rodents wrecked my car

[bower]

can you believe it.
Had to get the car towed as she was shaking and sputtering with the 'electronic engine control' indicator on.
If that had been the problem, it would've been under warranty.
Instead I'm told the fuel injector wires were chewed off and the engine festooned with crap and bits of food.
Besides costing over $700 with 3 hours of labor to repair, she suggest I should have the car "professionally detailed" so they're not attracted back to the old palace..

I have seriously to get rid of these beasts.

[worth1]

can you believe it.
Had to get the car towed as she was shaking and sputtering with the 'electronic engine control' indicator on.
If that had been the problem, it would've been under warranty.
Instead I'm told the fuel injector wires were chewed off and the engine festooned with crap and bits of food.
Besides costing over $700 with 3 hours of labor to repair, she suggest I should have the car "professionally detailed" so they're not attracted back to the old palace..

I have seriously to get rid of these beasts.

I had them ruin one of my trucks.
No idea how to fix it.

[zeuspaul]

It cost me about $1500. I don't know how detailing will prevent rodents from chewing on wires. They usually chew wires under the hood but last time it was somewhere under the car which cost me $1500. They added some shielding to the exposed wires. Now I have added some shielding under the hood. I wrapped some wires with aluminum foil.

Under my hood I have six snap traps set. I get about one per week. It's a bit of a pain to remove and replace but I don't go out that much. Someone suggested a repellent. I found one on Amazon but it didn't work. I think it was mint based. There may be a better repellant out there somewhere.

[JRinPA]

Well I'd say a cat, but I remember an aunt that started up her vehicle one cold morning, the engine went thump thump thump and that was the end of that particular cat.

She got shell shock from it, or whatever it was called at the time, and for a long time after she was afraid to turn the key without opening the hood first.

[bower]

Oh... this is not good! My sympathy for all the like woes! What to do?

I went out with the pick and hit all the areas where I saw any vole tunnels - dug it up good and not a sign of any animals. So I don't know where they're nesting now (other than the car, obviously!)
I have a lot of straw to clean up in the garden, it's gonna be a thorough job this year with attention to where the hey are these felons hiding out.

Other than that, I wondered if starting the car every day would help?
Much as I hate to be wasting gas, it would sure be worth it if it would prevent a repeat.
What do you think?

[worth1]

It won't hurt.

[zeuspaul]

Rodents are attracted to warm engines.

[Labradors]

So sorry to hear this Bower! I had a similar problem when rodents chewed through a gas line in my Subaru. A while later, I learned that they also chew through peoples Christmas lights. Do you know why? It's because the plastic in my Japanese car was made from SOY and was thus attractive to rodents !!!!!!!! Grrrrrrr!!!!

[bower]

You'd think they'd have the sense to put some kind of anti-feedant in that plastic instead of SOY. This is simply madness...

[pondgardener]

@bower Rodent repellent tape from Honda

https://frogwheeler.com/honda-rodent-tape-work/

[bower]

Thanks so much @pondgardener ! Excellent information there.
I have a large bag of hot pepper powder which I was planning to use around the garden because I also read last fall, it would be a deterrent for the voles. I'd forgotten about that, but I think it might be more effective than peppermint!

[zeuspaul]

In addition to my traps I might try an ultrasonic device.
Amazon product # B0C52Z94TC. It would require me using an extension cord.

Under the hood I use the made2catch metal snap traps. They last longer than the wood ones. Amazon product # B07CZ3WLMK I don't use bait because I don't want to attract any rodents.

Near by and on the ground I use live animal. If near the car I don't use bait.
Amazon product # B08536N67T

trap.jpg

[Cole_Robbie]

Cars are meant to be driven. Sitting is the worst thing for them. Drive the car around the block once a day, and it won't be a nice place for a mouse to live.

[JRinPA]

How long was it sitting, a week or more? Was it snowed in and you couldn't start it?

[bower]

The party may have started during the big snow events mid february to the end of march. Car was stuck on ice and not moved for two weeks, and after the second snow it was close to two weeks again.
The week before the wires failed I was on the move every couple of days at minimum.
I did see squirrel tracks around the car once or twice, during the snow time. But maybe once they find the spot, they go back to it.

[GoDawgs]

I wonder if painting wires under the hood with a ghost pepper-type based sauce would help.

[Labradors]

Decoy wires GoDawgs .

Interesting article Pondgardener! They make installing the tape sound so easy. How do we know
which lines are attractive to rats, and how do we reach them?? Why don't they come with pre-installed tape? I think the answer is to not buy Japanese cars next time!

[zeuspaul]

They chew the wires on my Ford Explorer.

[bower]

Well... I spent the day out doing my best to reduce the chance of a repeat.
First I set up a compost spot far away from the driveway, and I moved the whole pile of winter compost. There is a nice layer of dirt still at the bottom, and I'll put some extra dirt on top and plant something permanent there. No more 'close to the house' winter compost for me.
Second, I cleaned up all the garden and woods area near where the car is parked. Snip snip all the zillions of baby fir trees. Cleared up straw and raked tufts of grass. And once I removed the little trees, voila, I discovered Palais du Vole, magnificent entrance holes at the foot of two large trees, down below the bank to the driveway most handy to the unhappy compost pile. I did the same on the area closest to the house where I also park, and didn't find any convincing holes - but I did hear a squirrel off in the woods.
So I really am wondering what to do with those voles holes.
I know I made it worse for them by clearing the area, so they will be easily spotted by predators.
I thought maybe I should block the holes with a rock?
Trapping would be iffy, there are too many birds here not to mention neighbor cat etc.