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Getting Rid of Mouse Odor

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Lola the Prius, Jul 7, 2009.

  1. Lola the Prius

    Lola the Prius New Member

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    Like many of you, I have had difficulties with mice in my beloved Prius. I had originally attributed it to the engine block heater, however, after the dealership TWICE had to de-mouse the car, (I had some that died while it was in the body shop for a week and a half; rotting mouse carcass is not pleasant) the smell of urine persisted as did evidence of mouse infestation in the cabin air filter. And I haven't plugged in the heater since April. Anyway, the dealership hooked it up to an ozonator machine overnight the last time around to clear the smell out once before, but alas, I still had a rodent living in it, apparently inside the duct work behind the dash, which I am hesitant about paying in excess of $1000 to disassemble and clean. I recently trapped the last mouse in my cabin air filter area and have seen no evidence of mice since (no droppings on the cabin air filter; previously a daily phenomenon).
    So after this novel of a background, my question is this: Does anyone know if the ozonator machine can rid the car of the mouse pee smell if the nest is not removed and the contaminated duct work is not cleaned? $1000 is a lot to shell out, but the smell is intolerable.:frusty:
     
    #1 Lola the Prius, Jul 7, 2009
  2. Lola the Prius

    Lola the Prius New Member

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    BTW, I plan to use the tutorial posted on this site to mouse-proof my car!
     
    #2 Lola the Prius, Jul 7, 2009
  3. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    I have used a commercial air cleaner spray (bought at a good parts house), Ozium, I believe it was, and set the heater on full blast and NOT on recirculate and sprayed the stuff into the intake grates at the base of the windshield on the outside. I then cycled the heater system through all settings, giving it some spray at each setting to get all the ducts. Try not to soak the inside of the system, just a good squirt in each position. With the Toyota I would do this with an old cabin filter, then replace the filter. I also sprayed the carpets generally. This worked quite well in the old Mercedes I was working on.
     
    #3 PriusLewis, Jul 7, 2009
  4. Mike Gordon

    Mike Gordon New Member

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    How do you find the tutorial on this site?

    Thanks:)
     
    #4 Mike Gordon, Jan 24, 2010
  5. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    #5 David Beale, Jan 24, 2010
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Hmm...how much are they charging you for this ozonator machine treatment? The obvious answer is if it's cheap enough just try it and see. I'd also speculate that the other reality is as long as the source of the odors exist, they will return. However as the "source" slowly deteriates those odors might change, get worse, better or fade away or have you gagging everytime you enter your car.

    I'm afraid I'm not much help but the other obvious thing is that you have to find a way to keep from being reinfested, total removal of the nest and as thoroughly as possible the removal of mice urine, droppings etc might go a long way towards that end. Also might be better for your health.

    Good Luck. ---Ah, See above: Mouse Proofing Your Prius; Unfortunately seemed like it was easier for George Clooney and Brad Pitt to break into a Vegas Casino than it is to keep mice out of your Prius...but again Good Luck...
     
    #6 The Electric Me, Jan 24, 2010
  7. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    Hi Mike,

    I think she was referring to this thread about screening off cabin access holes:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/knowledge-base-articles-discussion/51005-mouseproofing-prius.html

    However, if you have a 2003 / Gen I Prius, I don't know how much of the above thread or other threads on this board is applicable.

    Also, besides screening off the cabin access holes in your Prius, you can also consider spraying or using rodent repellents under the hood. Do a Google search for rodent repellents. Among the things you'll find are pepper spray, peppermint oil, old-fashioned moth balls, and fabric softener dryer sheets (although who knows which, if any, of these things work). Personally, I hung a large mesh tea ball under my hood, and periodically put some mothballs in it.
     
    #7 Boo, Jan 24, 2010
  8. ski.dive

    ski.dive Active Member

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    $$$
    light up a 'BIG CUBAN CIGAR' inside your PRIUS.
    that will get rid of the mouse smell...
     
    #8 ski.dive, Jan 25, 2010
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