[Ursidae69]

Hi all, long time Toyota enthusiast, new RAV4 owner and first post here. I have a 2022 LE AWD model that I am very happy with. I have always lived rural and have dealt with mice issues in past vehicles. I solved the two entrance points and then yesterday I had a new mouse inside on the passenger floormat on a glue board. WTH?

My 04 Tacoma sits next to the RAV and has relatively no issues, though I solved the HVAC entrance with it like 15 years ago. I live in the desert and have a constant war with mammals which I am generally winning, but they are confounding me with this RAV. I even have 2 desert cottontails that hang under my hood or in that belly pan on this thing. Once I get a clear shot at them, they'll lose the war too.

Here is a quick history of my fixes with photos and I would love to know if there are any other entrances that I am not aware of that allowed this most recent mouse in.

This last summer I first tackled the HVAC entrance when a mouse died inside the HVAC. I had to disassemble the dash and use a borehole camera in the HVAC to find the mouse (pic 304). A treble hook on a piece of bailing wire guided by the borehole camera finally got the mouse out (pic 3164). It took 2-3 months for the smell to be fully gone IMO. The HVAC entrance has a plastic screen from the factory the mice chew through (pic 3158). I added metal lath and secured it with sheet metal self-tappers (pic 3167). Then a few months later another mouse makes a home inside. I researched it heavily here and learned about the body vent in the driver's side rear quarter panel. I solved that with metal hardware cloth secured with drywall screws (pic 3451).

I always keep a glue board inside or the electronic mouse trap by victor. yesterday I picked up a mouse on the glue board. I hate glue boards, but they work well. I euthanized the mouse as soon as I found it. I just pulled the cowl and the HVAC vent is still secured well, no issues. I pulled the plastic in the back and the vent there is still secured well. I don't see a vent on the passenger side and no vents in the rear bumper. Any other idea on how the mouse got in? THANK YOU! Chuck...

 

[sinbad]

You need a garage with tight doors and a cat. 😾

 

[Tazio Nuvolari]

. Any other idea on how the mouse got in?

They could chew up some wiring insulation and then get in through the opening where that wire bundle goes through the firewall into the under dash area. Have you tried the various peppermint oil sprays Harris, Tomcat etc ? Basically anywheres that hoses, wire bundles, metal tubes and so on go through the metal firewall into the cabin provide access with a little chewing. Also I have seen posts here and on Reddit where mice or even squirrels made their way up to the top of the fuel tank (underneath the back seat) and chewed up the wires there for the pump and fuel gauge sending unit. Once under the back seat they could easily get into the cabin!

 

[FKHeath]

Hi all, long time Toyota enthusiast, new RAV4 owner and first post here. I have a 2022 LE AWD model that I am very happy with. I have always lived rural and have dealt with mice issues in past vehicles. I solved the two entrance points and then yesterday I had a new mouse inside on the passenger floormat on a glue board. WTH?

My 04 Tacoma sits next to the RAV and has relatively no issues, though I solved the HVAC entrance with it like 15 years ago. I live in the desert and have a constant war with mammals which I am generally winning, but they are confounding me with this RAV. I even have 2 desert cottontails that hang under my hood or in that belly pan on this thing. Once I get a clear shot at them, they'll lose the war too.

Here is a quick history of my fixes with photos and I would love to know if there are any other entrances that I am not aware of that allowed this most recent mouse in.

This last summer I first tackled the HVAC entrance when a mouse died inside the HVAC. I had to disassemble the dash and use a borehole camera in the HVAC to find the mouse (pic 304). A treble hook on a piece of bailing wire guided by the borehole camera finally got the mouse out (pic 3164). It took 2-3 months for the smell to be fully gone IMO. The HVAC entrance has a plastic screen from the factory the mice chew through (pic 3158). I added metal lath and secured it with sheet metal self-tappers (pic 3167). Then a few months later another mouse makes a home inside. I researched it heavily here and learned about the body vent in the driver's side rear quarter panel. I solved that with metal hardware cloth secured with drywall screws (pic 3451).

I always keep a glue board inside or the electronic mouse trap by victor. yesterday I picked up a mouse on the glue board. I hate glue boards, but they work well. I euthanized the mouse as soon as I found it. I just pulled the cowl and the HVAC vent is still secured well, no issues. I pulled the plastic in the back and the vent there is still secured well. I don't see a vent on the passenger side and no vents in the rear bumper. Any other idea on how the mouse got in? THANK YOU! Chuck...


