Small Critters and Cars

[2ndAmend]

Last week, the Jeep TJ 3rd brake light failed, a mouse or chipmunk got behind the plastic fender liner and vapor canister, then gnawed through the wire. Took about 3 hours to disassemble, find, repair and reassemble. I’m old, I don’t need this aggravation! AND, it has ALWAYS been garaged!!!

Speedo and odo in the Silverado stopped working last winter. Not servos, not speed sensor, either the PCU or bad wire. Ordered another PCU, made arrangements with a shop to do crank re-learn, then found this under the fuse box (green wire w/white stripe at top of pic) :



Looks like they thought the space under the fuse box was a good place to live, and the wires were good eatin’!

If I went to a dealer, they would have replaced the PCU, charged maybe $1200, then told me it is something else! (Another reason I do all the maintenance I can!)

If you guys saw my post on my car carrier, then you saw the same thing on that!

Anyone know how to keep these rodents from destroying our cars?!?!?!

 

[Hunter]

Last week, the Jeep TJ 3rd brake light failed, a mouse or chipmunk got behind the plastic fender liner and vapor canister, then gnawed through the wire. Took about 3 hours to disassemble, find, repair and reassemble. I’m old, I don’t need this aggravation! AND, it has ALWAYS been garaged!!!

Speedo and odo in the Silverado stopped working last winter. Not servos, not speed sensor, either the PCU or bad wire. Ordered another PCU, made arrangements with a shop to do crank re-learn, then found this under the fuse box (green wire w/white stripe at top of pic) :

View attachment 141467

Looks like they thought the space under the fuse box was a good place to live, and the wires were good eatin’!

If I went to a dealer, they would have replaced the PCU, charged maybe $1200, then told me it is something else! (Another reason I do all the maintenance I can!)

If you guys saw my post on my car carrier, then you saw the same thing on that!

Anyone know how to keep these rodents from destroying our cars?!?!?!

My biggest issue is frogs living in my raisin bran hood, rear spoiler and shitting all over my car.
Frickin frogs.
Not an expensive issue, but absolutely aggravating.

 

[2ndAmend]

My biggest issue is frogs living in my raisin bran hood, rear spoiler and shitting all over my car.
Frickin frogs.
Not an expensive issue, but absolutely aggravating.

At least we don't have alligators!

 

[MikeD1]

Rodents ate the main wiring harness (and other stuff) on my wife's Infiniti Q50 Redsport 400. Car was acting strange on & off, but local dealer couldn't find the issue. Broke completely when she was coming back to FL from MI, stranding her in Knoxville. Total cost was over $7000, thankfully covered by insurance !

This and we have to deal with the gators

 

[2ndAmend]

The TJ wiring was apparently gnawed years ago, the break in the insulation allowed the wires to corrode then break. When I did the repair and stripped the insulation the copper strands were black.

I patched a small hole near the overhead door maybe 8 years ago, that might have been when they did it. There were acorn shells near the evap, I suspect chipmunks. Do mice eat and carry acorns?

 

[06SRT10NR]

time to consult Farmer Vincent... It takes all kinds of critters, to make his fritters

 

[MikeD1]

The TJ wiring was apparently gnawed years ago, the break in the insulation allowed the wires to corrode then break. When I did the repair and stripped the insulation the copper strands were black.

I patched a small hole near the overhead door maybe 8 years ago, that might have been when they did it. There were acorn shells near the evap, I suspect chipmunks. Do mice eat and carry acorns?

Not sure about field mice, but they probably would. Rats & squirrels will too. I suspect they are the culprits @ my place.

 

[SilverBillet]

What I do is put flat sticky traps on the floor inside on either side of all garage door openings. They catch spiders, ants, roaches and even geckos. Luckily, I don’t have to park outside. If you are parking outside, maybe an outdoor cat would help?

 

[1971demon]

Last week, the Jeep TJ 3rd brake light failed, a mouse or chipmunk got behind the plastic fender liner and vapor canister, then gnawed through the wire. Took about 3 hours to disassemble, find, repair and reassemble. I’m old, I don’t need this aggravation! AND, it has ALWAYS been garaged!!!

