Acorns in my roof...

[Stage7]

I'm not sure if anyone else is experiencing this but I appear to have had a rodent of some type crawl up into the roof of my truck between the headliner and outer aluminum shell and stash some acorns or something like that. Every time I turn on a curve they roll around from one side to the other and it is driving my nuts, no pun intended. I don't know how to access the area without doing a major headliner removal and was wondering if anyone else is dealing with this?

 

[Esquire]

This reminds me of the story when a pirate walked into a bar with a steering wheel attached to the front of his pants. One of the bar patrons noticed this and told the pirate about the steering wheel on his pants. The pirate said, "yes, I know. It's been driving me nuts...."

 

[cvx5832LC]

If there’s a sunroof on this LC, the top side of the retractable liner has a channel that would facilitate a roundish anything to move side to side without falling. This would be the first place I’d look if I had the issue you described, especially if you shuttle little humans around.

 

[b407driver]

Is there something specific that makes you think it's acorns rather than manufacturing detritus of some sort?

 

[trek805]

that's nuts!!

 

[Stage7]

Is there something specific that makes you think it's acorns rather than manufacturing detritus of some sort?

We live in the country and have chipmunks everywhere. There has been no noise until the other day when I parked it overnight near a rock wall that appears to be a chipmunk haven. It was just one object rolling around up there and I parked it in the same spot again the next night and now there are three or four objects rolling around. I have no way of knowing what they actually are but I know there is a cooling shaft of sorts for the hybrid battery. I will be taking it to a body shop or contacting my dealer to remove the headliner to remove and rectify the situation. I thought at first it might be a nut, as in nut and bolt, that came loose but the added amount of things rolling around makes me think it's a critter stashing a winter store.

 

[Stage7]

 

[PC3]

My neighbor's elderly mother lives with her, and the mom only drives one to two times per week. She had a problem where chipmunks infiltrated her car and stored hundreds of acorns in her glove box - kinda funny unless it is your car. Until you have a mechanic check it out, you'll never know - could also be something loose above the headliner. But if it turns out to be chipmunks, I'd put out traps or poison around the LC. They are like mice in that they can get in through relatively small openings (water drainage, air vents, etc.). Red squirrels are bad as well. Good luck. That's frustrating with a new car.

 

[Stage7]

My neighbor's elderly mother lives with her, and the mom only drives one to two times per week. She had a problem where chipmunks infiltrated her car and stored hundreds of acorns in her glove box - kinda funny unless it is your car. Until you have a mechanic check it out, you'll never know - could also be something loose above the headliner. But if it turns out to be chipmunks, I'd put out traps or poison around the LC. They are like mice in that they can get in through relatively small openings (water drainage, air vents, etc.). Red squirrels are bad as well. Good luck. That's frustrating with a new car.

Yeah, I've had that happen to my 4Runner when we first moved onto our rural property when we lived in Northern California. They had set up shop behind my glove box. Didn't know about it until I changed the cabin air filter. I unfortunately am in a rental with no garage until our home is finished with the refurbishes which won't be until late summer, early fall of 2025. The problem is they like to chew on things like electrical wiring and what not. Major PITA to deal with.

 

[Esquire]

We live in the country and have chipmunks everywhere. There has been no noise until the other day when I parked it overnight near a rock wall that appears to be a chipmunk haven. It was just one object rolling around up there and I parked it in the same spot again the next night and now there are three or four objects rolling around. I have no way of knowing what they actually are but I know there is a cooling shaft of sorts for the hybrid battery. I will be taking it to a body shop or contacting my dealer to remove the headliner to remove and rectify the situation. I thought at first it might be a nut, as in nut and bolt, that came loose but the added amount of things rolling around makes me think it's a critter stashing a winter store.

In all seriousness, rattles on any vehicle are extremely annoying. I have found the price of the vehicle makes no difference when it comes to initial rattles right from the factory. I also anticipate a rattle or two after delivery and they get taken care of by the dealer.

