Right out of the bag, my Z had a missing issue, especially before it got good and warm. Turned out to be mice had nested on top of the coil pack and had chewed the plug wires. (My coil pack area and the valley under the starter looked zackly like your motor! BTDT!
I live out in the country; surrounded by countless field mice. Come the first frost, and oh boy! The battle is on! My first winter on the place, I thought I was going to be run out of the place - they were everywhere - caused some major damage to a couple cars (wiring and ruining carpet, etc.).
Forget about Decon...When I would find turquoise-colored poop on my console and on top of the plenum and that unmistakable odor, I knew I wasn't getting a handle on it- verified by the fact that trap activity was still on the increase.
I've told this before, but on recommendation from a feed store owner I bought this stuff called "One Bite";
saved the day and my sanity! (Or, what was left of it
) I break up a package of it and spread it around the garage
in places where my pooches cannot get to it, and for safety I put a piece under the seats of the vehicles. Then I load up the interior with Bounce dryer sheets and stuff some between the runners of the plenum (leaving enough sticking out so I can pull them in case I'm going thru Z withdrawals
).
I leave the stuff in the garage all year, but before the first freeze, I'll reload. Far as I can tell, this past winter (and a doozy it was!) we had NO mouse issues at all that I have been able to detect.
Hope this helps someone!
P.