Rats ate my woofer

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=64083
Printed Date: June 03, 2024 at 3:25 PM

Topic: Rats ate my woofer

Posted By: DYohn
Subject: Rats ate my woofer
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 10:32 AM

Well mice, actually. A few years ago I built a 4th order bandpass using an Infinity Beta subwoofer. The Beta was a great driver with a lot of clean output, and it used a graphite-filled plastic cone. Anyway, the system had been removed from a vehicle and was sitting in my garage untouched since about 2001. Yesterday a client wanted a quick, cheap bit of bump so I pulled out the system, vacuumed off the dust and installed it. Wired it up to his amp, and no output. Hmm, I thought, what's up? I double checked everything, amp was on, had proper input, wiring was good... so I pulled the sub out to test it with an amp I knew worked and as I did, I turned it over and some bits of plastic and what poly stuffing covered with some kind of dirt fell out from the port. Huh? I pulled off the terminal cup and looked inside and found the remnants of a large mouse nest and loads of mouse turds. The little buggers had used the enclosure as a home and in the process had chewed through all the wiring inside AND chewed a large hole in the woofer cone. They had also eaten half the rubber surround. Yikes!

Oh well, time to go shopping. The moral of the story, I guess, is if you store an enclosure in a dark quiet place where little critters might find it, plug yer ports!

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Replies:

Posted By: alldaz
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 10:37 AM

wow sorry to hear that. atleast a rat wasn't still in there when you pulled it out, lol

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Subwoofer(s): Two(2) 15'' Kole Audio KMX-15's
Amplifier: One(1) Power Acoustik Digital Series 2400A
Headunit: Pioneer 860DEH
Speakers:Factory
Yellow Top Battery

Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 10:54 AM

Hate when that happens ;) ...so are you shopping for woofers or mouse traps?

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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 10:57 AM

the12volt wrote:

Hate when that happens ;) ...so are you shopping for woofers or mouse traps?

I'm actually thinking of loading the enclosure with some mouse traps and putting it back into the garage... posted_image

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Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 11:05 AM

This reminds me of those plastic gerbil cages my neighbors had as kids ;) ...can see it now, a plexi box with critters included ..oO(heh)

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Posted By: auex
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 11:29 AM

Pics?

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Posted By: supradude
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 11:32 AM

You could put some glue pads in the box and when they go back in there they will get stuck on them. Then put another sub in and POW, boom their little brains out.

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Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 11:58 AM

Wow, that sucks. My friend had the Beta subs and they were nice. If you need parts to rebuild the sub, I'm sure Dan could probably get you some sources for it.

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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 12:14 PM

auex]P wrote:

cs?

I pulled the driver. You can actually see the little rat teeth marks on the cone.

posted_image

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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 12:16 PM

Steven Kephart wrote:

Wow, that sucks. My friend had the Beta subs and they were nice. If you need parts to rebuild the sub, I'm sure Dan could probably get you some sources for it.

Thanks, Steven, I just may do that. I was actually thinking this is the perfect excuse to try one of the new Koda woofers when they're ready... posted_image

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Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 6:50 PM

"Mouse house for sale"? In the eyes of mice...what an awesome condo that would have been, with the fancy tunnel entrance and all... posted_image

Good thing you didn't have a car stored in the garage during that time. I work in pest control, and I had a client that started service after he discovered that the Porche he had covered and stored for the winter had a mouse nest in the engine compartment. Lots of wires chewed through in that, too. Now I'll be sure to include old ported subwoofer boxes on my list of inspection areas!

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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 9:13 PM

DYohn] wrote:

P>
Steven Kephart wrote:

Wow, that sucks. My friend had the Beta subs and they were nice. If you need parts to rebuild the sub, I'm sure Dan could probably get you some sources for it.

Thanks, Steven, I just may do that. I was actually thinking this is the perfect excuse to try one of the new Koda woofers when they're ready...

Oh c'mon, you know you want dual 21" Tumults. That would be phat yo! You'de be makin big dee bees.

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Posted By: colaroaster
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 10:07 PM

you guys are too funny, thanks for the laughs.....!

Posted By: Paradigm
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 10:26 AM

DYohn, how could you NOT see the damage on that cone??? Or maybe it fell apart after you pulled it back out? Anyway, I hate mice. 'Bout as worthless as flies and moles...the fookers just keep coming back! posted_image

Ah, well. Guess you get some new gear now, eh?

"That would be phat yo! You'de be makin big dee bees." ROFL Steven. Someone come pick me up posted_image

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Alpine CDA-7940
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Polk GXR-6 x4
Polk GXR-4 x2

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 10:34 AM

Paradigm wrote:

DYohn, how could you NOT see the damage on that cone??? Or maybe it fell apart after you pulled it back out?

No, the damage is all rodent-related. It was in a 4th order BP so the driver was inside the enclosure and not visible from the outside. All looked fine until I pulled it apart and said "Damn." Or words to that effect.

Steven Kephart wrote:

Oh c'mon, you know you want dual 21" Tumults. That would be phat yo! You'de be makin big dee bees.

I want some of those for my house. posted_image Yo.

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Posted By: tcss
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 11:43 AM

Had a customer buy an Alpine "R" series woofer in a bandpass box. About 3 weeks later he comes back in complaining about how his truck stinks. While resisting the urge to suggest ha change his personal hygiene habits, I follow him out to his truck. He says to smell the port on the floor demo box in the truck. Sure enough, stunk like hell. Pulled the glass panel and wooferand sure enough inside is a decomposing mouse that had crawled in thru the port and was unable to climb back out! Cost me $80 to have his car detailed but the LMAO factor was almost worth it.

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Posted By: sneakycyber
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 1:05 PM

ROTFLMAO

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