# Car help!! not what you think....

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-help-not-what-you-think/113564>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 12, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-help-not-what-you-think/113564 "2002-06-12T01:55:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Lyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyra)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-help-not-what-you-think/113564/1 "2002-06-12T01:55:14Z")

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I have a problem. Squirrels continue to build nest in the A/C duct of my car. What can I put in my car that won’t damage the A/C, but will get rid of them? I had to go to the shop twice this month, and it is annoying. I have a Honda CRV and I live in a rural area.

Thanks for any advice.

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**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-help-not-what-you-think/113564/2 "2002-06-12T03:00:32Z")

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Do you mean actually _in_ the duct, or nestled amongst the duct? If it’s the first, I’d suggest putting a wire mesh over the opening. If it’s the second, you should be able to buy some critter repellent at a garden center or Home Depot. You might also try mothballs.

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**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-help-not-what-you-think/113564/3 "2002-06-12T03:19:31Z")

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Mothballs? Ewwww. Have you ever _smelled_ mothballs??

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**Author:** ![Lure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@Lure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lure)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-help-not-what-you-think/113564/4 "2002-06-12T03:52:55Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Mothballs? Ewwww. Have you ever smelled mothballs?

I never got that close to them,they always seem to be flying around lights.How do you get them to hold still? :)🙂

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**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-help-not-what-you-think/113564/5 "2002-06-12T13:17:39Z")

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Regarding the topic… it was what I thought actually. Honest.

Do I win a prize? 😉

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**Author:** ![Lyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Lyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyra)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-help-not-what-you-think/113564/6 "2002-06-12T23:10:35Z")

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Would rat poison hurt my car in anyway? I just don’t want it to clog anything. Or is there some scent that squirrels hate? This has cost me $498 so far…

Note to all PETA activists: I don’t kill animals if I can help it. As long as any animal doesn’t come in my house or my car, I am fine. Even rats, spiders, and snakes are OK, as long as they live outdoors in their habitat, not in my space.