rodent infestation in the spare tire well
 

Mice are getting into the spare tire compartment. The service techs tore things apart and placed a screen over the pressure relief port that is hidden behind the bumper, but the mice are still getting in.

I'm taking the car back in to the garage this week, and hopefully a more thorough examination will reveal where the access is located.

I'm thinking a body plug or similar is missing in the rear section, but have never seen a stripped HHR, so have no idea where to focus the search.

I'd like to advise the techs, so I'm hoping someone here can provide a suggestion or two, or perhaps some useful photos or diagrams.

Thanks in advance.

Hopefully no rust holes ,

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...40cda4ad48.png
There are holes and plugs , here’s an exploded view of rear sheet metal

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...902df3d35.jpeg
Can’t see much here

Just get the car on a lift and start looking. There are several rubber body plugs on the under carriage floor pan. It will most likely be easy to spot where the little critters have gnawed an access hole.
Take a picture when you find it and post it here.

There are 2 ports behind the bumper, supposed to be a rubber flap over them.

I hate rodents in my car...

Thanks all. I'll pass along the posted images and suggestions to the techs

Yeah they plan on hoisting it up. My money is still on a missing body plug.

The service manager said there was a port, but perhaps he was unaware there are two.

I stopped the critters from access to the cabin filter area by screening off the windshield wiper arm ports in the facia. I also screened off the drain valve and the direct access hole to the cabin air filter, in case they got by the windshield wiper arm screens.

Screened off the engine air filter port years ago.

I guess GM never heard of mice :/

Mice are really wreaking havoc here this year. They actually chewed a hole in the pump house wall, creating a huge mess with the insulation. I bombed those suckers with an anti-rodent smoke grenade. Shame I can't do the same with the car.

Wow. Sounds like you have a serious rodent problem. I got the optional "rodent eliminator" when I bought my SS 9 years ago.
Here is the updated version aka Copper Kitty.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c77aca0781.jpg

No rust. The thing is very well undercoated, and is regularly hoisted and serviced

I'll definitely have pics to post once this issue is resolved

A cat would be welcome, but the odd stray seems disinclined to hang around, even though Zeppelin likes cats -- they just don't seem to realize that!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...6c7f82893a.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f9c3e897a.jpeg
Nacho is our mouser, he don’t need no stinking mice!