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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10333 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:49 pm Post subject: Ya. They chew that. |
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So on my '81, I finally finish my custom exhaust, bleed the brakes, etc., get tires installed, pass emissions with flying colours, van drives great.....
Huh. Why isn't my dome light working?
Dig around, no + at light all other accessories on that circuit work. Power is at fuse, fuse ok......
Drop the fuse panel. Humpf? A severed wire? Strange. Did it melt? Uh.....
(this may also explain why my wiper washer doesn't spray. )
I'm so flippin pissed right now.
#20 Interior light wire
ya.
Home: remnants of hose, eye glass cleaner cloth, paper. Note the severed brown hose.
_________________ 1981 Westy, 15º ABA
1988 West, 50º ABA
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh
VE7TBN |
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tomkay Samba Member
Joined: January 17, 2010 Posts: 111 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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That sucks. My first thought was that I was glad to see it wasn't squirrels.
dang vermin. _________________ '87 Westy |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10333 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks. Ya. It sucks! My worst fear is that I've inhaled that fargin mouse disease via the defrost while driving today. (at least I hope it was mice. < shudders > )
I think the damage to the big and smaller vent hoses is pretty clear proof (as others have found) that the vermin got in through the gaps between the fresh air ram grill and ram. Ironically, I just recently sealed those gaps on my '88.
IMO.... Anyone who hasn't done this, do it! Seal those gaps! I got my inspiration from pics here in the gallery section.
Given my nature, this means I have to inspect every blinkin' wire up there. And very likely pull the dash, clean out the heater box. Sheesh. At least I know how to do the work.
Neil.
_________________ 1981 Westy, 15º ABA
1988 West, 50º ABA
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh
VE7TBN |
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GreenMachineVW Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2008 Posts: 645
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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Bummer for sure. To me, going by the ridges on the ducts, it looks like the ducts were chewed from the outside, not the inside. |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:06 am Post subject: |
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Our shop cats make quick work of any vermin |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:43 am Post subject: |
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I made the mistake of leaving a role of paper towels I was using in a van....... _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3411 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Our shop cats make quick work of any vermin |
I have 5 cats.. hehe...
but the drawback is time to time they proudly bring in the house mice or rats to show to us... I rather see them in the house than in the vanagon...
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Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1518
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Wear a mask, gloves, spray any droppings with bleach before removing, etc., etc. _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Gauche1968 wrote: |
Wear a mask, gloves, spray any droppings with bleach before removing, etc., etc. |
x2...dirty, smelly, disease ridden filth |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10333 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:13 am Post subject: |
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Thanks people.
edit: yes. I will be wearing mask, goggles, and will spray what I can first then remove dung and clean. I'll read up on HPS et al
The PO of my house left a jug of Ammonia in the basement. Maybe that with water? I'll google it.
I bet the buggers got into the heat exchange box too.
insyncro:
Heh. In hindsight.... when the van was parked (as usual) nose in and under cover, there would routinely be cat paw prints on the windshield. Like the cat would be in the luggage rack, then slide/run down. Maybe he was waiting for the mice? Ya cats might help. More cats please.
GreenMachineVW:
Ya I see what you mean. Those wretched souls chewed at the outside high ridges on big hose. I assumed they got in via the fresh air ram. Like since my Laurel hedge had grown up against the van, they climbed from there to grill. But maybe they got in via an open door during a road trip. Seems they might've gotten as far as the front seat as that eye glass cleaning cloth would have been somewhere around there.
Thankfully, I scavenged the heat box, some hoses, vents from my '85. When did VW go to the small OD paper hoses?
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy, 15º ABA
1988 West, 50º ABA
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh
VE7TBN |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:16 am Post subject: |
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i used to try and keep the Kitters out of the vans at the shop and in my personal garage...now I keep the door open for them.
Com'on in and get those mousers. |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10333 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:30 am Post subject: |
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The neighbours cat is super friendly; like he HAS to come in and check out my house. But.... He doesn't seem like much of a mouser. Too laid back.
I used to almost chuckle when I heard of mice getting into peoples Westies. I chuckle no more!
They are a desperate beast. A while back, on the way home from the US, I camped at a small dispersed CG in WA. Cattle aside, next morning I found a dead mouse in my grey water bucket. He was that desperate!
Neil.
_________________ 1981 Westy, 15º ABA
1988 West, 50º ABA
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh
VE7TBN |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:11 am Post subject: |
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I used to have a horse that would whack mice with his hoof when they were collecting grain in his stall.
There were many a morning when I found mouse pancakes
He would be so excited to show me what he had done.
Many treats were given for such good work |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10333 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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insyncro wrote: |
I used to have a horse that would whack mice with his hoof when they were collecting grain in his stall.
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I don't know horses but....
Good horse!
Little bugger rodents also severed the ground to the dome light. Real thorough.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy, 15º ABA
1988 West, 50º ABA
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh
VE7TBN |
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Sir Sam Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2009 Posts: 1669 Location: Fort Collins Colorado!
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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Chickens like to eat mice too. _________________ '91 Carat Westy
87' Syncro + '87 Westy conversion coming soon |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10333 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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^
ha ha.
Now I need chickens, a horse, and cats.
FWIW for anyone else with a similar situation....
Pulled the dash, split the heater box No *signs* of rodents in there. Thankfully. And up behind the dash, they really seemed to favour one side of my bus over the other; most damage done there. Seems like they wanted to migrate up the frame beside the windshield. Hence the + & - dome lights being chewed.
Can't speak highly enough of taking what you can from a given parts van. NEVER thought I'd need these hoses and even a plastic elbow! Wish I'd pulled both big hoses but I can repair the p-side hose. And ya I could've duct taped stuff up but since I had the parts.....
I didn't pull the wiper washer hose from the donor, but I'm sure that's an easy thing to find.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy, 15º ABA
1988 West, 50º ABA
Vanagon VAG GAS engine swap Google Group:
https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh
VE7TBN |
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Royb Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2008 Posts: 228 Location: Sierra Foothills
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 5:16 am Post subject: |
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We've had the same problem with ground squirrels eating the wiring of work trucks. Looking into some trapping and maybe spraying the engines with some kinda of yucky deterrent made for pets? My first thought was pepper spray, but that probably would end badly for a driver or mechanic. _________________ 1991 Westy |
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Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1518
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:16 am Post subject: |
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Someone told me that rodents hate the smell of drier sheets. I am not sure if that is true or just an urban legend, but they are cheap so maybe it is worth leaving a few around your van. _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:23 am Post subject: |
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Gauche1968 wrote: |
Someone told me that rodents hate the smell of drier sheets. I am not sure if that is true or just an urban legend, but they are cheap so maybe it is worth leaving a few around your van. |
My Mom the herbalist says lavender and pennyroyal essences can deter them from making a nest.
Some of those dryer sheet smells would keep me out of the van too |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:41 am Post subject: |
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would the OP show a photo of where the vermin got into his van? I am not so sure from the description of where they entered in the grill/ram air area??? I certainly will seal that up on my van, but i dont know where you are talking about.
thanks
PS cats can be vermin, scratched paint, torn interiors, cat piss in the interior if the window got left down, (worse than mouse pee in smell and volume) some cats love to pee on chrome hubcaps, and that pee corrodes the hudcap, right thru the chrome. car covers shredded, stained.
the cat dont come back no more |
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