Dear Tom and Ray:

Having recently moved from Australia to Maine, I find myself with a car problem. I'm living in the wilds of western Maine, where the trees are abundant, and so are the squirrels, chipmunks, etc. What I'd like to know is how to keep these critters out of the ventilation system of my truck. Last time we turned on the fan, we had gruesome noises, smoke and flames, to say nothing of a truly horrible smell. What do you suggest? -- Tig

Tom: Well, since you live in the wilds of Maine where the trees are abundant, I suggest you cut some of them down and build yourself a nice garage!

Ray: That's not a bad idea. But even with a garage, those critters do get around. I'd suggest using some old-fashioned hardware cloth. Hardware cloth is that thick, wire mesh screen with 1/4- or 1/2-inch holes.

Tom: On a truck -- or any similarly barbaric vehicle -- you should be able to remove the windshield-wiper arms, take off the cowl (located just below where the windshield meets the hood), and get access to the ventilation intake. That's where the air, and in your case, the chipmunks, come in. And if you replace the chewed-up screen (or missing screen) that's there with good, strong hardware cloth, that should keep the wildlife out of your heating ducts.

Ray: Be warned, though, that if you do that, they're just going to look for other places to go to keep warm. And first on their list is probably your air cleaner. So I'd suggest covering the air intake with hardware cloth as well. Good luck, Tig

Everybody wants a new car. But from a purely financial point of view, there is no question that buying a used car is always cheaper, even in the long run. To learn more, order Tom and Ray's pamphlet How to Buy a Used Car: Things That Detroit and Tokyo Don't Want You to Know. To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1997 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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