Speedo and odo in the Silverado stopped working last winter. Not servos, not speed sensor, either the PCU or bad wire. Ordered another PCU, made arrangements with a shop to do crank re-learn, then found this under the fuse box (green wire w/white stripe at top of pic) :

View attachment 141467

Looks like they thought the space under the fuse box was a good place to live, and the wires were good eatin’!

If I went to a dealer, they would have replaced the PCU, charged maybe $1200, then told me it is something else! (Another reason I do all the maintenance I can!)

If you guys saw my post on my car carrier, then you saw the same thing on that!

Anyone know how to keep these rodents from destroying our cars?!?!?!

It's called peaceful coexistence....find a quiet place in yer garage....retro fit a bird house with a small cotton quilt and a loft with a block of swiss or cheddar...and the'll forget about yer wires...

 

[Bowtie Guy]

Bounce laundry sheets do wonders for critters

I stuff them all over under the hood

They smell better then moth ball packs too

 

[Unholy707]

My advice for keeping mice out? Move to Fl - the snakes eat all the mice

Last week, the Jeep TJ 3rd brake light failed, a mouse or chipmunk got behind the plastic fender liner and vapor canister, then gnawed through the wire. Took about 3 hours to disassemble, find, repair and reassemble. I’m old, I don’t need this aggravation! AND, it has ALWAYS been garaged!!!

Speedo and odo in the Silverado stopped working last winter. Not servos, not speed sensor, either the PCU or bad wire. Ordered another PCU, made arrangements with a shop to do crank re-learn, then found this under the fuse box (green wire w/white stripe at top of pic) :

View attachment 141467

Looks like they thought the space under the fuse box was a good place to live, and the wires were good eatin’!

If I went to a dealer, they would have replaced the PCU, charged maybe $1200, then told me it is something else! (Another reason I do all the maintenance I can!)

If you guys saw my post on my car carrier, then you saw the same thing on that!

Anyone know how to keep these rodents from destroying our cars?!?!?!

 

[Bowtie Guy]

My advice for keeping mice out? Move to Fl - the snakes eat all the mice

I had a few mice get into my garage
The fox snake that made his way in there made quick work of them

I ll take the snake over the mice as long as its less then 6 feet

 

[Unholy707]

I prefer the larger snakes so I can see them

 

[The Max]

Critters, in my house, kill them all. Waverunner outside had mice eat a lot of wiring, $3,500 to repair. Was told that some manufacturers of wiring, to be cheap, use vegetable oil for their wiring products. Neighbor two doors down had an exterminator come to her house, 28 mice in her shed! They were in my shed. After this debacle, used mice foam to seal all openings. Stopped those bastards. Tomcat makes a product called Glue traps mouse size which are more effective than glue boards.

 

[45-70govt]

The problem is the insulation on the wires in many cars is actually soy based. This is a cheap and effective insulation, but the critters love it, and that's why they are attracted to it. Its almost as bad as using cheese for insulation.

 

[45-70govt]

Since the beginning of time man has tried to perfect the mouse trap. Some designs are better than others. This patent drawing from 1882 is still my favorite.

 

[MikeD1]

The problem is the insulation on the wires in many cars is actually soy based. This is a cheap and effective insulation, but the critters love it, and that's why they are attracted to it. Its almost as bad as using cheese for insulation.

Plus it allows the car co's to claim a greater % of the vehicle is 'recyclable' to help pacify the climate cultists.

 

[covidcommander]

Ford used biodegradable wires in the probe. Great idea 💡

 

[72 440 Barracuda]

I have been using the Mouse blocker and I have had good luck in my shop and the house garage. I had a mouse getting in my vehicles, but I have had any since I started using this;

https://mouseblocker.com/

It gives off lights (flashing) and a screech that sounds like a predator bird (I believe). It's not loud, more of a high pitch, not annoying to me, but you can hear it.

Might be worth it to give it a try...

 

[2ndAmend]

I have been using the Mouse blocker and I have had good luck in my shop and the house garage. I had a mouse getting in my vehicles, but I have had any since I started using this;

https://mouseblocker.com/

It gives off lights (flashing) and a screech that sounds like a predator bird (I believe). It's not loud, more of a high pitch, not annoying to me, but you can hear it.

Might be worth it to give it a try...

Yikes! That stuff is expensive! I'm cheap, can't I just get the same effect with a garage sale boombox and some Cher and Streisand CD's?