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There is no way to block mice from getting into your car. They can fit through incredibly small gaps.

We use peppermint oil (essential oil) at our mountain cabin to keep the mice at bay. Works great. All it takes is a drop or two on a cotton ball, then scatter the cotton balls throughout the car. By the cabin air filter is a good place; mice have been know to make a nest there and chew up the filter.

Other people have recommended moth balls, but I have never tried that.

 

[Tazio Nuvolari]

We use peppermint oil

All it takes is a drop or two on a cotton ball,

Other people have recommended moth balls,

I use Tomcat peppermint spray only on the hoodliner. I use Harris peppermint spray all through the engine bay, cabin air intake ducts, and engine cover. You need to spray often because the oil dries and the smell dissipates. I use a bunch of old fashioned napthalene moth balls in old nylon socks paced on engine cover and on top of air cleaner box. Remove when starting because of fire hazard. Since doing this I have had no rodent damage. I also use poison and peanut butter baited rat traps under the RAV and throughout my carport. I live in a fir and oak forest in the PNW and have caught squirrels, wood chucks, and field rats in the traps under the RAV.

 

[Ursidae69]

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas. I will try the oils and moth balls. I also plan to take off the belly covers and look for areas where a rodent could have chewed through a grommet or area where wires are passing through. If I see anything like that, I'll document it and post it here.

 

[Tazio Nuvolari]

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas. I will try the oils and moth balls. I also plan to take off the belly covers and look for areas where a rodent could have chewed through a grommet or area where wires are passing through. If I see anything like that, I'll document it and post it here.

Also pull up the backseat and make sure rodents have not climbed up on top of the gas tank.

 

[meades1]

I use irsh sping soap in my garage to keep the mice out. 1/2 a bar here and there in the corners seems to work. Maybe try some under the hood (couldn't hurt)

 

[iowagold]

try dryer sheets

 

[falcorpltd]

Cats, as somebody earlier said, work wonders. In the alternative, I've found terrific success using a standard trap with peanut butter on the lever. I'd rather just kill them than make them move somewhere else.

 

[Luna&Barney]

My cats couldn’t catch their own shadows.

 

[Ursidae69]

My search for missing grommets didn't take long. A large 40mm grommet was missing on the driver's side about where the brake pedal sits. This missing grommet allows a rodent access to the inside of the unibody frame and ultimately inside the vehicle based on the diagrams I've found. The same grommet is on the passenger side where it is not missing. I moved the existing one over to verify fitment and its the same. I have a new one on order and have this temporarily blocked. I wonder if this has been missing from the factory... The missing grommet is part number 90950-01901. Peppermint oil and moth balls arrive next week. Pics below of both sides.

 

[Tazio Nuvolari]

moth balls arrive next week.

Make sure the moth balls are naphtha or naphthalene based. They are sold under trade name "Old Fashioned Moth Balls". They are flammable when they melt from heat and out gas so BE SURE you remove them each time you run the engine. There is a new kind of moth balls using a different less flammable chemical that does NOT work to repel rodents according to many on line posts. You put a good hand full of the mothballs into the leg of a women's nylon sock or panty hose leg and tie it off to form a pouch or bag. Don't use the paper or cellophane bag the balls come in--it leaks dust and particles and degrades if it gets damp.

 

[Ursidae69]

Make sure the moth balls are naphtha or naphthalene based. They are sold under trade name "Old Fashioned Moth Balls". They are flammable when they melt from heat and out gas so BE SURE you remove them each time you run the engine. There is a new kind of moth balls using a different less flammable chemical that does NOT work to repel rodents according to many on line posts. You put a good hand full of the mothballs into the leg of a women's nylon sock or panty hose leg and tie it off to form a pouch or bag. Don't use the paper or cellophane bag the balls come in--it leaks dust and particles and degrades if it gets damp.

Great, thank you. Will do!

 

[858895Chevy]

Hi all, long time Toyota enthusiast, new RAV4 owner and first post here. I have a 2022 LE AWD model that I am very happy with. I have always lived rural and have dealt with mice issues in past vehicles. I solved the two entrance points and then yesterday I had a new mouse inside on the passenger floormat on a glue board. WTH?

My 04 Tacoma sits next to the RAV and has relatively no issues, though I solved the HVAC entrance with it like 15 years ago. I live in the desert and have a constant war with mammals which I am generally winning, but they are confounding me with this RAV. I even have 2 desert cottontails that hang under my hood or in that belly pan on this thing. Once I get a clear shot at them, they'll lose the war too.

