Mousey smell

[jkoopmann]

I park my 2003 DWR 3500 outside a lot. As I am retired, I may not use it for a few weeks at a time. I recently noticed a mousey smell when I turn the heater or A/C on. I'm sure there is a mouse nest or one has died somewhere near the fan intake. Does anybody know where that is and how do I get at it to remove the vermin.....

 

[Prairie Dog]

You could drop the HVAC fan - just three screws and it easily falls out on the passenger side floor board, and look up there.
The fresh air intake is located under that plastic panel that's under your wipers in front of the windshield. Remove that and you'll see a rectangular opening on the passenger side - this is probably where the little *******s got in. It's not a bad idea to cover that with some carpenters cloth.

 

[jkoopmann]

Thanks for the response! I'll check that out to see if I can find how the critters are getting in. We always lived in rural areas so I usually park my vehicles in a garage or shop but the Dodge is the only one that seems to attract mice in the engine compartment. I guess I'm lucky they haven't started chewing on the wires....yet....I have sprayed everything down with glass cleaner (ammonia) to try to deter them but if I leave it outside for more than 2 days, they are back!! I couldn't keep them out so anyway so I even taped a small box of mouse poison on top of the fuse box...hence the smell...and by the way, moth balls don't work either...... I'll let you know what I find out.....

 

[jkoopmann]

I took the plastic cover off and the hole on the passenger side was covered. I took it off and found the dead mice along with a huge nest packed around the screened air inlet. (I'm surprised the smell wasn't worse!) I was able to get all the nest material out and sanitized the entire area. I see no reason to cover the hole as there are multiple cutouts all along the entire front. This appears to be a drain area so any rain/water from the windshield or hood will drain to the sides where there are 2"x3" oval holes on each end. One had a rubber flapper but the other didn't. There are also two additional holes the same size next to these for access to the bolts to remove the hood hinge. This is how I suspect the critters get in from between the fender and wheel well. I taped the hood hinge access holes shut with metal HVAC tape and taped all but the bottom 1/4" on the drain holes. I will see it that works. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[RDeFayette]

I took the plastic cover off and the hole on the passenger side was covered. I took it off and found the dead mice along with a huge nest packed around the screened air inlet. (I'm surprised the smell wasn't worse!) I was able to get all the nest material out and sanitized the entire area. I see no reason to cover the hole as there are multiple cutouts all along the entire front. This appears to be a drain area so any rain/water from the windshield or hood will drain to the sides where there are 2"x3" oval holes on each end. One had a rubber flapper but the other didn't. There are also two additional holes the same size next to these for access to the bolts to remove the hood hinge. This is how I suspect the critters get in from between the fender and wheel well. I taped the hood hinge access holes shut with metal HVAC tape and taped all but the bottom 1/4" on the drain holes. I will see it that works. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Peppermint oil on cotton balls!
stick 'em where you think they are coming in and where they are nesting.
too intense for mice.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I took the plastic cover off and the hole on the passenger side was covered. I took it off and found the dead mice along with a huge nest packed around the screened air inlet. (I'm surprised the smell wasn't worse!) I was able to get all the nest material out and sanitized the entire area. I see no reason to cover the hole as there are multiple cutouts all along the entire front. This appears to be a drain area so any rain/water from the windshield or hood will drain to the sides where there are 2"x3" oval holes on each end. One had a rubber flapper but the other didn't. There are also two additional holes the same size next to these for access to the bolts to remove the hood hinge. This is how I suspect the critters get in from between the fender and wheel well. I taped the hood hinge access holes shut with metal HVAC tape and taped all but the bottom 1/4" on the drain holes. I will see it that works. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Happy to be of help.

Scotty

 

[BarryG]

Glad you found your problem easy enough. I had a mouse problem once on a different vehicle. I was driving down the freeway at 70ish minding my own business and one of the bastages came flying out of the driver side ac vent right in my lap. Scared the heck out of me. Never could find it once I got stopped nor never could find the nest if there was one but did find some telltale chewing on some wires under the hood nothing serious though. Since then I have done as Prairie Dog mentioned covered the intake/s with screen/mesh etc. on my 01 I have a cab filter I bought from Geno's Garage http://www.genosgarage.com/CAB-FRES...-94-02/productinfo/CFF-DG-0610K/#.U77hHl5OVD8 while I don't think it keeps out smells it does keep the chunks out- pine needles, twigs, leaves etc. I guess it helps on the dust/dirt aspect as well but not a whole lot. Every couple years I replace the element and the old one is definitely very dirty.

 

[jkoopmann]

Where do you get the Peppermint oil from? That sounds like great idea and more assurance to keep the critters out...I have other places around the shop and RV's.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Where do you get the Peppermint oil from? That sounds like great idea and more assurance to keep the critters out...I have other places around the shop and RV's.

We found it at a local drug store, Bartells I think. My mother bought it to keep mice out of her car engine. It seems to work but it only last a few weeks and it's expensive. A tiny bottle was $30!

 

[RDeFayette]

Where do you get the Peppermint oil from? That sounds like great idea and more assurance to keep the critters out...I have other places around the shop and RV's.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Pure-an...482?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25899b2682
27.00 for 16oz. free shipping it only takes a little bit on a cotton ball.
BTW, Mothballs work on bats.

 

[goodguys75]

Where do you get the Peppermint oil from? That sounds like great idea and more assurance to keep the critters out...I have other places around the shop and RV's.

you can get it at a local health store..and there not that expensive for some of the brands...if you have a whole foods in your area, they have it...depends on where you live...small town, not going to have a whole foods...

 

[jkoopmann]

Thanks Guy's! My wife bought the peppermint extract from Walmart (the cooking variety) and it is 97% alcohol. Not very strong. I will try some other stores.