F-typers,

I was just saying to DJS that we should all be grateful for the Jag's in our lives... but they can sure drive us nuts as well (if we let them).
I had to make some lemonade out of bad situation with my newly purchased 2017 coupe.
Get some turkey and cranberry sauce and pull up a chair.

My first hint at an issue was from the dim dome lights... which were full of bird seed.
Ok.. so my recently acquired F-type had a mouse issue, so I had better start with some mouse traps, and then plan to pull down the headliner.
The below photo of the mouse trap by the Jaguar logo on the floor mat was rather ironic... a big hit with my family and co-workers.
I suffered much ridicule and bad jokes that attempted to affront my manhood and choice of vehicle... but I would prevail in the end.


Dim dome lights, from bird seeds

An ironic photo of a mouse trap next to the Jaguar logo

Next step: investigate the process to pull the headliner. I downloaded a PDF copy of the repair manual on the forums. Thank You!
The directions were pretty good, as I only broke one clip through the whole process.
Here are some notes:

• follow the PDF manual down into the various sub-sections, often going a few layers deep
• begin the process with the doors and hatches all open, and windows rolled down... before disconnecting the battery for the first time.
• the battery will need to be connected and disconnected a few times to avoid airbag deployment and also support moving seats back and forth.
• there are about 8 different types of Torx bolts (T15-T50) for all of the bits and bobs.. so keep them all straight with a cardboard bolt board
• all of the pillar / roof / rear interior panels have to come out, so some leather cleaner and window cleaner also come in handy before re-installation
• Only one side window (C-pillar) needs to come out to extract the headliner from the car.
• enlist the help of an other person to extract/install the headliner as it is somewhat fragile and rather large

Here are some photos of the mouse hotel eviction process.
Final tally was about 8 nests and food hordes.


Dog food in the A-pillar...


What happens when you drink too much beer after dinner....


Mouse hotels below the left hand side carpet.



Small game hunting in the rear haunches...



Target acquired...

Happy Thanksgiving,
Herminator

 

Ouch. Unless car was sold as-is, you might have a case to go after seller.

 

SinF,

Yeah... well... I wanted a BRG 6-speed, so I purchased it sight-unseen from a dealer in Allentown, PA, who took it back after a 3 year lease... so I purchased it As-Is.

The dealer was OK to deal with, but I don’t feel like picking this mouse fight.
I’d rather save it up for a clutch and flywheel repair under warrantee.

Herminator

 

First Happy Thanksgiving. I commend you on your skill set to tackle this project. You have now become the expert and go to person for all questions relating to headliner and assorted panel removal. After seeing what you have done I immediately put scented “bounce” in my interior, engine compartment and boot. I also have mice/rat poison throughout my garage. I also have peppermint oil in trays under my jag that should be refreshed. Again good luck with your project which looks like you are well on your way to evicting unwanted guests. You have exactly the jag you wanted BRG, tan interior performance seats and not the least important a manual transmission. Who has it better than you!
Frank MY 16 S coupe storm grey with brogue interior ivory stitching performance seats

 

Ive inquired before, but nobody responded. I have never had a critter in any my garaged cars or even seen evidence of one in the garage. Is there something I’m missing or should be looking for. I’ve read all kinds of winterizing threads (I lived in Florida for 15 years so it wasn’t a concern) but the only thing I do is fill the tires with a few more psi, add fuel stabilizer, and park it straight. What’s with the critters?

 

Gg,
I think having critters in one’s car is a combination of environment and opportunity.
My 2017 F-type was loaded with bird seed and dog food, so the mice had access to bounties of plenty in close proximity to the parked car.
I also think my car had a nesting pair which then gave rise to a family dynasty, based on the spread of the nests, and the evidence of relative home improvements.

I do have a 10x20 storage bin rented for the winter, but I don’t know what is stored in the garages next to me.
So I will do the standard mouse traps around my car and check on it weekly.

Herminator

 

Frank,
First, I do like the Brogue leather color... very nice.
Yes, I can speak up when others want to dig into their interior. I felt like the repair Manual was pretty good, but I wish some of the illustrations were better and more details about the motivation behind the recommended steps. I may propose modifying a few panels in order to reduce the number of steps to get the job done.
I found that there was ample nesting materials inside the car for the critters, and the nest locations were far from the normal interior space (foot wells and passenger space), so you really need to put poison outside the car and traps by the tires.
I am still not quite sure how the critters climbed into my car, but I suspect it was by a missing/chewed moisture plug in the aluminum body somewhere. Perhaps manual shifter boot?

