Mouse Attack!

[Matt7c]

I adjusted the tappet gaps on Sunday and after re-assembly, had just fired her up for the first time in about 3 weeks. I was kneeling by the engine compartment drivers side (UK) when movement caught my eye and I was amazed to see a mouse scurrying toward me on the flat bodywork just before the wind screen. It had come from around the corner, so I assume that it came out of the door. Presumably it had been startled by the noise of the engine and come running, only to be startled again by me staring back at it.

I chased it around the engine compartment and out of the garage.
But then I got to wondering where it might have been, what it might have eaten, which wires will now short and burn, how many friends are still aboard... Theres no obvious sign of damage and its always possible that it had only just arrived...

Anyone out there that can offer words of wisdom on results from mouse attacks on the humble Elan?

Matt

[1964 S1]

I've got mouse/car stories out the kazoo including a "you don't even want to know how" killing in the heater blower "mouse" cage of an Integra. Look for any gathering of soft tufted/chewed stuff, (carpet backing? shop rags? yesterday's newspaper?) golf ball sized or bigger, in under the dash and around and in the heater core shroud... They're looking for warmth more than wiring components, not to say sharpening their teeth on the red wires is out of the question. I use a Havaheart trap with peanut butter to eliminate the rascals and take 'em to ritzy neighborhoods and set 'em free.

[steveww]

I use a Havaheart trap with peanut butter

I use a cat

[1964 S1]

Hi Steve, what does the ostrich think of the cat? Eric

[tdafforn]

I too have had a resident mouse this year..
Brand new atlas shredded
Rat poison deployed
no more mouse!
Cheers
Tim

[berni29]

Hi

I keep finding acorns (only a couple or so at a time) in my pedal box, underneath the master cylinders. I broke a +2 that had an unreal number of acorns in the nosecone, and air filter trunking. It also had loads of snails (dead) in the chassis under the propshaft near the back.

Berni

[1964 S1]

Picnic locations.

[tdafforn]

So not only is the Lotus Elan an Iconic Automotive Classic, but it is also an ecosystem of international importance!

Tim

[1964 S1]

Yes, but any car from any country that sits long enough to house mammals is an Ecosystem. On this subject a Lotus is no more important than, say, a Vega or Trabant.

[elansprint71]

Last week I received some plastic gloves from Screwfix (intended for use when washing cars), left them on my workbench. Two days later a mouse had made a meal of them.
Just purchased one of those ultra-sonic things to get rid of them (the mice, not the gloves).




Pete

[ianf]

64 S1,

You will probably find that a Trabant is a more important ecosystem having a bodyshell constructed of re-cycled paper!

Mouse heaven.

Ian

[Matt7c]

I don't know about Trabby's being ecosystems, but I set fire to one once and can report that they make darn good bonfires!

[Matt7c]

PS. No laws were broken!

[tdafforn]

Rodents probably like lotuses more as its easier for them to make mouse holes in fiberglass than than sheet steel ......
cheers
tim