Let my Ranger sit for a month...

[tremorman]

Well, a 1 week trip wound up turning into a 4.5 week trip and my Ranger sat all alone in the driveway the entire time. Got home today and took her for a spin and did a quick look over and I've got 2 "issues:"

1. The interior smells super weird, I'm guessing due to mold/bacteria from the AC or something (I didn't leave anything in it that would cause a bad smell and no indications that anything got inside. Anyone have this issue before (not unique to Rangers) and thoughts on best way to solve if it doesn't go away on its own in the next few days?

2. Looks like a squirrel had a feast in my engine bay chilling on my battery...

Other than the "mess" I didn't notice any other signs of issues, no wires chewed or anything, but looking for some input on things to check closer or look out for here to ensure everything is fine. Any thoughts? Also how would you clean that out, hose, just wipe it out, something else?


Thanks and I promise this will never happen again! For what it's worth too, I wound up driving a new Bronco too for most of the month I was away -- I like the Ranger better in every single aspect.

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[DukeCanBuildit]

Well, a 1 week trip wound up turning into a 4.5 week trip and my Ranger sat all alone in the driveway the entire time. Got home today and took her for a spin and did a quick look over and I've got 2 "issues:"

1. The interior smells super weird, I'm guessing due to mold/bacteria from the AC or something (I didn't leave anything in it that would cause a bad smell and no indications that anything got inside. Anyone have this issue before (not unique to Rangers) and thoughts on best way to solve if it doesn't go away on its own in the next few days?

2. Looks like a squirrel had a feast in my engine bay chilling on my battery...

Other than the "mess" I didn't notice any other signs of issues, no wires chewed or anything, but looking for some input on things to check closer or look out for here to ensure everything is fine. Any thoughts? Also how would you clean that out, hose, just wipe it out, something else?


Thanks and I promise this will never happen again! For what it's worth too, I wound up driving a new Bronco too for most of the month I was away -- I like the Ranger better in every single aspect.

Any rodent mess should be handled with care - hantavirus is the first thing that comes to mind. I’m a freak - I vacuumed my rodent mess at the local car wash. Didn’t want that blowing around my garage the next time I used my shop vac.

Looks like he stole your engine cover.

 

[got3fords]

1. The interior smells super weird, I'm guessing due to mold/bacteria from the AC or something (I didn't leave anything in it that would cause a bad smell and no indications that anything got inside. Anyone have this issue before (not unique to Rangers) and thoughts on best way to solve if it doesn't go away on its own in the next few days?

A product like Odoban could work. I use that stuff for lots of reasons. Rarely in the Ranger but mixed properly, it makes a good odor eliminator there too.

 

[IdahoRanger]

Check your cabin filter for signs of rodent infestation.

 

[tremorman]

Check your cabin filter for signs of rodent infestation.

Good call. Had a few cabin filters lying around anyways so just swapped it out with a fresh new one. The old one was similar to what was around the battery -- acorns/debris:

Looked around at wires there too and no noticeable damage. Wonder if all that shit could be contributing to the smell...

So with that being what I found, no nests, etc. is there more that you'd do here? Or will it solve itself as it now becomes a daily driver again?

Have never in my life before now let a vehicle sit like this and have never dealt with this type of issue/infestation. So anyone who can help with next steps, I very much appreciate it.

 

[Muffin1]

If you need to leave the Ranger for an extended period ever again you may want to try mothballs in the engine bay strategically placed, even a couple on top of each tire and in open containers on the ground under your truck, not sure if this would work just thinking as i read your post,
it's a cheap try creating a 'aroma shield'.

 

[tremorman]

Drove it this morning and just swapping out the cabin filter seems to have solved the smell issue for now. Now to try to keep the squirrels/chipmunks out of the engine bay... Welcome any suggestions

 

[MountainGoat]

I'd check the lights too. They like the chew those wires and they're right in front of the battery. Might not notice until you drive at night.

 

[Rocketeer61]

Weird!

 

[OrangeStreak]

Well, a 1 week trip wound up turning into a 4.5 week trip and my Ranger sat all alone in the driveway the entire time. Got home today and took her for a spin and did a quick look over and I've got 2 "issues:"

1. The interior smells super weird, I'm guessing due to mold/bacteria from the AC or something (I didn't leave anything in it that would cause a bad smell and no indications that anything got inside. Anyone have this issue before (not unique to Rangers) and thoughts on best way to solve if it doesn't go away on its own in the next few days?

2. Looks like a squirrel had a feast in my engine bay chilling on my battery...

Other than the "mess" I didn't notice any other signs of issues, no wires chewed or anything, but looking for some input on things to check closer or look out for here to ensure everything is fine. Any thoughts? Also how would you clean that out, hose, just wipe it out, something else?


Thanks and I promise this will never happen again! For what it's worth too, I wound up driving a new Bronco too for most of the month I was away -- I like the Ranger better in every single aspect.

Did the squirrel get a charge out of that?

 

[underwhelmed]

To clear moldy smell and kill bacteria I turned the truck on, put ac on max with recirculate and sprayed Lysol near the intake on passenger side floorboard. Worked like a champ ran about a quarter can through.

 

[subquark]

Drove it this morning and just swapping out the cabin filter seems to have solved the smell issue for now. Now to try to keep the squirrels/chipmunks out of the engine bay... Welcome any suggestions

Ugh, sorry to hear about this and glad the wires are good. A squirrel or chipmunk likes my battery blanket too.

It looks like that might have slowed down, for me, a bit using anti-rodent sprays.

I use a peppermint spray and add more peppermint oil to it. I also use Granpa Gus packets.

I have some cayenne extract but have not used it yet.

I can't definitively say it does anything. They ate through two wires of my battery tender before I did all this and have yet to munch on any more.

I spray every 6 to 8 weeks and it sure makes Soupie smell pretty. =p

I plan on doing the hardware cloth mod to the air cabin filter intakes.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08GS7L34B

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007DGNC4

 

[Jamie Jack]

A squirrel ate my cable into the tailgate. $650. Never had a problem before, nor after.

 

[Strapper]

Well, a 1 week trip wound up turning into a 4.5 week trip and my Ranger sat all alone in the driveway the entire time. Got home today and took her for a spin and did a quick look over and I've got 2 "issues:"

1. The interior smells super weird, I'm guessing due to mold/bacteria from the AC or something (I didn't leave anything in it that would cause a bad smell and no indications that anything got inside. Anyone have this issue before (not unique to Rangers) and thoughts on best way to solve if it doesn't go away on its own in the next few days?

2. Looks like a squirrel had a feast in my engine bay chilling on my battery...

Other than the "mess" I didn't notice any other signs of issues, no wires chewed or anything, but looking for some input on things to check closer or look out for here to ensure everything is fine. Any thoughts? Also how would you clean that out, hose, just wipe it out, something else?


Thanks and I promise this will never happen again! For what it's worth too, I wound up driving a new Bronco too for most of the month I was away -- I like the Ranger better in every single aspect.

I'd bet it's nice and it could have happened the day you left. You just never know when they will venture inside. There are posts regarding using mesh to keep them out. The smell would likely be the urine.

 

[9zero1790]

damn rodents... i wonder if chicken wire over the intake and any hidey holes would work

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