The angry rodent issues certainly raise issues. Boats and airplanes suffer the same fate when they sit for extended periods of time. Bird's nests also can become problematic.

In all likelihood, you likely have a rattle in the headliner like I did. Run it into the dealer and have them check it out.

 

[Stage7]

In all seriousness, rattles on any vehicle are extremely annoying. I have found the price of the vehicle makes no difference when it comes to initial rattles right from the factory. I also anticipate a rattle or two after delivery and they get taken care of by the dealer.

The angry rodent issues certainly raise issues. Boats and airplanes suffer the same fate when they sit for extended periods of time. Bird's nests also can become problematic.

In all likelihood, you likely have a rattle in the headliner like I did. Run it into the dealer and have them check it out.

It's more than a rattle. There are objects rolling around up there. I'm taking it into the dealer today to find out what's going on up there.

 

[Stage7]

Well it turns out it was indeed acorns from a critter and just like typical dealer service they are going to hang on to my truck for at least a week to drop the headliner and run a diagnostics to make sure that nothing else was damaged like chewed wires etc. I probably won't see my truck until next Monday. The good news is that my insurance covers it. But, what an absolute PITA.

 

[FJimbo]

Make a peppermint oil/water dilution in a spray bottle and spray your engine, undercarriage, anywhere rodents can get into your vehicle. They hate the smell of it and will stay away.

 

[Stage7]

Make a peppermint oil/water dilution in a spray bottle and spray your engine, undercarriage, anywhere rodents can get into your vehicle. They hate the smell of it and will stay away.

I will try that before I go completely postal on the chipmunks.

 

[Colorado]

Well it turns out it was indeed acorns from a critter and just like typical dealer service they are going to hang on to my truck for at least a week to drop the headliner and run a diagnostics to make sure that nothing else was damaged like chewed wires etc. I probably won't see my truck until next Monday. The good news is that my insurance covers it. But, what an absolute PITA.

How did the critter get in there? I've heard that a mouse, chipmunk, etc can get its entire body through any hole its head will fit in, but where is there a gap big enough for that? Or for an, acorn?

Did you leave it parked with the windows open, so that a chipmunk was able to get inside your car . . . several times? Or, if your windows were closed, could it have come in through the firewall?

 

[Stage7]

How did the critter get in there? I've heard that a mouse, chipmunk, etc can get its entire body through any hole its head will fit in, but where is there a gap big enough for that? Or for an, acorn?

Did you leave it parked with the windows open, so that a chipmunk was able to get inside your car . . . several times? Or, if your windows were closed, could it have come in through the firewall?

I have no idea how it got in there but I hope I find out and come up with a solution for keeping them out in the future. The estimate to deal with it is $1,100 or more depending on damage if any or urine and excrement.

 

[TLC]

The peppermint spray definitely works. I had chipmunks living in the air filter box on my wife’s car and chewing the wires on my kids car.

I sprayed peppermint oil all around and stuck a couple of these under the hood:

Amazon.com

The problem (chipmunk) went away

 

[McCloud_Rainbow]

The peppermint spray definitely works. I had chipmunks living in the air filter box on my wife’s car and chewing the wires on my kids car.

I sprayed peppermint oil all around and stuck a couple of these under the hood:

Amazon.com

The problem (chipmunk) went away

I’ve used these before too for rats nesting under my hood. When the stuff runs out I open the lid and fill it with cottonballs soaked in Peppermint Essential Oil. It seems to keep them away, but you need to replenish the peppermint oil at least weekly.

 

[Stage7]

This see

The peppermint spray definitely works. I had chipmunks living in the air filter box on my wife’s car and chewing the wires on my kids car.

I sprayed peppermint oil all around and stuck a couple of these under the hood:

Amazon.com

The problem (chipmunk) went away

Thanks, this seems easier than setting up a shotgun station.