HarryCo4

Hi all, my dad owns a 98 SL500 and recently had a mouse get in the car and the trunk. It only chewed up some papers and the tool kit but we want to stop it before it does any more. The car will sit for a period of time during the winter so this is why they are looking for a way in. Do any of you know spots where a mouse could get in the car and or the trunk? Is there a drain hole in the trunk? A way in through the firewall? Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Cody

robertstjo

I believe there's a plastic ventilation flapper in the battery compartment and I've heard of instances where rodents accessed the interior of the car through that flapper valve.

I've solved the problem with a two pronged attack. First I put small jars filled with cotton ***** soaked in peppermint oil near any access point. Next I put strobe lights in any
area in the car rodents might access.

What I understand is rodents function primarily using scent and the potent scent of the peppermint oil confuses them so they tend to stay away also since they are active mostly
at night they avoid bright lights such as the strobes.

I've had no rat visitors since adopting this strategy.

Good Luck
Aloha

sneezix

There is also a drain hole in the middle of the spare tire well. You'll have to take off
the cover of the hydraulic pump that's used for the soft top.

SRHsl600

While the rodent problem has happened with most vehicles I haves stored, not so for actively driven or stored within sealed door garages.
The strong odor is what I have used. I buy a product from a farm supply store. They come in small bags and they are placed in engine bay, trunk, interior.
The engine air intakes are popular with my vermin. The car barn has two aggressive cats! the down side, sometimes they leave entrails in and around the vehicles!
In AZ I leave a night light under the vehicle. Good luck with your rodents.

rocky raccoon

Put a blacksnake in the car for a couple of days. It can go anywhere the mouse can and won't leave entrails.

miike

I had one in my SL too. He chewed a hole in the headliner and left a bunch of garbage in the softtop well. My convertible top guy found it and said it was common on SLs. Now I keep a strawberry scented tree in there. I also keep one in under the hood of that car and my others.

PhoenixOp

Go buy 4 plain old fashion mouse traps, the kind your grandfather used. Home Depot has Victors (the best), put a little peanut butter inside the trigger, arm them and set one on the ground with the trigger facing the bottom of the tire on the outside of each wheel. Guaranteed you will catch the little bast*rd(s). They are really attracted to peanut butter. That's how I take care of all my cars. I live on 5 acres with farms all around and mice are a real pita around here. Between traps and poison bait stations, I have pretty much decimated the mouse population.

Remember to check the traps every couple of days and be prepared to deal with them when their dead, get some rubber gloves. The only good mouse, is a dead mouse... Specially one that is trying to eat my car. Also, it's not true that they eat the plastic on the wires, they sharpen their teeth on it. Same effect though.

Good luck!

Mike