Engine runs smooth, very responsive to the slightest touch but if I rev hard in neutral, on the down revs it would stutter and sometimes stall. The engine idles rough occasionally. The previous owner told me that on his farm where he kept the zed, mice was an occasional problem. So began opening the airbox, lo and behold.... The ducting ports on the airbox, at first it appeared to me they had been mashed with a screwdriver but googling around on the net, it seems these are infact typical mice chewing patterns. I'm now also wondering if there are any other filters I should check for, like the aircon filters? Having said that, google suggests that the airbox seems like the most common place for mice because of the larger opening, I'm not sure how big an opening (if any) is there for the aircon? Started cleaning the MAF with CRC MAF cleaner, hopefully that will also help with the occasional rough idle. EDIT: By the way, the air filters did an absolutely amazing job at keeping this fluff out because the inside of the airbox looks like factory condition, no dust or residue whatsoever! ...Could just be normal though?
Wow, if that's what the air filter looks like I imagine the whole car could do with a going over. Electrical terminals cleaned, new oil and filter, fuel filter etc.
Yeah, thanks! I did have a look, oil levels are all good and clear. Fuel filter is good. Electrics are all good, I haven't noticed anything unusual but I'm now wondering about the ac cabin filter. I got someone to inspect all the wiring harnesses in the bay and surprisingly they all looked okay so hopefully they only found a home in the airbox.
Quick sell them at the chinese markets as special wonton mice ancient recipe long lost in time too cure everything from zits too mother in laws .
When I was living out past Gympie I noticed the sound deadening material under the bonnet looked like it was being chewed. Went for a drive one day and noticed a dead rat bleeding from its mouth where the car had been parked... got the sucker. Thing is though, rat was gone when I had returned just 20 minutes later. Something must have eaten it.
I always leave my bonnet up in my shed as I was told it tends to discourage mice . They bastards like to eat electrical cable for some reason. Also as kids we used to set rabbit traps near a creek and a few times we would return to find rats the almost as big as rabbits caught by their legs and the bastards would chew of their own legs to get out .
I had rats/mice eat my sparkplug leads on one of my cars. They didn't go for anything else which was a good thing.
