Mice inside 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. Entering through the recirc vent

[bunni]

Hey. I have a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. I have mice entering the cab of my truck. I contacted Chevrolet and was told to take it to the dealer. When I did, the first service advisor told me "don't park in rural areas and don't leave your doors open." The second service advisor told me that a technician looked at it and there was no damage to the external wires but he didn't take the dash off to see if there was any other damage even though I can see into the crack under the glove compartment and can tell the mice chewed up the insulation in that area.

 

I have an open case with Chevrolet and my case manager has been in touch with the service department at the dealer. Last week, I was told to push the recirc button so the vent door would shut and this should fix the problem. I did that and so far I haven't noticed any more mice nibbling on the poison I put in there.

 

So, here are my questions: 1) Is this a design flaw? It seems like a mouse should not be able to get in through the recirc vent. 2) Should I just let it go or should I insist on having the dash taken apart to make sure there is nothing else chewed up besides insulation? Thanks.

[Silvern Sentry]

Have you tried getting a cat?

 

Do not really think it is a design flaw though as the cab cannot be hermetically sealed and a mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of like a dime or some crazy thing.

[newdude]

Mouse problems are not design flaws. They will find their way in if you have them. Try some mothballs and mouse traps around the truck or in the area where you are parking the truck. Check your cabin air filter as well. We pull a bunch out all the time with seeds, leaves, insulation, etc. all nested up in there. Check your engine air filter as well as they can get in there and make that a home too.

Edited August 10, 2016 by 15HDriver

[DAY11]

Is there no screen in front of the recirc door at the cowl area or something?

[OldBlue61]

I had to put some screening on the vent intake of our Passat. Wonder if that would be an option, and where is the intake vent for the system.

[kp52]

They are most likely getting in from the cowl by the hood hinges, need to block those. Thats why putting it on recirc will keep them out of the HVAC. I bet if you pull the cabin filter out you will find where they have been living. There really isnt a whole lot for them tear up in there except for seals and the cabin air filter. Certainly dont want them migrating under the seats though.

 

Unfortunately is not GMs problem. I'm surprised they went this far under warranty.

[tenthousanddays]

I actually noticed some dropping inside the cab when i was cleaning over the weekend. I opened the hood and sure enough the space between the sound dampening material/metal and top metal portion of the hood was filled with cracked acorns. My wife's car and my sports car also had plenty of that under the hood as well, but I hadn't seen it INSIDE the cab! I was shocked when I found droppings inside.

 

I have a cat, and she catches the mice but won't kill them. She just plays with them.

[Debra in Cali]

My parents had mice problems with their RV. They solved the problem of them getting in by using steel wool or those heavy duty metal pot scrubbers in the areas that the mice were coming in. It worked great because by the time the mice have chewed through the metal their stomach is so full of sharp metal pieces that they bleed to death. My parents would check those areas for signs of attempted break-ins every so often. They would replace the material used if it had been chewed on to insure that the critters never made it all the way through.

[kp52]

My parents had mice problems with their RV. They solved the problem of them getting in by using steel wool or those heavy duty metal pot scrubbers in the areas that the mice were coming in. It worked great because by the time the mice have chewed through the metal their stomach is so full of sharp metal pieces that they bleed to death. My parents would check those areas for signs of attempted break-ins every so often. They would replace the material used if it had been chewed on to insure that the critters never made it all the way through.

 

Yep, the copper plated stuff or stainless steel wool works if screening in not possible. Dont use regular steel wool, it will rust and stain everything around it.

 

People also say dryer sheets keep them away, but I would think mice would love them. Could always start smoking, I read years ago that mice hate the smell of cigarette smoke.

['01LS1]

Have yet to see a mouse proof anything that has an open seam. If they want in it or think they can make a nest, it is theirs w/o deterrents in place.

 

My house is old & sits on a shallow crawl space & have seen them move the steel wool out of things to get to where they want to go.

 

Point is, if nothing is malfunctioning on your truck, would not have a tech tear apart a dash. Further, rodent issues are not the responsibility of any vehicle mfg.

[No Tyme]

I use dryer sheets in the cab area of my Corvette and under the hood in my truck. Had a mouse in my engine compartment of my Avalanche and found that they don't like the smell of dryer sheets. Have a couple tied with twist ties under my hood and use them when I put up my Vett for the season... no issues so far.

[moosehead1]

As other's note, it's a mice problem, not a vehicle problem. IME, the bigger exposure to mice making a home out of the vehicle is that eventually it becomes an odor issue that cannot be remedied without pulling apart, replacing, and disinfecting everything.

 

You absolutely, positively, gotta find a way to either (1) get rid of them, or (2) keep them out of the vehicle. There's many methods that are largely up to you including cats, poisons, traps, deterrents, sealants/screens, etc, but likely a combination of these things given they are persistent buggers for food and warmth.

[OldBlue61]

I own a '70 MGB Roadster that only gets 2k miles a year put on it. One of the tricks I learned was to have a radio playing in the garage 24/7. I found an old clock radio for $2 at a garage sale a number of years ago, and it's been playing talk radio ever since I got it. No more rodent problem!

 

Sent from... um... where am I again?

[Pfmet]

Good day all, Mice have found the way to the cabin air filter in my 14 Sierra 1500. The nest is large enough that nest material, leaves , urine, and feces clog the filter when the vent door is open to outside air. And the great danger is the hantavirus which can be transmitted through air and can be deadly. Where is the inlet for the cabin air? Under the battery platform? Someplace where we can add screening or stainless scrubbies? Gotta figure this out. I've changed filters but I have yet to find the answer to keeping the mice out. The inlet needs to be better screened. My Volvo is the only vehicle with no mice inside with a very fine mesh screen at the inlet easily accessible. Nice design. Good luck with this. I'll post if I figure this out. I would think the problem would be widespread and GM would be helping us out. You guys hear us? You're lurking here somewhere!

[Badass69]

I own a '70 MGB Roadster that only gets 2k miles a year put on it. One of the tricks I learned was to have a radio playing in the garage 24/7. I found an old clock radio for $2 at a garage sale a number of years ago, and it's been playing talk radio ever since I got it. No more rodent problem!

 

Sent from... um... where am I again?

Radio plays relatively loudly in my shop 24/7.... mice still are in the building and get under the hood of vehicles. Leaving the hoods open pretty much keeps them away though.

 

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