (and near where the mouse appeared). See what happens. Good luck.

Kestas · #6 10-22-2003, 02:12 PM

If you don't have the heart to use a regular mousetrap, use a live trap. They're not that expensive ($1.50), and are reuseable.

Paul D · #7 10-22-2003, 03:06 PM

I can see the edges of a nest back there and want to clear it out. As i think about it more I guess an air hose would make better sense rather then water but would water be ok back there?

Interesting side note....today I got my first check engine light. Ran fine for the beginning of the commute then ping "check electronics" and rough running.

pulled over and restarted ...not rough but still ck engine. then with engine off reseated gas cap but message doesn't clear...

Wonder if related?

Pete Geither · #8 10-22-2003, 03:35 PM

Just put the SL in the garage for the time being and in 2 days have caught two mice. Have four traps around the car along with other delicacies sprinkled around for those little bastards.

manny · #9 10-22-2003, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul D

Interesting side note....today I got my first check engine light. Ran fine for the beginning of the commute then ping "check electronics" and rough running.

Code P 1467, for sure.
" Mouse in engine compartment ".

william rogers · #10 10-23-2003, 01:10 AM

I use a gas powered leaf blower to blow the leaves and other stuff that gets trapped in that stupid old GM design hidden wiper space on my 126's.........
william Rogers........

JerryBro · #11 10-23-2003, 07:00 AM

Mice will eat the insulation off of wires. My son brought hom a Pontiac once that would not run when damp or when parked nose pointing downhill. Found a large damp mouse nest that would fall against the harness. Every green wire in that section of harness had the insulation stripped away.

BobK · #12 10-23-2003, 07:05 AM

I like to use a big wet-vac with smaller tube nozzle to pull a lot of the junk out. Had mouse set up housekeeping in air intake on a full size Chevy Diesel once. Lot of work, but got it all out. Just tape some flexible hose (3/4 to 1 inch dia.) to the end of the regular hose and snake it in to the nooks and crannies. My fear is that an air hose would just push soem of the junk deep into the recesses of the car.