Broncos and MICE.

[Portagebay]

Hey group. I’m driving a 22 Badlands with 57,000 miles on it, all done by me. I live and work in Death Valley National Park for the park services. In the nine years I’ve worked here I’ve never had this problem. My Bronco started throwing error codes and running rough the other day. Took to Ford in Vegas and they found a family of mice living under the hood, and eating my wiring harness. What a mess. I’ve always opened the hood when parked overnight and never had a problem. I’m worried that when I get the truck back it will happen again. Any ideas?

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[userdude]

The wire sheaths are made of a soybean material, which is what the little critters like to eat.

There's an ultrasonic device I think people have had luck with. Search Google or DuckDuckGo for "bronco6g mouse prevention" or versions of that and you should find people talking about what they've done.

And/or, get a cat.

 

[DALOLA]

Take an old pill bottle, drill 5 or 6 holes in it, slot the lid for a zip tie, put a cotton ball soaked in peppermint extract inside, and zip-tie near the location of infestation.

 

[shadowfax]

First off, I'm jealous that you get to live and work where you do! My wife and I love that park dearly and come out all of the time.

I've had mice and rats under my hood when I lived deep in the forests of the Santa Cruz mountains. They nested in the cabin air filters and on top of transmissions. Unfortunately the access to the cabin filter for a critter is ridiculously simple and wide open on the bronco. It's just an open hole under the cowl!

The soy wires are like candy to them. A few vehicles back the mice were eating them up like crazy. What ended up working for me as a deterrent was peppermint and cinnamon essential oils mixed in with water in a spray bottle. I lightly spray the engine bay once a month, and directly apply a bit of the oils without water to the cabin air filter, and the intake filter(enough to make it fragrant). I've also taped up any exposed wires at the connector ends with electrical tape.

I've been critter free since. Might be worth a shot for you. Just don't drive with the windows up after oiling the cabin air filter! ha

 

[Brian_B]

Whatever you use it has to be re-applied over time. I've had decent luck with Irish Spring soap, and with the peppermint oil.

My Inlaws keep their hood popped up. I've heard some people installing underhood lights that they leave on when parked.

The ultrasonic things I've never had luck with. My cats are much too lazy...

 

[RagnarKon]

The ultrasonic things I've never had luck with. My cats are much too lazy...

I also haven't had luck with the ultrasonic stuff.

Currently trying peppermint oil. Hard to tell if it's working or not honestly. We recently acquired a new owl keeps me up at night but may also be doing a good job with critter control.

 

[2023bronco]

Honda makes an anti rodent harness tape might give it a try

 

[TheKim]

Search Google or DuckDuckGo

View attachment 770349

 

[CarGuy]

Zip tie (or other wire) some of these under the hood. They eat it and leave the area to get water and die. I use these in my attic and shed and you can see when/if you have critters by how much is eaten. I now have a fox family living on my property and have not had a mouse problem since - shed and attic.

 

[CarGuy]

How would this affect any predators that eat the rats? Don't want to harm foxes, raptors, snakes or anything else that eats rats.

Making the assumption it's under the hood and foxes, and other large critters, are not getting under the hood. You could seal it in a Tupperware bowl with a small mouse sized hole - zip tie the lid shut.

 

[FoxyRoxy]

Our long time pest guy takes an empty plastic bottle, put some holes in it and put some Moth balls inside that and find a cooler place in the Engine compartment to put them in..

 

[crenca]

Just be sure not to use something like this:

I don't know about mice but you would come out to your vehicle and I would be in under your hood and it would just be, awkward.

 

[Lucky Nut]

I was under the hood last year and noticed that something had gotten after the firewall carpeting. Immediately ordered the Mouse Blocker Pro. Haven't noticed any damage since, but I think I'll do the peppermint thing now also. This time of year they are looking for material to nest with.

 

[indio22]

Mice made a home under the plastic fuel distribution cover on top of my 2.3L, eating the foam sound insulation in the process. Only thing I've found to keep them out is a motion activated blinding bright LED light, which I have to put under the hood each night.

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