Mice and wiring. - Toyota Yaris Forums

Jims · 09-17-2010, 02:40 PM

Warning, Had a mouse or two get up into the headliner. They get up there through the windshield pillers. Chewed off wiring for inside lights, radio, keyless entry. Car has been at White River Jct Toyoto for a month waiting for insurance to clear and a second correct color headliner to come in. $1919.00 in total damage. Don't let your Yaris sit too long in a carport out in the woods. I drove the mice out of the head liner by parking the car out in the sun for a couple of days were the tempertures were 120 degrees on the roof.

CTScott · 09-17-2010, 03:43 PM

That stinks - literally.

A while back someone posted about having mice in their car. I can't seem to find the thread, but from what I've seen with field stripping "Crashy", there are three likely points of entry for mice, which can be covered with 1/4" wire mesh to prevent this from happening again.

The first is the A/C outside air intake. Removing the passenger side wiper cowl gives access to this one.

The second and third are the two vents that allow air to escape when you close your doors. They are flappy louver type vents that are located just below the tail lights. They can be accessed most easily by removing the rear bumper, but can also be accessed from the inside by removing the hatch area side trim pieces.

Jims · 09-24-2010, 04:39 PM

I got my car back yesterday. Final cost came out to be $1865.36. I'm happy with the job Toyota did and the fact that they came in a little under what they told me. When I got the car home I pulled out the panel that runs up along the windshield on each side and filled the bottom with 4 copper pot scrubbing pads from Wal-Mart on each side. Hope that keeps the mice out of the headliner. I don't think insurance will want to pay for that again.

Forrest · 09-26-2010, 07:54 PM

Had mice get into Yaris and it was only parked for two days ! Fortunately no damage but when car is parked and not used, Moth balls are put all over the inside. Granted the car smells but mice hate moth balls.

Bluevitz-rs · 09-26-2010, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forrest

Had mice get into Yaris and it was only parked for two days ! Fortunately no damage but when car is parked and not used, Moth balls are put all over the inside. Granted the car smells but mice hate moth balls.

X2

Edit: well just the part about moth balls.

maxxman420 · 09-26-2010, 11:04 PM

that really sucks man. im glad toyota did a good job though to upkeep the name

Hershey · 09-28-2010, 12:40 PM

Good to see you got the car fixed . May want to check the housing for the air filter and the blower motor housing . Have seen mice build nests in both and chipmunks store their goodies in those areas . Have also seen where mice will chew through the air filter and get into the throttle body . This happened to 4 new 2008 VIBES ( Matrix ) that sat outside of a PONTIAC dealership . Therefore I try to remember to check the air filter of a new car that we may purchase . TOYOTAs seem to be a favorite home for critters .

Jims · 09-28-2010, 12:46 PM

I did go back and stick some moth balls on top of the copper pads later on. Have caught a few mice in the engine compartment in the last week but none are getting into the headliner. Have to exterminate all the mice in the area I guess to solve this problem for good. Fat chance of that happening!

SpaceShot · 09-28-2010, 12:53 PM

Sounds like it might be time to adopt a cat from the local shelter or farm.
;-)
Dachshunds and Beagle mixes will also catch mice and chipmunks, particularly if you get them when still a puppy.

Grandieri · 09-28-2010, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceShot

Sounds like it might be time to adopt a cat from the local shelter or farm.

X2 time to get some farm kitties.

bkrownd · 09-28-2010, 10:38 PM

I've had rats, geckos, anoles, frogs, roaches, ants and some sort of bird inside my FX-16. (rear flaps and gaping rust holes providing lots of access.) Hope they don't take a liking to the Yaris. :/

suckerface · 09-29-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTScott

That stinks - literally.

A while back someone posted about having mice in their car.

That was actually me, and once again, thanks for the advice Scott. I haven't gotten around to getting that mesh on yet, but I also haven't noticed many issues lately. Fortunately for me, they've just been chewing on some napkins and chopsticks in the glove compartment, not any wiring as of yet.

