Parking outside

[MartyM]

I think it’s hit and miss regarding rodent problems. Variety of factors including if you live in an area near farmland, wooded areas, etc. that house various critters. Also, is it a warm place for them to go and hide out in the colder weather? There have been posts of people having issues with rodents, indoors and outdoors. I think one person mentioned an issue with squirrels getting in the engine bay. Others have had mouse/rat problems. And some have no issues.

A few folks put some ideas out there for mitigants, probably worth trying as a preventative measure. They look for warmth and food sources, the less you provide them the less of an issue you’ll have. Driving the car frequently and/or being active in/around the car will be a good deterrent also. The used cat litter is a great idea, the scent of a predator usually keeps unwanted pests away.

I know you’re looking for concrete answers, I don’t think you’ll find just one as every area/situation is different.

Yes your points are well taken. Just looking for a general consensus of people who have parked outside and have had or not had problems.

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[2019GT]

Parked outside for 5 years, all 4 seasons. Only issue I had (which did suck in all honesty) was a crack near the C-Pillar that ended up flooding my car with rain water.

No rodent issues, and paint looks pretty damn good I must say. Rock chips and very minor scuffs aside ;-)

 

[Cobra Jet]

Just get a bundle of the flat glue traps and place them around the car…. Once those suckers touch one they’re stuck….

 

[Mustangpursuit]

Parked outside for 5 years, no issues, but recently had to have cat ultrasonic sensors which seem to now keep cats from spraying on the car as they did in the past. I also have vehicle rodent spray (vehicle defense on amazon) I use on both cars outside. no signs of chewing wires. I bought the spray after my other car had acorns and palm tree baby coconuts all over the engine bay. After I cleaned it out and used the vehicle defense spray, the build up never happened again. sprayed inside of engine bay and the inner wheel well liners

 

[sk47]

Hello; The timing of my chewed wires and melted fuse box was interesting. It was during late winter after the bad cold was over. Had week or more of mild to warm days as often happens late winter -early spring.
Then came a cold spell maybe in the mid to high 30's F. I had parked the truck on the first cold day and foolishly did not drive it for a few days. My guess is some mice, rats or other rodent was around my carport because of the food scraps from the resident squirrel. Found a warm place in my engine compartment and made a nest under the fuse box. Probably chewed the wires just to have something to chew on. They have to constantly chew as their teeth always grow.

My point is open the hood and or drive a car every couple of days when outside is another way to help keep them off.

 

[Geodudes550]

I park mine about 50/50 in the garage or the driveway depending on how early I have to get up. I’ve never had any rodent problems in five years but then again, I’ve got neighborhood cats around.

The rodent question will also depend on where you live. If you’re in an extreme climate, hot or cold, you’re probably going to have more problems as the critters seek shelter. If you are in a fine clime, the car may not be the best option for a rodent so your risk would potentially decrease.

Suburb, rural, or city? This will impact the rodent question as well. Rural and city might have more of a rat problem whereas suburbs might be squirrels or mice. What other wildlife do you encounter?

How long does the car go without being driven? If you’re driving it every day, I wouldn’t expect rodent problems no matter where it’s parked unless it’s either really hot or cold. If you’re driving it once a week and storing it for long periods, I’d expect more rodent issues and I’d take measures to prevent them.

Since I’ve got neighborhood cats, I don’t worry about rodents but always check under the car for one of the little tigers and knock on the hood. As if the engine doesn’t scare em off anyway.

 

[sk47]

I’ve got neighborhood cats around.

If you’re driving it every day, I wouldn’t expect rodent problems

Hello; Good point about cats. Had a feral cat which lived under my neighbors house for a long time. She had litters and hunted the area for a long time. I put food out for her as did my neighbor. The cat eventually took up with his granddaughter in law and became sort of tame. But the cat is gone a few years now.
As i type this might explain why the squirrels are more bold now.

 

[wingnutt]

IMHO, your question is flawed…

in post one, you want specifics to a 6th gen; outside, undercover, for an unspecified amount of time

by post nine, you want comments about average cars outside…again.

@MAGS1 answered you pretty succinctly, and by post 16 you just want a “general consensus”.

IN MY EXPERIENCE; mice like dark, occasionally warm spaces up off the ground, away from predators. Car covers are a mouse’s (meece?) best friend.

