So the alternator in my other vehicle took a dump, and I was forced to fast-track finishing the radiator and water pump installation on the Duster (no leaks, yay and stuff), but while I was working I could hear something squeaking in the vent box. I look in the grille right behind the hood and, you guessed it, MOTHER%#*@ RATS! Two infants, not even any fur yet. So I stick my shop vac (set to blow) up to one of the interior vents and blast everything out of there. Everything except the rats though. They're still in there squeaking away and waiting to die. The parents were no where to be found, and luckily my wiring hasn't been touched. There was rat sh*t all over the place though, which I managed to get all cleaned up.

So that brings me to my question: how can I get the little baby bastards out of my car and prevent more rats from moving in in the future?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Is your car outside, or is your house near a field? My car sat in a garage for 1 1/2 years, and in a barn for 6 months before that, and I had no problems.

Id say, put some poison/traps around where you keep your car to prevent that from happening again.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

It was garaged last October. I live in a fairly urban area and have pulled it out several times since April to work on it. This was the first sign of rats that I had seen. And these infants looked fairly recently born, so I can't imagine the parents have been in there long. None of the cardboard in my garage has been chewed up either, plus I can't find any holes in my walls for them to get in through. I'm completely stumped as to how they could've gotten in. I'm wondering if there's something I can put on/near the vent boxes when the car's parked that'd help to repel the rats (and draw them towards the traps I'll be setting up in my garage).

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

TRY MOTH BALLS-- or buy some ammonia soaked on a sponge/cotton ball-- (cheaper-- same effect)
just make sure it doesn't stain your parts--
Lawrence

you need a big old snake!!

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I've heard good things about this product, but I've never used it myself.

http://www.earth-kind.com/

Just piss outside the shop in a new place everytime.....

........and a dog

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

What's worse than finding a rat in your car?
Finding half a rat.

Be careful with the poisons - the rats may decide do die in an inconvenient place.

Also, beware of HANTAVIRUS when cleaning out nests.

It's my understanding that rats and mice don't like cayenne. Not sure how to use that in protecting a car, without pepperspraying yourself, though ...

Two words: Rat Terrier

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

Bounce dryer sheets work for me.

The red pepper works because they clean themselves by licking. It burns their mouth and conditions them to stay away from the red pepper smell. This is an old farmers trrick.

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

How strong of a repellant is ammonia? The cotton ball trick might work if I set a few in saucers on the floor of my car when I park it for long periods of time. That way the cotton balls will still let the smell out but none will get spilled anywhere.

I'm definitely going to be setting up rat traps as well in my garage.

Shaker, how are you doing the dryer sheet thing? just stuffing them in your vents when you park the car, or what?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

If nothing else, the car will smell "Mountain Spring" fresh.

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1976 Dart Lite /6 3 Speed

I also use mothballs, but be sure you use the paradichlorobenzene ones, not the napthalene ones. While my one car with the former has never been bothered since I started using them, mice set up housekeeping within inches of the latter in my other car. I also set mousetraps and block off the air vents on the outside.

I always put the battery on a small maint. charger, and even that little bit of heat seems to attract mice in the winter, so I now remove the battery from the car during the winter. Since I've done that, I've not had a problem with mice under the hood.

I just leave them on the trunk floor and on the floor in the body compartment.

Moth balls? I thought about that too, untill I remembered, I have smelled cars where people used thoes, and they don't smell like "fresh air", if you catch my drift... Now the ammonia might be a good idea.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels