Mouse incursion

This has been discussed here before in some great detail.
Summary:
Mice can get into tiny spaces that you would never believe.
It is almost impossible to find all the possible entry points.
The only good long term solution is POISON.
If children or pets or other wildlife are present, use a "safety" bait station with a rat-sized entry hole and solid bait chunks that won't come out......and bolt or weigh it down so it won't move.

P.S. This can quickly become a MUCH bigger problem that just cleaning up a mess, as the little devils will start chewing on parts of the car and if they damage the wiring it can cost you THOUSANDS of dollars to fix.

 

oh, what a mess! you should take it to the service manager for his edification.

i'm not sure about the c, but the lift back has multiple entry points and details of closing them all is a huge undertaking.

i would consider some type of repellent if possible, before they do chew your wiring. a new main harness is 5 grande. consider this a warning shot across the bow.

 

Closing that one hole will only encourage them to find or make another one.

The only way to eliminate a mouse problem is to eliminate the mice.

Please heed this advice. It comes from dealing with rodents in a rural environment for near to 50 years.

In addition to the obvious problems, they can bring in FLEAS with them and in some cases transmit diseases to humans.

 

Please open a case number with Toyota.
Screening off the access points by yourself can be accomplished in a couple of hours.

Thanks,

Dan

 

What if Toyota will not let you screen off the back vents without voiding your warranty?

The peice

Really? Not everyone having this problem is in a rural environment... and not all types of vehicles are prone to attracting mice. I have lived in town and out and have never seen a mouse problem where they can get in to a car as easy as a Toyota prius ... mice will always take the least obstructed path or the path of least resistance ... that being said ... a little resistance goes a long way... or and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Those of you that love your prius contact the nhtsa and let them know about this design flaw that affects safety as well so they will get Toyota to fix these openings with some screen to deter these pests nhtsa phone number in u.s. is 1-888-327-4236 call them before a mouse goes running across your dash while your driving!

 

Really yourself. You have no way of knowing that.
ALL engine compartments are open to the outside world. Therefore all of them are prone to having rodents set up shop on the engine.

 

I would encourage you to go ahead and employ whatever screening methods you wish.

Unless you were incredibly negligent in your installation to the point of "3 Stooges" incompetence, I don't see how it would ever become an issue. And I've never read a thread about anyone being denied warranty coverage because of an installed screen.

If in the astronomically slim chance you would have some related problem, I would think Toyota would have to prove that the installation of the screen caused premature failure of whatever component, and I really cannot imagine how this would happen.

 

The mice aren't in the engine... they are in the cabin, glove box and running across the dash!

Dash board... because they are not in the engine... they are IN the interior of the inside of the cabin of the car...

 

Is this a Prius problem or you have seen mice inside the house as well?

 

Just in the cabin of the prius ... the cabin being the drivers and passenger's seating area

 

Pause for just a second and try to THINK just a bit please.

Mice like warm places, especially in the fall and winter.

What I am trying to tell you is:
If you do not eliminate the intruders, they will just find a different place to nest.
In the air cleaner. In the tail pipe. On top of the engine. In the wheel wells.
You are fighting a losing battle.

But you seem convinced that you know everything so ........carry on and see where it gets you.
Other people have been there and done that........but what do THEY know ??

 

It's may now...

 

So what ?

Once established, in or near structures, most species will NOT return to the fields in the spring.
Assuming that your comment referred to the month of May.

Your time would be better spent in explaining your thoughts rather than fancy quoting.

 

Again... they are not in the engine ... and have you looked outsife lately? It's not winter... and I am just trying to get Toyota to allow us to screen off the back air vents so the mice stop coming in ... on other make/model cars those same screens have plastic cages over them on the inside , this model does not. It is again the equivalent of having a house with no front door. On a normal house mice will get in yes ... occasionally... when it's really cold and they want shelter but not daily and not very many ... but with no front door they are able to get in and out daily and in abundance... It almost seems as though they are drawn to the car! Maybe one of the guys building it had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch before assembly or maybe the previous owners used peanut oil to shine the plastic surfaces...I don't know and personally couldn't care why this car is some sort of mouse target, I just want a solution that will not void the warranty and will protect my daughter when she drives it to not have the life scared out of her by having a mouse run across the dash and causing a wreck!

 

I have given you the only solution that works 100% of the time.

Quick, easy, effective and fairly cheap......but for some reason you are obsessed with a "fix" that won't really solve all of the problem.
FYI, mice and rats and squirrels just love to chew plastic. A plastic screen is not a solution either.

I quit. I wish you luck. I hope your daughter does not suffer because of your obsession.