Rats or Squirrels Chewing on Wires Under the Hood of My Car

By

hbk143brd

I've been doing some research and it says that once a rat or other rodent makes a nest in your car that it leaves behind feces and urine odors that never go away, even if you remove the nest. This odor attracts future rodent residents. I'm under the impression that it might be a good idea to have the entire engine compartment pressure cleaned to remove this attracting smell. I don't know if it is necessary to apply an anti urine product but spraying the engine with such a product might also stop the problem. I'm going to try it as I'm having the same problem in my car.

By

hatchergun

What did you do? We have the same problem.

By

Rand.Gerald

The power steering went out my "new" (I bought it three months ago tomorrow) 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid. Squirrels have chewed the wiring harness. $700 for the harness and $1200 labor. It's covered by insurance - less the deductible. Thanks for all the hints. Has anyone tried La Yu - the pepper oil that's used in Chinese cooking? Or tobasco sauce.

By

jaime2009

I solved a similar problem by using a mouse trap! The mouse was catch the next day. email me (enuj_silos AT yahoo.com) if you need a picture of the mouse trap that I used.

By Michelle (Guest Post)

I found rat droppings under my car and a chewed wire casing. I got the cayenne pepper and sprinkled it on every wire I could see. The salesperson I went to for help in the local hardware store phoned a pest control person who instructed me to put two rat traps under my car near the inside of the two front tires. He then told me to by a mini fan and pop the hood each night and stick the fan inside to make it unbearably cold under the hood. After reading your posts, I wasn't taking any chances. I caught a rat in the trap the very next day. I moved the car and will be treating the area. Thanks for the cayannne pepper tip.

By (Guest Post)

Squirrels do not like the smell of irish spring soap (MUST BE THE GREEN BAR..THE ORIGINAL) .You can grate it with potato peeler or just place bars around area . Don't know if ya can use it under the hood but maybe. They don't like it. Repeat as necessary . Especially good in attic.
Cathy from MA

By jason. (Guest Post)

A squirrel completely shredded my engine harness, hoses, brakes, oxygen sensors etc. $3700 I paid the $1000 deductible and Geico did the rest. Over a month in the shop. 4 months later he came back! The bastard did it again! another month and another $1000 deductible. These critters are certainly determined. 2 yrs ago they chewed a hole near my a/c and came in the house! I tried fox urine powder, mothballs. I think I really need a cheap effective alternative like sticky paper surprises.

By Tony from NJ (Guest Post)

I'm in the same situation. Little critters cost over $800 damage to my wires to my 2008 Nissan Altima (Geico covered 100%! less my deductible). Now, our brand new 2008 minivan is experiencing electrical issues. Was towed to the dealer who found chewed nuts under the hood.

By Christohper Fisher (Guest Post)

Try putting moth balls under your hood.

By Tim (Guest Post)

Same Problem here. Not sure if its groundhogs, rats, rabbits or all of the above. I have moth balls under my hood and have even used LOTS of powerful animal repellent AND traps. It is not stopping them. What am I supposed to do!

By Joe (Guest Post)

I started my car this morning and heard some crawling noise coming from the engine. I got out of the car and saw a raccoon running out from under the car. It was responsible for doing about $800 in damage a few weeks ago. The raccoon chewed up the insulation insulating the hood from the engine and also a hose. Hopefully sprinkling cayanne under the hood will fix the problem. I live in a wooded area where there are a lot of wildlife.

By Patricia (Guest Post)

Yes contact your insurance company. I just had a squirrels chew my wires in my fuse box and my insurance company GEICO paid for all the damages.

By Al_B (Guest Post)

I have the same problem, a squirrel ate most of my wiring in my 2005 explorer. it also built a giant nest under the hood. It caused 3000 worth of damage. Does anyone know if this is covered under car insurance or homeowners insurance.

By Walt (Guest Post)

Cayanne pepper will fix the issue!

By Walt (Guest Post)

Trust me it is usually squirrels...spread Cayanne pepper over the engine and wires and you will solve the problem!

By 4saints (Guest Post)

We've had about $450 in damage to our truck wiring so far. Our feed and seed store recommended solid rodent poison bars, "Just One Bite II," with Bromadiolone. They're designed with a hole through the center so as to wire them down so as the rodents don't just carry the bars off to their nest only to be eaten later. I.e., this encourages them to eat it in place. Also. she sold me crystallized bobcat urine to sprinkle around vehicles - do so lightly every seven days as it does have an unpleasent order like cat urine. My wife cleared out all overgrowth along the fence. And we filled an old sock with moth balls placed under the hood. The poison seemed to do the trick as it appears to have been chewed on and there has been no sign of our very expensive rodent this week. We also moved the truck to another location while we were treating the area - it's now parked back under our carport, hopefully, so far with no problem.

By Patrice-DFW (Guest Post)

After shelling out $350, and learning the news from the auto mechanic, about a rat chewing the harness wires under the hood of my car, we kept thinking a rat was the culprit. My cat came up with a couple of rats so I was sure rats were doing the damage. The third time it happened, (go out to start your car and nothing, after just driving it that morning) I got out raised the hood and caught glipse of a fuzzy squirrels tail escaping down the backside of the engine. I hate to kill the little guy because I'm afraid it's the one my 8 year old daughter has named "Chatter Box." He is ruining my car. Everyone at work thought I was crazy when I told them about it. I think I'll try the moth balls.