Here is a quick history of my fixes with photos and I would love to know if there are any other entrances that I am not aware of that allowed this most recent mouse in.

This last summer I first tackled the HVAC entrance when a mouse died inside the HVAC. I had to disassemble the dash and use a borehole camera in the HVAC to find the mouse (pic 304). A treble hook on a piece of bailing wire guided by the borehole camera finally got the mouse out (pic 3164). It took 2-3 months for the smell to be fully gone IMO. The HVAC entrance has a plastic screen from the factory the mice chew through (pic 3158). I added metal lath and secured it with sheet metal self-tappers (pic 3167). Then a few months later another mouse makes a home inside. I researched it heavily here and learned about the body vent in the driver's side rear quarter panel. I solved that with metal hardware cloth secured with drywall screws (pic 3451).

I always keep a glue board inside or the electronic mouse trap by victor. yesterday I picked up a mouse on the glue board. I hate glue boards, but they work well. I euthanized the mouse as soon as I found it. I just pulled the cowl and the HVAC vent is still secured well, no issues. I pulled the plastic in the back and the vent there is still secured well. I don't see a vent on the passenger side and no vents in the rear bumper. Any other idea on how the mouse got in? THANK YOU! Chuck...


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My wife's 2012 Rav4 Limited is parked in a completely weatherproof carport next to my 1985 Corvette. The 2012 is driven much more often that the Vette, yet 2 years ago my wife found mice crap in the 2012 Rav4. I cleaned it up and found a gap in the firewall around the A/C lines that I sealed. I also placed rodent repellers (see link) in 4 of my cars that don't get daily driving. No more mice issues.

I HATE Amazon, but this is the only place I could find them and they work. I highly recommend them.
Amazon.com: Loraffe Under Hood Rodent Repeller Battery Operated Ultrasonic Car Rat Repellent Mice Deterrent Keep Animal Away from Car with Ultrasound and LED Flashlights Rodent Defense Vehicle Protection, 2 Pack : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[JRKR]

Hi all, long time Toyota enthusiast, new RAV4 owner and first post here. I have a 2022 LE AWD model that I am very happy with. I have always lived rural and have dealt with mice issues in past vehicles. I solved the two entrance points and then yesterday I had a new mouse inside on the passenger floormat on a glue board. WTH?

My 04 Tacoma sits next to the RAV and has relatively no issues, though I solved the HVAC entrance with it like 15 years ago. I live in the desert and have a constant war with mammals which I am generally winning, but they are confounding me with this RAV. I even have 2 desert cottontails that hang under my hood or in that belly pan on this thing. Once I get a clear shot at them, they'll lose the war too.

Here is a quick history of my fixes with photos and I would love to know if there are any other entrances that I am not aware of that allowed this most recent mouse in.

This last summer I first tackled the HVAC entrance when a mouse died inside the HVAC. I had to disassemble the dash and use a borehole camera in the HVAC to find the mouse (pic 304). A treble hook on a piece of bailing wire guided by the borehole camera finally got the mouse out (pic 3164). It took 2-3 months for the smell to be fully gone IMO. The HVAC entrance has a plastic screen from the factory the mice chew through (pic 3158). I added metal lath and secured it with sheet metal self-tappers (pic 3167). Then a few months later another mouse makes a home inside. I researched it heavily here and learned about the body vent in the driver's side rear quarter panel. I solved that with metal hardware cloth secured with drywall screws (pic 3451).

I always keep a glue board inside or the electronic mouse trap by victor. yesterday I picked up a mouse on the glue board. I hate glue boards, but they work well. I euthanized the mouse as soon as I found it. I just pulled the cowl and the HVAC vent is still secured well, no issues. I pulled the plastic in the back and the vent there is still secured well. I don't see a vent on the passenger side and no vents in the rear bumper. Any other idea on how the mouse got in? THANK YOU! Chuck...


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Great job. I did the same thing on my Camry many years ago with very similar mesh and it absolutely stopped them.
I plan on doing the same as you did, but our 2021 hybrid XLE is presenting a challenge to get into.
I take it I need to get under the cowl under the wiper blades. Is there any info you found for doing this? I've learned it's less costly to follow what somebody has done so as to break less pieces. (-; I also read there is a rear air intake that need to be covered. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[bigmar88]

A way to find their entry point is borrow a good weiner dog. I'm sure other breeds will work, but they'll sniff out the entry points. My was rav was down for while and dog tearing at the plastic under motor and sure enough open the hood and there's a rat.