Squirrel in engine!!!
10-13-2008, 12:05 PM
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Squirrel in engine!!!
O.k. I have 2 questions.... I was trying to start my car yesterday and I flooded the engine.... I let it sit for about 5 hrs. and tried again (may have flooded it again) put it on a trailer for the Mazda service place. They told me I did flood it but there was a squirrel stuck between the intake expander and engine. They were going to charge 1000.00 for removing the squirrel. Husband had a small heart attack and said that we can remove the F***ing squirrel. Has anyone had a problem like this??? First will my flooded engine be ok?? and how hard is it to get to the intake expander??? PLEASE HELP!!! Have teenage son and ALWAYS BROKE!!!!!!
10-13-2008, 12:11 PM
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The most damage of a flooded engine may be fouled plugs but really nothing major. As for the intake expander...if you removed the upper intake manifold you should have enough room to remove the squirrel.
10-13-2008, 12:14 PM
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I had a problem with squirrels and my last vehicle in the winter. They ate through insulation and started on a nest.
Somewhat related, I also have a heck of a time keeping mice out of my lawn garden tractors during the winter months.
The best deterrent I've come up with vehicle wise is running it daily. Don't give them a chance to nest.
With the tractors it's a never ending battle due to the downtime they get during the winter. I tend to set traps in the shed where I store them and keep plugging holes where they burrow in. One year the little buggers cost me a wiring harness.
Somewhat related, I also have a heck of a time keeping mice out of my lawn garden tractors during the winter months.
The best deterrent I've come up with vehicle wise is running it daily. Don't give them a chance to nest.
With the tractors it's a never ending battle due to the downtime they get during the winter. I tend to set traps in the shed where I store them and keep plugging holes where they burrow in. One year the little buggers cost me a wiring harness.
10-13-2008, 12:23 PM
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It's the accordian tube under the hood. If he got that far, there may be more damage. Air Filter, Screens (x2), MAF, .... are some of the items that could have been eaten for him to get in there. If your lucky, they are only talking about the VFAD, which sets in front & above the radiator. You have to remove the front bumper to see that. There are service manuals available on-line or available for download that can help identify the items.
The engine should be ok.
The engine should be ok.
Last edited by alnielsen; 10-13-2008 at 12:33 PM.
10-13-2008, 12:41 PM
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Removing the entire intake manifold is not an easy task. There are a lot of parts and if the squirrel did indeed get into the VFAD you would have to remove the front bumper too.
I'm not sure if you can find a rotary engine shop around your area but they would probably charge you ~1-200 to remove the intake manifold.
I'm not sure if you can find a rotary engine shop around your area but they would probably charge you ~1-200 to remove the intake manifold.
10-13-2008, 12:47 PM
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10-13-2008, 12:55 PM
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If hubby is any good with tools at all and has any mechanic ability, he should be able to get the rodent out of there whether in the intake or the VFAD. It's not that hard to get at.
He should also be able to do the plugs as well(The flooding), but he should order the plugs...........cheaper than the dealer for sure! See the link and info provided above.
He should also be able to do the plugs as well(The flooding), but he should order the plugs...........cheaper than the dealer for sure! See the link and info provided above.
10-13-2008, 01:11 PM
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Guess I got lazy before and didn't give any sites for plugs because I was considering flying out to Ark. and doing the removal and deflood for less than $1k myself. 
10-13-2008, 01:23 PM
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How in freakin heck does a squirrel get in there to begin with???. Does the intake area have to be open at some point? This is sort of a need to know for me, since I have never had it open. Just need to know if I should be worried about it, since squirrels, chipmunks and mice are rampant in my wooded neighborhood. I've had mice get into he firewall insulation and and make a nest in my cabin air filter. Any deterrents?
10-13-2008, 01:44 PM
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Examine this statement
"squirrel stuck between the intake expander and engine"
Is it possible, that this creature was just stuck(wedged) underneath the accordian tube and the area where the coils kinda sit? In other words.....it never says it was really in the intake? Sounds like they want $1k just to yank the smelly vermin out of there.
To get anywhere near the actual engine intake on the motor it would have to either eat through the accordian tube or through the box(which I don't see happening). Assuming the OEM box, and it did make it into the box, it still has the filter and screens to deal with.
I guess it could be in a totally different area...like up around the VFAD, but that's not what she wrote.
"squirrel stuck between the intake expander and engine"
Is it possible, that this creature was just stuck(wedged) underneath the accordian tube and the area where the coils kinda sit? In other words.....it never says it was really in the intake? Sounds like they want $1k just to yank the smelly vermin out of there.
To get anywhere near the actual engine intake on the motor it would have to either eat through the accordian tube or through the box(which I don't see happening). Assuming the OEM box, and it did make it into the box, it still has the filter and screens to deal with.
I guess it could be in a totally different area...like up around the VFAD, but that's not what she wrote.
Last edited by Mazurfer; 10-13-2008 at 01:47 PM.
10-13-2008, 02:12 PM
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GREAT NEWS!!! My father-in-law told them to go and F*** themselves. He got the squirrel out, and didn't have to take anything apart, but the squirrel...(he came out in many pcs.) Car runs fine... they did charge for the flooding thing. Yea... I kinda thought I was getting taken for a ride, but I didn't know any better. So A GREAT BIG thanks to all of you... It was nice to answer my questions.. Y'all are the best!!!! Seleya
10-13-2008, 02:30 PM
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Glad she's running right again.
10-13-2008, 08:08 PM
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Seriously........ask your father-in-law to describe to us just where this squirrel was. I really wanna know if it was truly in the intake itself or just where the hell it was. 
Oh yeah........and I second what Brettus says!
Oh yeah........and I second what Brettus says!
10-14-2008, 02:10 AM
#23
O.k. I have 2 questions.... I was trying to start my car yesterday and I flooded the engine.... I let it sit for about 5 hrs. and tried again (may have flooded it again) put it on a trailer for the Mazda service place. They told me I did flood it but there was a squirrel stuck between the intake expander and engine. They were going to charge 1000.00 for removing the squirrel. Husband had a small heart attack and said that we can remove the F***ing squirrel. Has anyone had a problem like this??? First will my flooded engine be ok?? and how hard is it to get to the intake expander??? PLEASE HELP!!! Have teenage son and ALWAYS BROKE!!!!!!
Husband had a small heart attack and said that we can remove the F***ing squirrel.
10-17-2008, 12:31 PM
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OK... The killer squirrel was up by the belts kinda next to some wires... If I would have taken the battery cover off and looked really close..... I would have seen a fuzzy tail that was NOT part of the motor, and saved myself some money!!! Just love them squirrels!!!!! I really do... just not in my motor!!!! Oh yea I'm gonna try to post some pics of my car later tonight...
10-17-2008, 12:42 PM
#25
OK... The killer squirrel was up by the belts kinda next to some wires... If I would have taken the battery cover off and looked really close..... I would have seen a fuzzy tail that was NOT part of the motor, and saved myself some money!!! Just love them squirrels!!!!! I really do... just not in my motor!!!! Oh yea I'm gonna try to post some pics of my car later tonight...