Rodent damage and repair

2023 SR5 with a little over 16k miles was experiencing engine shaking. CEL, Reduced Power Mode, Visit Dealer message appeared.

Used Toyotacare to tow to nearest dealer.

Cylinder 1 and 3 were not firing, both wires chewed by rodent. Some gnawing on a hose.

Dealership spliced in/soldered replacement sections of wire from a donor wiring harness out of a 4runner or other toyota that had a complete wiring harness replacement. Replaced hose section too.

I'm not in love with the idea that used wiring harness sections/plugs were used. I realize that this was cheaper than a full wiring harness replacement, but I felt like maybe a third option might be possible, although I don't know for sure. Potentially a pigtail kit of some sort if such a thing exists.

4runner is running again, and running smoothly. I've sprayed something called Tomcat around the 4runner in hopes that it might deter some rodents from coming back long enough for me to get a new kitty from the shelter. She will get food and medicine, but will live outside, and hopefully give rodents something to fear.

Any comments are appreciated.

 

^Pigtail kit would be "spliced in" the same way. It's fine.

You need to spray the Tomcat in the V-bank valley below the intake manifold. Really get in there and spray any wires you see. (Do it while the engine is cold.) Remove the plastic cosmetic cover and leave it off, as it provides a nice covered shelter for mice to nest.

 

I was a little nervous to spray the Tomcat on engine components and wires. I wasn't sure if it might cause corrosion or potentially be flammable once the engine heats up or if it could cause another problem I hadn't thought of.

I ended up putting some bags of mothballs under it and a light and used the whole can of Tomcat. I'm hopeful that the smells might be enough at least till we can pick up the cat on Saturday.

 

^The Tomcat spray doesn't damage anything as long as it's sprayed on a cold engine. I use it on my Tacoma which is a trail toy (meaning it sits for weeks between wheeling trips).

According to the product label, the Tomcat spray works on taste, not smell (i.e. it makes the surfaces bitter to discourage chewing). Spraying around the truck or around the engine compartment is therefore a waste. Need to drench all the wiring harness bundles you can get to.

 

Rodents leave a nest/home smell which keeps them coming back to same spot- a warm cozy home safe from predators.
Wash their nest area really well. Look for signs of food leftovers in the nest area. If discovered attack their food source too.
If not daily driver put Tom Cat bait boxes under hood too, and on ground under engine area.
Put a sign across instrument cluster to remove bait box before driving!
I also use Mint scent bags(like big tea bag) tied strategically in places under hood.

 

Mine got hit in less than 2 years old. My local dealer replaced the entire engine harness to the tune of $9K but comprehensive insurance coverage took care of it.

 

There's a warning on the Tomcat website to avoid spraying electrical wires and on engine - figured it might be best to heed the warning.

From Tomcat website:

• Do not spray electrical wires and sockets directly. Not for use on car engine. Do not use near heat or open flame.

I did wipe down a portion of the engine bay to hopefully remove the scent whatever rodent might have left behind. I couldn't find any evidence of a nest or food.

 

That's awful. Sorry to hear that.

 

It's cheaper to just clean up your property so that you don't have to live with a rodent problem

 

I have a cat along with a mouse blocker pro bolted to the wall of my carport which is right next to my 4R.

https://mouseblocker.com/

 

Property is clean, can't do anything about the woods behind my house.

 

I like me some sticky pads. That way I can torture them as payback.
(I need help)

 

I wash your engine regularly, removed the cover and use Grandpa Gus’s peppermint oil in the engine bay now.

 

That's a caution against spraying a wall socket. The propellant in the can is flammable, which is why I said cold engine. I've been dousing my wire harness bundles monthly for 4 years now. It's fine, and certainly safer than mothballs if they melt.

The nest would be near your fuel injectors, which are buried under the lower intake manifold. Locate your thermostat housing, then shift your gaze rearward toward the firewall.

Another thing that'll be fixed with 6th gen...

 

As long as they used environmental splices like we use in aviation, you should be fine.