Herminator

 

Some other winterising actions I take when bedding it down for the slumber include putting dryer sheets on each wheel, in the trunk, the floors of the interior and inside the engine bay and tail pipes ( don’t forget to remove them when starting it up in the spring). Also some traps around the perimeter of the car to add a little extra deterrent.

 

It is unlikely to go your way as too much time passed on what dealer and JLR view as a wearable item. If it wasn't already done, you are likely out of luck.

On a positive note, with 2017 car you have a very good chance to not have Gen1 clutch.

Last but not least, if you don't bring it up now with dealer, any electrical problems mice caused will be impossible to claim. I strongly recommend you at least create a record with selling dealer that this happened.

 

Probably crawled through the re-circ door. If you check your pollen filter you may find mouse damage there too

 

Another one of my pet peeves. That's the problem with all the bleeding hearts out there who feel compelled to feed the stray cats and other animals in the neighborhood. They leave food out intended for the cats, but literally more of it goes to the rats, mice and possums than to the cats. You'd think attracting the feral cats to your home, they'd kill all the smaller critters, but they're not hungry enough to hunt. They're like humans, they hunt a little bit for sport, but when its too cold or the mouse is too fast, they can give up very easily because they know there's a bowl of food waiting for them at Mrs. Catlover's house and it probably tastes a lot better than a raw mouse anyway. And all my neighbors with dogs leave bowls of food out on the back porch and the rats and mice eat the leftovers. And the cat-people leave their garage doors cracked open a few inches overnight so their own cat can get in along with every other creature until there's too many and some have to move out of the attic, becoming homeless, living in their car, YOUR car.

I went to great lengths to make my building mouse-proof, but after 18 years, I found a rat among spare parts on a shelf inside and then found where he'd chewed the metal siding to enlarge a gap. Unbelievable how tenacious they can be, chewing on metal. Its your neighbors who are responsible for these critters. We've obliterated their natural habitat and there's nothing here in the suburbs for them to eat or anywhere for them to live besides what we humans provide. If people would just quit feeding them and quit housing them, they'd go away. I'll step down off my soap box now....

 

SinF - copy that... log a complaint (so far I found no electrical damage, as there seemed to be plenty of soft foam and food for the critters to focus on)
Rummy - copy , I will check the pollen filter today.
Phil - agreed... and will do my best to ward off future incursions

 

Rummy,
I think you nailed it.
Here is a photo of the pollen filter area...
1) the nesting materials here look more like leaves, cardboard and cotton...
2) the pollen filter is new, so someone recently changed it and saw the mouse damage...
3) once the mice chew past the pollen filter they have free reign to the ventilation system...

Looks like I will be digging and cleaning for a while more. Oh well, that is why I call it my "hobby car."

Herminator

Pollen filter cavity with mouse nesting materials

 

Ive seen this more than you would expect. They love Mercedes wiring due to having corn starch wire sheathing. Seen a couple Jag ones but only one other like yours but in an F-Pace

 

Modern biodegradable wire insulation is YUMMY to varmits. Honda sells tape/wire insulation or wrap that they think is YUKKY.


If you click that link, Amazon 'suggests' other tapes that are good for keeping critters out of garages by discouraging them from entering buildings.

After all is said & done, though, regular use of the car is the best strategy IMO.

 

Herminator, I feel your pain. My XE had a mouse nest in the engine bay (mice had already vacated but had chewed the climate control wiring, leaving me with ZERO heat except for the heated steering wheel on a freezing day in January). A good portion of the engine bay had to be removed to repair the (soy) wiring and get all the nesting out. My insurance covered the cost (less deductible). I have been giving the neighborhood cats treats when I see them so they keep the mice away, added peppermint sachets and dryer sheets, and drive the cars often. I will be adding the tape (thanks, Carbuff2)... I was also ridiculed by folks who thought mice were terrified of cats. Good luck with the cleaning!

 

This might seem obvious but the dog food and birdseed had to come from somewhere. Did you have those items stored in vulnerable containers in your garage? I had extra dog food stored in a plastic container and the rats chewed through the container and had a feast. These rats were too big to get inside the car but I've had problems with tiny field mice in the past.

 

The OP said the food came with the car when it was delivered ....

 

The ex spousal unit used to store bags of birdseed, dog food and cat food on the garage floor. Until I forced her to start putting the stuff in sealed rodent proof containers I used to have the same thing happen to the cars parked next to the food and in my tool boxes as well as anywhere else the stuff could be stashed by mice. The sad thing was we also had two apparently useless cats.

Since her departure nothing that could even be remotely considered food by any critter is ever stored in the garage.

 

Mouse trap next to the Jaguar logo... now that's funny ****!