By Rick Suddes (Guest Post)

again try Rataway, from www. Rataway. com

it is not messy and easy to use. RickSuddes AT aol.com
rats chew 2% a day that is 29 minutes a day everyday on natural or man made things like your car.Rats teeth grow up to 4 INCHES a year. For the rat it is Chew or die!
Rataway stops:puppies, woodpeckers, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, dogs, cats, horses, from chewing NONPOISONOUS Green Product
Now Rataway will protect plastic water lines. A rat bit a water line in a house in California, the damage was $100,000 dollars.

By MyJoy2Go (Guest Post)

How about a rabbit? The technician found a rabbit in our engine compartment sitting on top of the engine. The menace chewed my car wires first (major damage)with the estimated cost of over $2,000.00. I couldn't figure out how it could have such big teeth mark in my car. My car is still in the shop waiting for a wire harness.

And then this week got in my husband's car and cost $252.44 to repair the minor damage. The rabbit traveled 16 miles to our first stop and 22 miles to the shop. He now has a new place of residence and I hope it doesn't find it way back to us. We had moth balls in the engine compartment and pepper chaser. I like the steel wool idea.

And if any of you have it happen to you call your car insurance to see if you are covered under comprehensive. Our damages are covered 100%.

Anyone for rabbit stew?
myjoy2go@ gmail.com just remove the space

By Rick Suddes (Guest Post)

I have had several calls from the fire area of southern California. Rats and mice etc are nesting in the home & car. Rataway has been a proven spray to stop rats, mice, raccoons, etc from nesting & chewing. It is a "Green Product" Safe for pets,children, and service personal.

By Rick Suddes (Guest Post)

it you have a squirrel or rat rodent problem contact me
Rick Suddes @ aol . com

or Rataway
. com

By Rick Suddes (Guest Post)

New product out called Rats Hate http://www.Rataway.com

It stops rats, squirrels, dogs,cats,puppys horses, raccoons
and is nonpoisonous. go to web site for more information.

By demi (Guest Post)

I just had a $600 bill on a new car last week. The mechanic said he even found rat droppings in the car, and most of the wiring was chewed up. The warranty didn't cover the cost either. The mechanic suggested that I wrap the wiring with steel wool. We'll see what happens next.

By Dr. Lee Miller (Guest Post)

If you poison rats outside you may be also killing a hawk, eagle, owl or your or a neighbors cat. The rat poison will also kill these wonderful birds and pet cats. Please use traps on rats or some other method. There is a rat poison that will not harm birds but it will still kill pets like cats or small dogs. If the bird or pet eat the dead rat the poison will go to the bird or pet and kill them as well.

By LENORE (Guest Post)

TAKE AN OLD NYLON STOCKING AND PUT MOTH BALLS IN IT. PLACE THEM AROUND YOUR CAR AND IN YOUR YARD. RODENTS HATE THE SMELL OF MOTH BALLS AND WILL STAY AWAY. MOTH BALLS CAN ALSO BE BAD FOR YOUR RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. SO BE CAREFUL! YOU DO NOT WANT TO USE TOO MUCH. DO NOT PUT IT AROUND ANY FLAMMABLE AREAS OR AREAS WHERE OTHER CHEMICALS ARE STORED. THIS IS AN OLD IDEA.

By Yellowbird (Guest Post)

Moth balls work for us to drive unwanted critters away without harming them. Put some in some old nylons or socks and tie or place the bags where the critters have been doing their mischief.

By Krysi (Guest Post)

All the suggestions are great, but I do have one caution-- I too, live in a fairly rural area, and I have noticed that young feral cats have been gnawing away at my husbands car. He believed it to be rodents, but I sat outside for almost an hour every day for about a week when he would get home, and the only thing I ever saw were those cats. It wasn't until he started the car (unknowingly) with one left inside that I realized that they were the culprits. So before placing poison, be sure that it's not a wayward kitty first! The pepper ideas would be best if you're unsure. Also, if you are sure it's rodents of some kind, consider getting a couple of barn cats. Lots of shelters have feral cats that need homes where they won't be handled frequently (since they aren't very tame) and since they will be munching on mice, their food budget won't break the bank. Just make sure they're spayed or nuetered, or else you will have a rapidly multiplying problem :)

By

tedsmom

I sprinkled red (cayenne) pepper on the wires - that stopped the squirrels from chewing and nesting under the hood of my car.

By

valleyrimgirl

My mom had problems with mice in the car engine...so she placed a trap in there each time she came back home. They were enjoying the warm engine. She caught quite a few. Each time she used the vehicle she would pop the hood and remove the trap before driving away. Do you have any traps?

Another suggestion...buy some rat poison...place it under the hood on a shallow aluminum plate and remove each time you want to drive the vehicle. This would be a pain to do each time...but you only have to catch/poison the one or two mice, rats or squirrels that are causing the problem.

By

Stone2005

I have had good luck with minced garlic getting them out of my attic soffits. I also painted the screens with clear pepper juice. You can make this: putt peppers in a hot glass jar, pour hot vinegar in to fill the jar, put the lid on and leave for 3 weeks. After handling peppers do not touch your face and be sure to wash your hands.) A small bottle of pepper sauce costs about $3. You could also sprinkle cayenne pepper powder over your engine wires. --Stone in OKC