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Rats! You can buy the most reliable car in the world and still find tangled electrical gremlins, fluid leaks, and even complete failure as rodents take up residence and start chewing on cables, hoses, plastic, and other critical auto parts.
This is particularly a risk for cars that will be stored over the winter and for cars that have been parked for long periods of time during the pandemic.
Damage from rodents is an age-old problem that some observers believe is growing as automakers use more plant-based biodegradable materials to reduce waste. Several class action lawsuits have been filed against major automakers in recent years alleging soy-based products were to blame, but those lawsuits were later dismissed.
Pest control company Terminix considers the temptations of tasty materials a myth and instead blames rodent biology and its need to constantly chew, which prevents their teeth from growing too long. It turns out that car feasting is more common than you might think.
We uncovered various technical service bulletins from Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Subaru instructing their technicians to repair chewed harnesses.
Some Consumer Reports employees also report small, furry creatures chewing through power steering lines, filling engine inlets with acorns, and clogging air ducts with their nests.
Problems can be serious, from clogging the air filter with nesting materials to damaging the engine wiring harness, which can cost thousands to replace.
“If you see damage from rodents, take immediate action to deter the animals and keep your car running,” said John Ibbotson, chief mechanic for Consumer Report. “Chewed wires are a serious problem and require professional assessment and possible repair.”
If the wire coating is chewed through and the inner wire is exposed, the car may not be safe to drive. In such cases, it may be helpful to use a mobile mechanic, available through yourmechanic.com, to investigate and repair the damage.
The story goes on
Regularly check for signs of furry visitors such as feces, urine, scratches, chewed wire, damaged belts, collected nesting materials, and exposed fiber insulation. Glen Ramsey, senior technical services manager at pest control company Orkin, provides an important reality check.
“There are a myriad of reasons why rodent numbers increased during the pandemic,” he told CR. “First and foremost, people have spent more time at home in the past year than probably ever before.” When we are at home, we notice more. “
But that doesn’t mean the rodent threat hasn’t become a real problem.
“Pandemic restaurant closings forced rodents to find new sources of food,” Ramsey said.
If you suspect you have a rodent problem, use rubber gloves to inspect and clean the car outside: rodents can transmit disease.
Here are some other tips to help keep your vehicle rodent-free.
This will avoid attracting living things
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Ideally, do not park in places known to be home to rodents, e.g. B. Near trash cans or natural food sources such as vegetable gardens.
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If possible, park in a sealed garage and keep the doors closed.
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Make sure the garage does not keep groceries and premium nesting materials such as newspapers, cardboard, straw, rags, and pillows for patio furniture.
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Look for gaps around garage windows and doors to identify possible spots for rodents to sneak in. Weatherstrips under the side doors can help seal them. Also check the vertical seals on retractable garage doors for damage.
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Do not store food waste bins in the garage.
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Keep the interior of the car free of food packaging. Their smell can attract rodents.
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Move the car regularly and keep varmints from settling down. And occasionally honk your horn before starting the car to take a nap.
How to get rid of furry vandals
There are specially made spray products that prevent rodents from misting under the hood and around the vehicle when they are in the garage. Peppermint oil and cayenne pepper are said to deter rodents. Note that spray products must be routinely reapplied as they can wear off and rinse off.
There are ultrasound machines that make sounds to deter rodents, but at a frequency that humans cannot hear. In order to work, they must be positioned near the vehicle.
Mothballs under the hood can help for storage. (Don’t use them in the car or you’ll be stuck in that awful smell.)
There’s a clever solution in a Honda TSB: a rodent deterrent tape, essentially a super-flavored capsaicin-treated electrical tape that Honda describes as “the stuff that puts fire in a bowl of five-alarm chili.” The tape (part number 4019-2317) comes on a 20-meter roll and is available through retailers and online ($ 43).
We bought a roll of Honda’s rodent deterrent tape to check. Apart from the cute rat graphics and the gray color, it seems deceptively like normal duct tape to us humans. There’s no tear-inducing odor, but it does have a label warning of prolonged exposure to the skin. Despite daring and double magicians, we haven’t tried it and will trust that it is strong enough to scare off even the most starved of varmints.
Other suggestions for dealing with rodents under your hood include installing a metal grille around wiring harnesses and rubber tubing, and over openings where rodents could crawl into your ventilation or intake systems.
Placing rodent traps in the garage can reduce the population. However, be careful not to expose pets and children to poison or dangerous snap traps.
If the rodents win the war after following these tips, contact a local pest control service. They are trained to best manage stubborn rodent problems and can address your specific challenges.
