# Need Help Identifying Part Found in Mouse Nest in Car. (aka: Best Sunday Ever) **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 29, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212 "2012-10-29T01:27:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![feeniepop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/feeniepop/32/5185_2.png) [@feeniepop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/feeniepop)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/1 "2012-10-29T01:27:33Z")
Hi there. I need help identifying a random loose part that I found on my engine block. My van has not wanted to start recently so I was checking around for loose battery cables, spark plug wires etc and found what I can only assume is a small animal’s nest and this metal part: ![](http://i48.tinypic.com/2wocfa9.jpg) ![](http://i46.tinypic.com/3bfpv.jpg) ![](http://i47.tinypic.com/2zecq4m.jpg) The part was sitting in the nest…and honestly I don’t have a clue as to what it could be. I’ll take any advice I can get! The van in question is a Chevrolet G20 3/4 Ton SportVan ---
**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/2 "2012-10-29T01:49:45Z")
That’s a thermostat. That’s one mechanically inclined mouse if he was able to pull it out of your van without you knowing. Offer him a job. Seriously, a previous mechanic must have left it around the engine compartment somewhere and forgot about it. Your thermostat is no doubt still where it should be. ---
**Author:** ![feeniepop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/feeniepop/32/5185_2.png) [@feeniepop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/feeniepop)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/3 "2012-10-29T01:56:03Z")
Lol…I did have the thermostat changed a few years back. Maybe if I throw it away the mouse won’t come back. I think Mickey was fond of it for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/4 "2012-10-29T03:24:04Z")
That’s one big mouse to haul a thermostat around. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/5 "2012-10-29T03:27:30Z")
You can do a little experiment for fun, test it by putting it in a pot of water with a thermometer and see what temperature it opens. Maybe post some photos. Glad you are having fun today! ---
**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/6 "2012-10-29T03:46:10Z")
The mouse in a pot of water? That sounds kinda cruel, George… ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/7 "2012-10-29T03:53:18Z")
Ouch! You got me there @RemcoW! Nah, I’m talking about the thermostat of course, not the mouse! ---
**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/8 "2012-10-29T04:24:04Z")
Lol. Of course. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/9 "2012-10-29T04:30:56Z")
Put 'em both in. See which one opens up first. ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/10 "2012-10-29T04:54:08Z")
> That's one big mouse to haul a thermostat around. I’d suspect it was a pack rat, not a mouse. They have a well documented behavior of collecting shiny metal objects, and leaving payment in the form of some natural item from their environment. Exploration of their nests reveals all sorts of metal objects, so I’ve been told. I’ve never seen that first hand, but now the OP has. ---
**Author:** ![feeniepop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/feeniepop/32/5185_2.png) [@feeniepop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/feeniepop)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 9:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/11 "2012-11-05T09:26:34Z")
Well I didn’t find Mickey or any rats…but it still won’t start. > **[Van cranks but won't start...what's worth checking before I get it towed?](http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2288280/van-cranks-but-wont-start-whats-worth-checking-before-i-get-it-towed#latest)** > > I have a 1993 Chevy G20 van that was starting intermittently and now won’t start at all. It cranks but doesn’t start. On one of the occasions that I actually got it started I went to have the battery and alternator tested and was told that the... ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/12 "2012-11-05T21:27:20Z")
I’ll bet you found the thermostat … right where it’s layed since ‘‘a few years back’’. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-identifying-part-found-in-mouse-nest-in-car-aka-best-sunday-ever/75212/13 "2012-11-05T21:47:25Z")
GET THAT MOUSE…STAT! Sorry. Couldn;t resist.