If you were a rodent...

where would you go to die in a '88 328GTS?

This is my fathers car. Car is in WA state and me & my tools are here in Orange county. I am a 355 owner, reasonably wrench-handy with my car after all these years..but ive never taken a 328 apart at all. Im going to see dad this weekend and want to take a crack at solving this in the limited time i have.

The stench only comes when the car is moving & air is moving through. Otherwise you dont smell it. If any 328 owners/wrenches can tell me where & how to start looking, i/we would appreciate it!

 

Look around the front firewall— brake master cyl/booster etc. I have had several cars where this was their home.

 

Had a packrat take up residence for a short time in my old 84 GTB QV. Pull the cover in the left corner trunk area and look under the control modules.

 

I had mice front and back. Pull the boot (trunk) seal off, pull out the Christmas tree clips, and take the entire carpet out. You'll be able to see through the fibreglass if they've nested in the paper wadding heat insulation. Pull the rear tray out in the front where the spare is (7-8 self tappers) to expose the heater pipes, brake booster, and air ducting. They can eat through the fabric-over metal-spiral ducting and get... anywhere - the bastards can use it like a super highway. Check way down between the guard and the side of the footwell - ask me how I know

 

I would check the 4" hoses coming from the blower motors, lots of room and would fit your symptoms .

 

I had mices in the boot and in the glove box! They were well trained, I think there were eight of them.
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Very common. Hose usually has a tear somewhere big enough for them.

 

Thank you all, truly appreciated!

Are said 4” blower hoses accessible under the frunk liner? Any direction is appreciated since I’d like to be in and out.
Thank you


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Never mind..I see this ? was answered in an above response.
I’ll post back after I’ve had a go at it.
Thank y’all again!



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A GT4 and not 328, but after detailing, I found a small nest in the hole where the frunk “stud” sits.

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Just to be clear, if you can get under the front of the car you can see part of them where they connect to the blowers, one on each side. Otherwise you need to drill out the rivets that hold the spare tire housing in place and remove it to allow you to see the full run.

As a test, turn on the heater fans with the vents open and see if you smell the smell.

Lester

 

Also, you are not looking for big holes, you are looking for holes. Even if the hole is small, they will get in.
Peter

 

Well...
I removed wads of “nesting material” from under master cylinder and A pillars. There was also the same smelly material behind rear aspect of (front) fender liners going back into rocker panel recessed. Smell is gone! Never found a carcass.
Thank you to all!
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Rodent Control is a very serious business that I entrust to a Professional; he has results...

Rgds
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Also be careful if the droppings are fresh. Hantavirus is no joke. According to the CDC the virus is dead in a few hours exposed to sunlight and under a week indoors. While rare, this virus has a 40% death rate.

 

Well I never found a carcass but I can see where the little bu**ers went out to eat every night. They seem to like black rubber...!
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My picture is a repost, but does always fit that rodent topic. My rodent control soldiers. Very efficient. I have talked to other folks, who hate cats, since they have the reputation of paint scratchers. Oh well!

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Best from Germany
Martin

 

My cat once went 'missing' for 3 days, then I went in the garage - and there he was; I went "ARTY! So there you are!" He thought, Dad, at last!' I went "You're on my Ferrari's roof", he thought 'Oh-Oh, I'm on his Ferrari's roof'.... and then there was a Wile-E-Coyote moment as his paws scrabbled to get grip on the shiny roof, followed by a flash as he bolted out the door - leaving a bunch of scratches on said Ferrari (400GT) roof.

He was forgiven once the mess had been polished out.

 

They seem to enjoy life inside your engine bay. So why should you find a carcass

Best from Germany
Martin

 

The big tomcat that is Rodent Control Officer at my family house does this often, but I can't be mad at him: I like cats too much for that. Cats do whatever they like, they have their own agenda. Actually it is not "my" cat (in so far as a cat can be the cat of someone, it works rather the other way around: "dogs have masters, cats have valets") I don't know whose cat it is, probably from one of my neighbors; he lives mostly in the garden of the family house, but comes after a few minutes whenever I am in that house. Easy-going cat, a wonderful companion. And catches lots of mice...


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I was told by a friend that a specific new model of Renault has cables and isolations made with a new material that is somehow (don't ask me how, 'cos I don't know) incorporating some form of corn, and that rodents are delighted with it...

Rgds

 

Given the fact, that such an idea comes from Renault -I assume PSA follows similar paths- it does not really surprise me
And oh yes, I know of different 'biocompatible' plastics with corn ingredients.
I'm sure the time will come, when parts are no more working we won't scrap them but eat them

Best
Martin

 

Starting with the timing belts...so you could have a "Timing Belts fricassée" every two years; or three years, or five years...
Rgds

 

A Ghost Buster too!?

 

I heard some manufacturers are using an insulating material that is soy based. A rabbit made a feast of the engine wiring harness in my 2001 Dodge Durango. Waskaly wabbits!