Dead Mouse stuck in my car by the filter

[DisneyOma]

So, I gotta know -- did you get the mouse out?

The car care center wanted $1500.00 to get the mouse out and clean up the splatter - seems the top half got sucked into the blower. I asked them to just remove the half still dangling in the filter area and put in a new filter. They refused. I've got a filter on order, a special screwdriver on order to get the blower out, Clorox wipes, lysol, and paper towels. Once the filter and screwdriver arrive, I'm going to do what I can, then drive to my mom's mechanic in St. Pete's area. If it takes too many days to fix she said I could borrow her car to drive home to MA so DD can be home in time for job interview. My mom is the best!

 

[seashoreCM]

It is possible that any mechanic would have to "unassemble" the dashboard to get in and "unassemble" the air ducts to get the remains of the mouse out and clean everything up. They won't know exactly how much work is involved until they start the job.

That, my friend, usually amounts to big bucks; mucho dinero; plus d'argent.

Most folks buy an air freshener to hang from the rear view mirror and just let the splatter dry up inside the air ducts.

 

[Eastern]

The car care center wanted $1500.00 to get the mouse out and clean up the splatter - seems the top half got sucked into the blower. I asked them to just remove the half still dangling in the filter area and put in a new filter. They refused. I've got a filter on order, a special screwdriver on order to get the blower out, Clorox wipes, lysol, and paper towels. Once the filter and screwdriver arrive, I'm going to do what I an, then drive to my mom's mechanic in St. Pete's area. If it takes too many days to fix she said I could borrow her car to drive home to MA so DD can be home in time for job interview. My mom is the best!

There is at least one youtube video showing "how to clean Honda CRV blower motor/interior fan"

When I went to Toyota for the mouse nest they told me it would be expensive to disassemble it so I just let the fan blow and pulled out the nesting materials little by little. There wasn't a dead mouse in there, so your problem is a little different. But as seashoreCM said, people will just let what's in there dry up, it can't be that much. Get a couple more filters from Amazon so you can change it again. I think this happens a lot more than you think.

 

[joelkfla]

It's a Honda CRV. It's definitely a mouse, as I can see half of a decomposing body dangling down into the filter area. I'm afraid to pull it out myself because I may only get part of it (ew!) and then what? I do have wipes and a can of Lysol to clean the area out, but it's also a very narrow slot to work in, behind the glove compartment.

The car care center wanted $1500.00 to get the mouse out and clean up the splatter - seems the top half got sucked into the blower. I asked them to just remove the half still dangling in the filter area and put in a new filter. They refused. I've got a filter on order, a special screwdriver on order to get the blower out, Clorox wipes, lysol, and paper towels. Once the filter and screwdriver arrive, I'm going to do what I an, then drive to my mom's mechanic in St. Pete's area. If it takes too many days to fix she said I could borrow her car to drive home to MA so DD can be home in time for job interview. My mom is the best!

Funny how much of a motivator $1500 can be.

 

[MinnieMSue]

OMG this is a car problem I have never had and never thought of. Now I feel it is inevitable to happen any day with my luck. UGH sorry this happened on vacation of all times too.

 

[DisneyOma]

THE MOUSE IS OUT!!!!

DD's friend used some chopsticks I had from the Noodle Station and pulled the intact mouse out of the vent. Before that I was able to pull out most of, if not all of, the nest. Tomorrow I will check the blower and put in a new air filter. I have Lysol and Clorox wipes to deal with mess. We will still have my mom's mechanic check it before we head north for a 1300 mile drive home.

It is possible that any mechanic would have to "unassemble" the dashboard to get in and "unassemble" the air ducts to get the remains of the mouse out and clean everything up. They won't know exactly how much work is involved until they start the job.

That, my friend, usually amounts to big bucks; mucho dinero; plus d'argent.

Most folks buy an air freshener to hang from the rear view mirror and just let the splatter dry up inside the air ducts.

