DEAR SUN SPOTS: You always seem to have the correct answers and I need some help.

I just returned from my regularly scheduled oil change and the mechanic found that mice had been in my vehicle. Long story short, they caused some damage and this cost me more than my usual fee. Any advice from other Sun Spotters is appreciated. The mechanic said not to bother with moth balls as they do not work. — No name, no town

ANSWER: Unfortunately, this is a common problem and it doesn’t seem to matter much whether you store your vehicle in your garage or just have it parked in the driveway or on the street. Mice, squirrels and other critters like to cozy up underneath a vehicle, build nests, birth offspring, and nibble away at important wires and cables.

If you have comprehensive insurance coverage, it should cover damage caused by rodents and other noncollision incidents.

If you do have a garage, it will help to be sure all cracks and crevices where varmints can squeeze in are closed tight with foam and insulation. Use good weather stripping around doors and windows and set traps, being mindful of small children and pets.

Don’t store bird seed, people food, paper products, anything made with fabric or stuffing, or garbage not enclosed in locked trash cans, in the space either.

Keep your vehicle free of food debris, wrappers and clutter. Use rodent repellents made specifically for vehicles such as ultrasonic devices or spray products (that will need to be reapplied periodically). Try peppermint oil, scented dryer sheets, or Irish Spring soap. Just be sure to put the pieces of soap in an area of the vehicle where they won’t get too hot and melt. Sprinkling cayenne pepper around your vehicle may also help.

Consumer Reports recommends a rodent-deterrent tape, an electrical tape treated with super-spicy capsaicin, which Honda describes as “the stuff that puts the fire in a bowl of five-alarm chili.” The tape (part No. 4019-2317) comes in a 20-meter roll, about 22 yards, and is available through Honda dealers and online for $43.

Look into pest control for your property if needed, inspect your vehicle often for nesting materials, droppings, scratches, and paw prints, and drive it frequently. If you don’t drive often, at least go out and start the vehicle and/or move it. Make some noise by slamming the doors and even honking the horn.

Readers, how have you handled this predicament?

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