Date:         Wed, 8 Aug 2012 07:31:43 -0700
Reply-To:     Gregory Smith <gfs@GREGORYFSMITH.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gregory Smith <gfs@GREGORYFSMITH.COM>
Subject:      Re: mouse profing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I don't have a Westy but do have an '88 GL and have thwarted the mice by
doing 5 things.  

One is apply 1/4" galvanized mesh over the fresh air intake behind the
front radiator grill and behind the plastic air intake cover.  The stock
cover keeps some things out but leaves the ends just open enough to
allow mice to enter there and fill your heater box with nesting, seeds
and poo and urine smell.  I cut the mesh about 1/2" bigger around than
needed and folded it over the edges for a mouse-proof seal.

Two is similar mesh (although for this I used 1/8") over the cabin air
exits at the tail end of the side windows.  This is where most of my
mice were getting in and I suspect a common entry area.  The foam was
eaten/rotted away and used as nesting in my A/C ducts.  Two 1" strips of
mesh and 4 sheet metal screws is all you need here.

Third, I check the grommets fore and aft, and around the rear heater
hoses too.  Mice are squishy and can squeeze through anything bigger
than 1/4".  This is really just to check that someone else hasn't been
less than careful in the past about putting things back after a repair
or modification.

The fourth thing I do is double check all the windows and doors are
closed every time I park at home where the mice come from, as we live in
the country.  It probably helps to be fairy tidy and sweep crumbs out,
and to not store snacks etc. in the Vanagon.

Fifth, a similar patch of mesh over the intake will prevent your air
filter housing from becoming a nest area.

Gregory Smith
Olympia, WA
'88 Vanagon GL

-------- Original Message --------
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2012 16:44:28 -0500
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: mouse profing

I don't see how it is possible they could get in unless some part is
missing, or the owner leaves a door or window open.

Jim

On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 9:52 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> I don't think there is a way to keep them out really..
> not a practical reliable one.
> I have always kept some of those yellow boxes of mouse poison around ..
> and put those little boxes in nooks ..say behind a rear tail light.
>
> I do this in sheds, shops etc...like under a workbench somewhere..
> never see any dead bodies or anything . It works.
>
>
>
> On 8/6/2012 4:50 PM, Geneva Saint-Amour wrote:
>
>> If they are dancing on engine cover, you should turn down the music.
>> And get a cat!
>>
>>
>> Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2012 16:23:21 -0700
>>> From: wyndotte@GOT.NET
>>> Subject: mouse profing
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>
>>> Does anybody know where mice get into the Westy? I can see from their
>>> dirty little footprints) they spend a lot of time dancing on the left
>>> top side of my engine cover, but there doesn't appear to be enough
>>> space for them to crawl up along the ac hoses, but once there they
>>> follow the hoses up along the back of the cabinet.
>>> Has anyone solved this problem?
>>> Thanks for this informative forum.
>>> Dav