Crazy thing is, we have two cats, and our youngest one will catch at least one a day. He doesn't kill them, nor do we, but we mark them before we toss them outside, and not a single marked one has been re-caught yet...

Good to know how much wiring replacement will be, gives me a bit more motivation to get this project done!

09-17-2010, 02:40 PM	#1
Jims Drives: Yaris S HB Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 3	Mice and wiring. Warning, Had a mouse or two get up into the headliner. They get up there through the windshield pillers. Chewed off wiring for inside lights, radio, keyless entry. Car has been at White River Jct Toyoto for a month waiting for insurance to clear and a second correct color headliner to come in. $1919.00 in total damage. Don't let your Yaris sit too long in a carport out in the woods. I drove the mice out of the head liner by parking the car out in the sun for a couple of days were the tempertures were 120 degrees on the roof.

09-28-2010, 10:38 PM	#11
bkrownd View User's Garage Drives: 2010 Yaris "5-door" Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve Posts: 170	I've had rats, geckos, anoles, frogs, roaches, ants and some sort of bird inside my FX-16. (rear flaps and gaping rust holes providing lots of access.) Hope they don't take a liking to the Yaris. :/ __________________

09-17-2010, 03:43 PM	#2
CTScott ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: USA, CT Posts: 13,460	That stinks - literally. A while back someone posted about having mice in their car. I can't seem to find the thread, but from what I've seen with field stripping "Crashy", there are three likely points of entry for mice, which can be covered with 1/4" wire mesh to prevent this from happening again. The first is the A/C outside air intake. Removing the passenger side wiper cowl gives access to this one. The second and third are the two vents that allow air to escape when you close your doors. They are flappy louver type vents that are located just below the tail lights. They can be accessed most easily by removing the rear bumper, but can also be accessed from the inside by removing the hatch area side trim pieces.

09-24-2010, 04:39 PM	#3
Jims Drives: Yaris S HB Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 3	I got my car back yesterday. Final cost came out to be $1865.36. I'm happy with the job Toyota did and the fact that they came in a little under what they told me. When I got the car home I pulled out the panel that runs up along the windshield on each side and filled the bottom with 4 copper pot scrubbing pads from Wal-Mart on each side. Hope that keeps the mice out of the headliner. I don't think insurance will want to pay for that again.

09-26-2010, 07:54 PM	#4
Forrest Drives: 08 LB BLACK Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NY Posts: 244	Had mice get into Yaris and it was only parked for two days ! Fortunately no damage but when car is parked and not used, Moth balls are put all over the inside. Granted the car smells but mice hate moth balls.

09-26-2010, 11:04 PM	#6
maxxman420 prop215. Drives: Toyota Yaris LB Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 52	that really sucks man. im glad toyota did a good job though to upkeep the name

09-28-2010, 12:40 PM	#7
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	Good to see you got the car fixed . May want to check the housing for the air filter and the blower motor housing . Have seen mice build nests in both and chipmunks store their goodies in those areas . Have also seen where mice will chew through the air filter and get into the throttle body . This happened to 4 new 2008 VIBES ( Matrix ) that sat outside of a PONTIAC dealership . Therefore I try to remember to check the air filter of a new car that we may purchase . TOYOTAs seem to be a favorite home for critters .

09-28-2010, 12:46 PM	#8
Jims Drives: Yaris S HB Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 3	I did go back and stick some moth balls on top of the copper pads later on. Have caught a few mice in the engine compartment in the last week but none are getting into the headliner. Have to exterminate all the mice in the area I guess to solve this problem for good. Fat chance of that happening!

09-28-2010, 12:53 PM	#9
SpaceShot Drives: 2008 Yaris 5 speed HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NH Posts: 171	Sounds like it might be time to adopt a cat from the local shelter or farm. ;-) Dachshunds and Beagle mixes will also catch mice and chipmunks, particularly if you get them when still a puppy.