Mice entering through cowl vent!

[Solutionologist]

Ah yes, it is that time of year again, when the mice move from the cold areas to the less cold areas.

I live in a rural town and we have a garage that is just short of a civ. After a road trip a few weeks ago we discovered mouse tracks in our TourX, they had munched on a granola bar we had in the center council. Upon further searching, they started a new home under the rear seat.

I looked all over the car and found that they had materials above the cabin air filter that is behind the Glovebox. It turns out there is nothing preventing the mice from getting into the cowl behind the hood and crawling into this area, then entering the car. Crazy design flaw in my mind.

I added some wire mesh to the inlet in the cowl but it's very tight to get to so I might not have fully covered it. I am going in for repair number two very soon so I am sharing my frustration with others in hopes that I can prevent this from happening to you.

If there is interest I will share photos that I took during the process.

Cheers!

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Here's another post on the same subject,

TourX - Mouse in glovebox...

I drive my car every day. I’ve never left a door open longer than it takes to get in and out. I last opened my glovebox in March I think...today while driving, the wife opens the glovebox and says “why does it look like mouse droppings on your chewed up microfiber cloth”? I damn near drove off...

buickforums.com

Of course there's always other mousetraps LOL

 

[PrincipalDan]

Gopher, Prairie Dog Underground Rodent Control With Propane And Oxygen.

Well you can get even more extreme. This one is a favorite for Prairie Dog control. Carl Spackler should have had one!

 

[Anaduff]

I can think of two people I wouldn't want to solve a rodent infestation problem, inside/outside or even within 1 mile of my car. Carl 'licensed by the UN to kill gophers' Spackler & Edgar 'you've got to reduce the parts per billion' Montrose.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

There has been other attempts by other vehicle manufacturers to remove varmints, but somehow the public wasn't responsive to the option.


On topic, if locating a possible entrance path stainless steel scrub pads make a great filler especially in wet areas.

 

[garbageguy]

Ah yes, it is that time of year again, when the mice move from the cold areas to the less cold areas.

I live in a rural town and we have a garage that is just short of a civ. After a road trip a few weeks ago we discovered mouse tracks in our TourX, they had munched on a granola bar we had in the center council. Upon further searching, they started a new home under the rear seat.

I looked all over the car and found that they had materials above the cabin air filter that is behind the Glovebox. It turns out there is nothing preventing the mice from getting into the cowl behind the hood and crawling into this area, then entering the car. Crazy design flaw in my mind.

I added some wire mesh to the inlet in the cowl but it's very tight to get to so I might not have fully covered it. I am going in for repair number two very soon so I am sharing my frustration with others in hopes that I can prevent this from happening to you.

If there is interest I will share photos that I took during the process.

Cheers!

Yes, I'm interested in some photos. I'd like to look into this.

BTW it's been a banner year for mice in the Adirondacks - we're getting pretty good at the fight, the bucket-trap is a fun one, but kind of a PITA. I wonder where you put that car exhaust hose??

 

[FavaBean]

the bucket-trap is a fun one, but kind of a PITA.

Yep, we're going to need a pic of that.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Maybe this type could be a option

 

[HotZ28]

I live in a rural town and we have a garage that is just short of a civ. After a road trip a few weeks ago we discovered mouse tracks in our TourX, they had munched on a granola bar we had in the center council. Upon further searching, they started a new home under the rear seat.

Cheers!

My best advice is to not leave GRANOLA bar's, or any other food in the car interior. Rats can smell food a mile away!

 

[garbageguy]

Yep, we're going to need a pic of that.

here's a generic one, the kids are looking for a pic of some of ours

search for Adirondack bucket trap, some funny vids out there

 

[Rick3478]

Ah yes, it is that time of year again, when the mice move from the cold areas to the less cold areas.

I live in a rural town and we have a garage that is just short of a civ. After a road trip a few weeks ago we discovered mouse tracks in our TourX, they had munched on a granola bar we had in the center council. Upon further searching, they started a new home under the rear seat.

I looked all over the car and found that they had materials above the cabin air filter that is behind the Glovebox. It turns out there is nothing preventing the mice from getting into the cowl behind the hood and crawling into this area, then entering the car. Crazy design flaw in my mind.

I added some wire mesh to the inlet in the cowl but it's very tight to get to so I might not have fully covered it. I am going in for repair number two very soon so I am sharing my frustration with others in hopes that I can prevent this from happening to you.

If there is interest I will share photos that I took during the process.

Cheers!

I know this is an old thread, but I have the same problem with an '18 Sportback. Were you able to verify the cowl opening as the entry point, and did you ever come up with a solution?

 

[skypilot_1]

Ah yes, it is that time of year again, when the mice move from the cold areas to the less cold areas.

I live in a rural town and we have a garage that is just short of a civ. After a road trip a few weeks ago we discovered mouse tracks in our TourX, they had munched on a granola bar we had in the center council. Upon further searching, they started a new home under the rear seat.

I looked all over the car and found that they had materials above the cabin air filter that is behind the Glovebox. It turns out there is nothing preventing the mice from getting into the cowl behind the hood and crawling into this area, then entering the car. Crazy design flaw in my mind.

I added some wire mesh to the inlet in the cowl but it's very tight to get to so I might not have fully covered it. I am going in for repair number two very soon so I am sharing my frustration with others in hopes that I can prevent this from happening to you.

If there is interest I will share photos that I took during the process.

Cheers!

So selecting "Re-circulatory" on TourX Climate control prior to parking and shutting car off won't close outside air vent inlet ?

I have owned cars that did just that.

 

[Rick3478]

So selecting "Re-circulatory" on TourX Climate control prior to parking and shutting car off won't close outside air vent inlet ?

I have owned cars that did just that.

Ooooh, that sounds like it could even work. 🤔 Are the gates driven by motors, rather than vacuum? If so, they probably will stay wherever they were. If the mice haven't chewed the gates.

Thinking out loud, how can I check that? Beg borrow steal a long borescope to probe the passages? How much can you see from underneath? From the glovebox?

And you know ... you would think the dealer would know that and pass on the information, instead of trying to gaslight me into thinking it's my fault for not keeping the car in a tightly sealed garage. 😡 #*#*#*# idiot jerk, not buying from them again, ever.

Thanks for the input, this forum has already paid for itself. 😉

 

[visitor]

Thinking out loud, how can I check that?

maybe a well-placed fan/blower outside the ducts to mimic the natural flow of a moving vehicle...