I have an ‘18 F150 that is daily driven that got tagged by mice in two days sitting in my front yard, with no cover or avoidances. Conversely, I have a 2022 John Deere that never got touched until I left for a two week job and they chewed thru the main harness that started a dam fire.

when I park the 350R…I open the hood, bounce sheets under the seats (and in the glovebox) with high frequency avoidance devices underhood (see the link) and have had no problems as of yet…knock on wood

https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Ultrasonic-Repellent-Deterrent-Warehouse/dp/B0C9T97G4N/ref=sr_1_5_pp?crid=39RSTO8TZ02MO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.F5yD4bYt67wXSC_q7JFmKrjJfFjajy4Sx5b0H95LgcOB9_8OSm8wu7_oyev3OATqXz9cns79CsK1BdjS39wwSG_Ukolu_OQssmnS4BL9ighkbSlChsJz3sTU-rAv3qy3n_OvXMn_1fMOEQI2KGt3DScLt949MybRm90IkbTnRh6czChc9Y8IWwq8ilabJWSGkj0wDaa3V-Ym40SPJK_KoAwL5ZpBcVmkbFZk8yxGO7MBU3oBpTGahg8fwbS6QQO_DfyVyZONzWreAvhvzAEcqgRlc3PUHCd3hWTq2WoYuFM.e4cQXBwevtUqqcsBgWt046PJ8skJob6jOla-xaqSGrQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=mouse+repellent&qid=1718075327&sprefix=Mouse+,aps,193&sr=8-5

…once I added those devices to all vehicles (and a garage cat)I have had no issue thus far

 

[RTFM]

Same cold spell story as sk47’s. Used peppermint and various hot pepper sprays to no effect. My rodents were rats and they couldn’t care less. Maybe it works for mice and squirrels.
Prevention techniques did not work. Had to switch to active warfare: glue mats and tomcat traps.
Also, I wouldn’t recommend rat poison. It is not as potent as what we see in movies. It kills the rats over a number of days/weeks while making them very thirsty — and likely to look for more fluids and wires to chew through.

 

[sk47]

sed peppermint and various hot pepper sprays to no effect. My rodents were rats and they couldn’t care less. Maybe it works for mice and squirrels.

Hello; Thanks for the info. I am trying those things and others with no idea they will work. Likely I am wasting time and effort.
I hear mixed reviews of the sonic repellants and have not tried any yet.
I suspect by opening up the soffits of my carport this has prevented the squirrels from nesting and storing food. I can see into the previously hidden spaces. No food stores ought to help in the sense of not attracting rodents.
I try to drive my truck more often and open the hood many days i do not drive it

To you comment. I cannot say peppermint or pepper scents make a difference. Only that I am trying most any remedy I hear of.

 

[sk47]

when I park the 350R…I open the hood,

Hello; I do such as well. I got a dusk to dawn lightbulb which is located in my open carport conveniently over the hood of the truck. I open the hood and light shins in. I am concerned about strong wind gusts so attach a strap to the open hood at the latch to keep a strong breeze from peeling back the hood.

 

[MartyM]

IMHO, your question is flawed…
in post one, you want specifics to a 6th gen; outside, undercover, for an unspecified amount of time by post nine, you want comments about average cars outside…again.

Uje wrote:
"you want comments about average cars outside"
I wrote in post 9:
"Really only looking for if ANYONE HAS EXPERIENCED RODENT INCURSIONS?"
Where does it say average cars?

After dealing with several posts not specific to 6th generation Mustangs, I plead Mea Culpa for not reiterating 6th generation. If you read where I knew of incursions in other vehicles it might have been obvious the concern was still only about 6th generation Mustangs, not anything else.

Thanks to all for helpful comments specific to 6th generation Mustangs* and for tips to mitigate rodent invasions.

* consensus of outdoor parkers seems to be not a problem.

 

[wingnutt]

Understood, and I didn’t mean anything derogatory in my post…its more that a mouse could care less if 6th gen pony or 1st gen Fiat, mouse gonna do mouse stuff 🫠

 

[sk47]

Thanks to all for helpful comments specific to 6th generation Mustangs* and for tips to mitigate rodent invasions.

consensus of outdoor parkers seems to be not a problem.

its more that a mouse could care less if 6th gen pony or 1st gen Fiat, mouse gonna do mouse stuff 🫠

Hello; Wingnut nailed it. Inside or outside a parked car no matter a Mustang or any other sort can attract rodents. Some cars have soy plant based plastic insulation on the wires is the only thing I can think of that rodents might like better than crude oil based plastic. I figure the rodent only discovers the soy wires after it invades a parked vehicle.
I figure rodents are constantly looking for a place to nest. They reproduce quickly with many liters a year. The offspring are kicked out and seek a new home. Anything that sits still with decent hiding places can be a target. Cars offer some additional benefits. In my case they used the fiberglass from the firewall for a nest. Cars just parked on a cold day are warm and they look for a warm spot. But if a car sits for long and a rodent is around it will check the car out.

Interesting thread after the first few posts. Makes me question my peppermint, pepper, Irish spring and moth balls are doing anything. Have some confidence in the cat litter but my neighbor with the cat have moved away.

I use to catch many mice in my basement garage every winter. Not the last three winters tho. I may know why. Saw a black snake on the wall of my home one fall. Left it alone. No mice that winter in my traps. Next spring I open the basement door and a blacksnake was on the floor. I left it alone. Has been seen on the wall in the fall again. Fascinating how a snake can climb a brick wall.

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

I would set mouse traps in the engine bay. Better yet maybe even set a camera in there with motion sensor. You will know when those bastards are active in there and since its low traffic area should last a long time with battery power.

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