Except I don't think they really looked at all, as they told me that half of the mouse got sucked in, and the mouse was fully intact when DD's friend removed it. They talked about having to replace the blower, run a sterilizing cleaning through it all, etc. I think they didn't really look, lied to me, and tried to scam me out of big bucks, mucho dinero and d'argent.

 

[rlk]

THE MOUSE IS OUT!!!!

DD's friend used some chopsticks I had from the Noodle Station and pulled the intact mouse out of the vent. Before that I was able to pull out most of, if not all of, the nest. Tomorrow I will check the blower and put in a new air filter. I have Lysol and Clorox wipes to deal with mess. We will still have my mom's mechanic check it before we head north for a 1300 mile drive home.



Except I don't think they really looked at all, as they told me that half of the mouse got sucked in, and the mouse was fully intact when DD's friend removed it. They talked about having to replace the blower, run a sterilizing cleaning through it all, etc. I think they didn't really look, lied to me, and tried to scam me out of big bucks, mucho dinero and d'argent.

So glad the chopsticks worked for like they did for me so many years ago!

 

[Eastern]

THE MOUSE IS OUT!!!!

DD's friend used some chopsticks I had from the Noodle Station and pulled the intact mouse out of the vent. Before that I was able to pull out most of, if not all of, the nest. Tomorrow I will check the blower and put in a new air filter. I have Lysol and Clorox wipes to deal with mess. We will still have my mom's mechanic check it before we head north for a 1300 mile drive home.



Except I don't think they really looked at all, as they told me that half of the mouse got sucked in, and the mouse was fully intact when DD's friend removed it. They talked about having to replace the blower, run a sterilizing cleaning through it all, etc. I think they didn't really look, lied to me, and tried to scam me out of big bucks, mucho dinero and d'argent.

I am very happy for you.

Ask the mechanic how much to look at it before you have him check it. If he starts taking your car apart if will be back to square 1. Since the mouse is out and you got the nesting materials out, as long as air is blowing it should be fine.

You might see an occasional small piece of nesting material fly out of your vents into your car when the blower is on high.

 

[bumbershoot]

Glad it's out and was whole!

Except I don't think they really looked at all, as they told me that half of the mouse got sucked in, and the mouse was fully intact when DD's friend removed it. They talked about having to replace the blower, run a sterilizing cleaning through it all, etc. I think they didn't really look, lied to me, and tried to scam me out of big bucks, mucho dinero and d'argent.

FWIW mechanics often give you the worst case scenario. It's easier to do that and charge less than it is to give the best case and find out they are wrong!

Sounds like no one could really see what was going on in there.

 

[DisneyOma]

Glad it's out and was whole!



FWIW mechanics often give you the worst case scenario. It's easier to do that and charge less than it is to give the best case and find out they are wrong!

Sounds like no one could really see what was going on in there.

Except they said that half ended up in the blower and it didn't.

 

[Carol_]

I always keep emergency chopsticks in my car.
This is just one use.
Btw: thanks for the update. This story had the potential to rattle around in my brain for a lifetime and I’m glad it came to a satisfactory conclusion.

 

[Heather07438]

The car care center wanted $1500.00 to get the mouse out and clean up the splatter...
My mom is the best!

That is insane! What a racket.

I just paid my mechanic in Jersey City $1600 to:
Replace a motor in the driver's seat
Full brake assemblies
New radiator
Revive AC system
and a tune-up

Mom's are the best Glad yours is the best one of all!

 

[Best Aunt]

Very happy that the mouse is out.

 

[DisneyOma]

Update: Mom's mechanic opened up the blower, cleaned out a few fragments of nest, vacuumed out the air filter compartment, put it all back together nicely, and charged me $84. Drove home safely to MA, no smell, no issues whatsoever. Yay!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

So glad to hear everything worked out for you!

Note to self: keep a pair of chopsticks in the van.

 

[RogueX]

My sister's have had problems with mice getting into spaces of their cars and chewing on wires, etc. They were told by a mechanic friend to use mint oil or spray to keep the mice away.