The seasons are changing; it won’t be long before we’re dealing with the ice and snow. Time to take a walk around your car and see if it is ready for winter. Look at your tires, set the pressure. Make sure your washer fluid tank is full. Check your emergency pack, jumper cables, small shovel, some cat litter to spread out for traction, gloves and a blanket. 

The one thing I would not put in your car is food; not for emergencies or even leaving any behind from a snack you had while driving. Anything that attracts mice and other rodents into your car can have terrible consequences.

The amount of damage I have seen from rodent intrusion is extensive. Wiring harnesses seem to be the favorite thing for them to chew on. With miles of wire throughout the vehicle, they can chew through one wire and cause all sorts of things to go wrong. Trying to locate the damaged wire takes a lot of patience and understanding of complicated wire diagrams.

 Examples of other damage I’ve seen include heater boxes with holes chewed through the side, and the cabin air filter with a nest on top of it made with materials ripped apart from the car’s interior. If a rodent gets stuck and dies inside the car,  the smell can be atrocious. Trying to locate the dead rodent can be an endless chase with so many crevices and areas for them to wonder.

There are several rodent repellent products on the market. I wish I had one to recommend, but they don’t seem to work very well. I’ve seen nests made with the material from rodent repellent pouches. 

I had one customer that had problems with rodents chewing on the wire harness causing severe damage. She  used peppermint oil soaked in cotton balls to try and keep the rodents out of the car. The scent was so strong it would burn your eyes when you got into the car. Not only did I find chewed wires under the back seat but also found a family of mice with 4 new born mice. 

If you have a garage it helps, but don’t leave bird seed or dog food in the garage with the car, unless it is kept in a metal or strong plastic container. I’ve found the air filter box filled with dog food while inspecting the vehicle. 

Poison would work but you don’t want the mouse to die in your car, and you have to be careful with your pets. Mouse traps are probably the best bet, just the hassle of setting, baiting and cleaning up the captures. Deploying your cats to patrol the yard is the best advice. 

Doug Carter is the owner of Carter’s Auto Service, Inc. He’s been in the auto service business since graduating from Gorham High School in 1981.