A PSA about rodent damage....

Hello viewers!

My dear friend has just had a shocking repair bill to his 2016 SR5.
Rodent damage to the main wiring loom has set him back $4,700. He decided to get the entire thing replaced "factory" style vs. fixing it, which would leave it unshielded.
All lights on the dash were on, crank no-start. My scanner showed one code, the crank position sensor. But the damage was much more severe once dug into.

It was out at his rural place and parked very near to where his dad's Corolla experienced the same thing last year, to the tune of $3,100.

They are now going to bring the thunder against all rodents within a mile of the property to avoid these repairs once and for all.

I'm taking questions and will report back.

YMMV.

 

Sounds like it could be a fun thing to hunt those fuckers down! Fuel and a match down a hole is a start

 

I think they hate the smell

 

My bill was $9K for a full engine harness replacement at the dealer. At the time my Runner wasn't even 2 years old. Thank goodness for insurance. I use Grandpa Gus's peppermint oil spray but most say it does nothing. I also ditched the engine cover.

 

Where on the vehicle did the damage occur? Is there a particularly vulnerable spot to apply the oil?

When we first moved into our house there was a rodent issue. We tried all types of traps and poisons but what did the trick was putting out cat food. At first the cat food drew more rodents, but before long the neighborhood strays started coming around and before long the rats disappeared. Now, years later, the neighborhood supports a healthy owl and raptor population.

 

I had mice earlier this year. Fortunately I discovered them before serious damage. Just chewed up the cabin air filters on my car and wife’s.

I set up mouse traps, killed three and sprinkled peppermint oil inside the engine bays. Apparently mice don’t like the smell.

So far, no further problems.

 

Awe it’s napping

 

Just build a garage that's sealed up well and put poison bait here and there around the edges.

 

I see cats hunting around my 4R all the time and really enjoy them.

 

And I don’t have to feed them.

 

My cars were in the garage. These days they can’t even build a house that’s sealed up let alone a garage, but it’s a nice thought.

 

I have used bounce fabric softener in my boat to store for years and had good luck with friends. I used a ton maybe 150 sheets in an 18 Ft boat. It’s amazing how fresh the boat smells in spring.

Maybe I should try keeping some in garage with my traps. Luckily no issues but I keep a few traps out there.

 

Just for safety I am probably going to get this.> https://nhoilundercoating.com/product-category/mouse-out/ I have no personal experience with the product I have read some good things about it though.
HTH
Barry In MO.

 

That's a great idea, definitely going to try this. We occasionally find them in our little aluminum fishing boat too.

 

ive got ground squirrels and squirrels that love to go into my vehicles (my neighborhood borders the woods on all sides)... tore up all the hoses on my BMW that i made the mistake of leaving in the driveway for a week while i was working on a project in the garage... all the little critters love to find places to nest and hide their acorns, etc... just wait til fall and it gets really bad... some bags of mothballs or the deer / rodent repellent (lowes, etc) in the engine compartment regularly keeps them away...