PSA: Rodent proof your engine before it's too late! (P0333 - DIY Knock sensor harness repair)

From my research, moth balls seem to be hit-or-miss. There are a couple folks who said that Tomcat rodent repellent spray works very well, so long as it's reapplied every 30 days. I'm planning on using that in combination with Honda's capsaicin-infused tape on the affected wires.

 

Posting my experience here, hopefully may be useful for someone, but some may find TLDR.

About 2 years ago I started getting the dreaded 333 code. But it was only happening once every 2 or 3 months, so it was easy enough to just reset the code and go on with life. I'd done some research on the code and found this thread. A once every few months code was not worth pulling it apart,,, to me anyway.

A few months ago, when COVID reared it's ugly head and I started driving way less, the code would be coming up every time the truck reached full operating temp. So something needed to get done. Since the wisdom of this thread said the most likely cause was mouse-munching, and could be covered by insurance, I took it into my dealer this week. They pulled the manifold and initially told my it was mouse chewed, as I'd told them that was what I suspected, so I called my insurance and they would cover it under comprehensive coverage, less the deductible. Sounded reasonable to me.

Dealer called next morning and said it wasn't chewed, one of the knock sensors tested bad and the harness was good. Damn! Now the bill is mine.....

For cost information, (note that I told them that I knew documented procedure was to remove the heads to replace the harness/sensor and I wasn't going to pay for that effort) to R&R the harness alone came to about $1500. Adding in two sensors at $320 each, and I ended up paying about $2150. Note that harness was good, and only one sensor was bad, but I let them replace the harness ($35) and the extra sensor ($320) just to know they were good. The cost breakdown was for about 8 hrs. labor, the rest parts. I know some of you were saying 6 hrs +/- some, so just given book rates I expected to get an added hour or two.

 

I drop every one of these SOB's every time I see one.......

They either dig holes or climb up under the hood......

17 M2 Ruger 77.....nuff said !

 

Yea them squirrels are sneaky...lol Too bad you have an enemy identification problem it is the common field mouse.

Squirrel Lives Matter

 

pulled the intake manifolds today, and fixed up one wire on the drivers side knock sensor. i didnt see any other wire issues but when i put it back together the code came back immediately.

ordered the harness.

Question is:

i didnt take note as to where it disconnects in the back and how easy is it to get too?

 

@Subway4X4

 

in case anyone is interested :

i have large hands and was able to remove the wiring harness from the knock sensors without removing the coolant pipes. not easy but doable if your persistent. the harness connector is just off center towards the passenger side. its also held in place under the coolant pipes that needs to be cut/detached before the harness comes out.

 

Get a male cat, feed him just enough to keep him around. He'll hunt. Mine sits on top of a front tire, where it's warm. Engine heat also attracts mice. For the times when he's not there, I have one of these..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S6LYDG3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
No way to tell if it's working, but no mouse evidence for years. I don't drive much, keep a battery maintainer plugged in.

 

Around my part of Oklahoma, squirrels are the problem. When I worked the line, boss’s minivan had chewed wires for fuel injectors. Fixed them, of course. How to prevent happening again. Scent wafers from the hunting section of Wally. Hung couple coyote scent under hood. No, can’t smell it thru heater. But, rodents figure there’s a predator under there, turn and leave...I guess. Anyway. No more damaged wires.

 

On my way to get mower parts this guy just showed up. He sat there eyeballing me the entire 20 minute trip. His new home is the local john deere dealership!

 

This just happened to me, 1700$ dollars later now I'm on a crusade to prevent this from ever happening again. Mouse nest found under the intake manifold.

 

Holy crap! Guess there's no question on your's what the culprit is.

 

That sux. How did it cost $1700? I may have gotten lucky just where it chewed I had room to splice the wires.

 

Great post OP. A rat took out the knock sensor wire on my wife’s Pilot last year. That bastard had also climbed around in my Taco’s engine compartment but fortunately decided the Pilot’s wiring tasted better. Replacing the wire and sensor on the Pilot was a five hour job plus the additional two hours I spent cleaning the manifolds since I had them apart. After that I got six rat traps for my garage.

This morning when I walked out into the garage I got a whiff of death. Looked around and one of the Victor rat traps had done its job. It didn’t appear the critter had visited before since I didn’t see any evidence of turds or pee stains. Definitely counting my blessings on this one today.

 

Nice write up OP. I feel like I should do this but damn that's a lot of work and dismantling of engine components.

 

Simple approach...for mice and rats, I use a mouse/rat trap baited with peanut butter and maybe a ones-a-bite poison bait. Never had any mice doing that. Once I caught three mice with two traps, two the first night and one the next night.

 

You set the trap under the hood?

 

Whatever all'ya'all do, don't bother with the dryer sheet myth. Little bastards just take em & make nests with em.

 

My check engine light popped on this morning and I checked the code. (P0333)

Am I okay driving this a few miles to work and back for a few days before I can get it into the shop for repair?

sorry if was mentioned earlier. I didn’t read all 5 pages of comments.

thanks!

Ryan