Engine Bay Rat F*cked - Advice

Yes it will. Good point! F'ing insurance companies are a lock to report to Carfax.

 

Man....You've been driving like this for a while? Feel sorry for you though.... I think I would go with the insurance company. BTW, this is not the first time I hear a story like this, my co-worker in Colorado had the same problem back in June last year, he replaced the entire wire hardness and firewall insulation by the insurance company too. People said the new vehicle these days use a soy based material on the wiring, so it is easily to attract animals.

 

This ^^

Obviously with the whole COVID thing I don’t as much, but it does get almost daily use. I’m guessing they set up shop within the past week, because I was under the hood recently.

 

I’m guessing fruit tree was the main culprit. Now I’m on a rodent killing spree. We live next to open space, so I guess it’s somewhat expected. I have a neighbor further up the road that gave up killing after a month, cause he’d get 5-6 trap kills every night. That was mainly field mice tho... I’m thinking my situation more likely involves a rat.

 

Had a neighbor across the alley when I lived in Pacific Beach that had all sorts of fruit trees. A steady problem with critters of all varieties.
Man I do miss San Diego though. Good times.

 

So, after much deliberation. I’ve decided to roll the dice and drop the engine. I did entertain the idea of pocketing the 3k and then buying a new mountain bike. But I just celebrated new bike day a few weeks ago... and I think the wife would probably shit herself if she came home to see another bike box in the garage.

I’m hoping replacement of the firewall insulation may give some additional benefit to the idea of being able to completely remove any rodent smells that may attract them again.

Moth balls and capcasin/peppermint spray will be quickly installed as soon as I get the vehicle back.

 

No.

The 3rd gen Tacomas do not have any soy based wiring insulation.

 

Drive the truck more. Something had some time to get cozy and make themselves a home.

 

it seems like (front an earlier poster) the animals build it by night and leave the truck during the day, so daily commuters are still susceptible. Definitely worth a peak under the engine every time you get gas.

 

Also try dryer sheets in the engine bay.

 

Toyota Rat Damage (TRD)

 

Here is another thread with 6 pages of tips.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/effing-mice.461226/

 

put the 3K towards a garage.

 

File a claim. If I saw rat fucked insulation as a buyer i'd walk away

 

My Dad had rats set up shop in his Audi twice in the last two years to the tune of around $2600 between the two incidents. He's tried everything with no real success, that is until he left the hood open. Sounds counter-intuitive but it's worked for the last 8 months or so....I guess they like their privacy.

 

Honestly doesnt look too bad providing no wires were chewed. Id probably spend an afternoon with a big shop vac and garden hose cleaning everything really well then inspect as much as I can get to.

Provided the wiring looms look good, drop in a new engine air filter, new cabin filter, take a pair of scissors and trim up any little bits of that first black layer of the firewall and good to go. Maybe a new engine cover if you're so inclined

Oh and traps, or other measures

 

Where exactly did they chew their way in?

 

Wow! Sorry about all the damage.

Even RATS love our trucks!

 

i've heard of peppermint oil or something along those lines, I'd put poison before they f it up worse!

 

Definitely chain and pocket. Why turn down free money?