How to keep animals out of your engine compartment...
 

I just noticed my wife's Mazda3 has a pile of plants under the hood from some kind of critter hanging out in there at night. No wires chewed yet, but I want to stop it before it gets that far. I've read that mothballs or ammonia will keep animals away. I was thinking of just throwing some rat poison around the parking spot. Has anyone ever used any of these methods and do they work? Or any other suggestions? Thanks.

I'd avoid rat poison, seems a cruel way to kill an animal just trying to find a warm place to call home. There's got to be some easy way to deter them like the mothballs you mentioned.. It's a common problem, try googling to see what's out there.

edit-
just found this after a quick search. mimics predatory scents.
http://www.critter-repellent.com/?so...FQsSMwod40UAAw

Prop the hood open if the car is not going to be driven for awhile. Critters don't like the light.

Definitely don't use rat poison, especially because it's probably not rats. More likely it's a squirrel.

Last thing you want to do is poison someone's dog or cat.

i say use 2x the recommended amount of rat poison.

fuck it, use the whole box.

If I were you I would get fox piss from your local sports store that sells hunting equipment. Apply liberally

I've had mice eat through a wire harness and completely steal the firewall mat and repurpose it as a home on top of the V-8 engine in my Silverado.

Go buy a rubber snake and put it under your car when parked. Mice hate snakes.

douse your engine compartment in radiator fluid

Couldn't you put some cayenne pepper in there?
I've read that animals (particularly those with strong sense of smell) hate it.

Plus it'll give your drive to work that extra kick.

I was looking at an S2000 with a friend and checked to see if it had an aftermarket filter..

This was at a dealership!

That's nuts

:bellyroll:

Cotton balls soaked in pure peppermint oil (available at Whole Foods) should keep rodents away.

I'd rather know how to keep cats off my hood.