Rats ate my wires!!

so i took my pickup in today to see why it keeps throwing codes after i reset them. it was running sluggish and hesitant, i could tell something was up besides the engine light. took it in and turns out some fuckn rats were in my engine bay and ate my knock sensor wires. I know the rats prob got me when i parked at my friends house for the day. Anyone else ever have a rat eating wire problem?

 

Rats??

Just Kidding!
Yes, they can be a real issue some places!
Found this on line...
As to how to prevent it, drivers can try what gardeners have known for years.

Rodents don’t go anywhere they believe predators are lurking.

Sprinkling crystalized fox urine around your parking space is a possible solution, although you shouldn’t put it in your engine compartment because it could get into the ventilation.

The item is actually pretty easy to find, at places like Home Depot, Amazon and even a site called predatorpee.com.

 

service writer said there is a few items i can place around the engine bay to keep them away. Moth balls, dryer sheets were some of his recommendations. anyone else have any input?

 

I have never heard them getting a vehicle that fast.

Learned something new

Maybe if it sat for a few weeks

I have used the moth balls for years in tool boxes /vehicles

 

Here are some ideas you may find helpful.

https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/Mice-in-Your-Motor

 

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

 

I live in the country and have a feral cat colony that runs around the neighborhood. I have caught and fixed them all. Point is I have not seen a rabbit, mouse, rat, squirrel or any small rodent. just a thought.

 

Neither of these will do any good against Pack Rats. They seemed to eat the moth balls I tried.

 

No kidding, in the spring I set traps outside the house to keep that summers herd down.

 

I believe there's currently a lawsuit going on over this

http://bgr.com/2016/12/19/vehicle-recalls-toyota-soy-wiring/

 

got my truck back. $1590. insurance paid for most. I paid my $500 deductible. very paranoid now lol.

 

Chipmunks got to mine and I ended up catching just about everyone that scurried around the yard. My insurance covered the fix after my deductible also.

 

I've heard the dryer sheet thing. Also the Bounce Dryer "bars" work extremely well and last longer. Added bonus is that your truck leaves a trail of fresh scent. Look for things with mint or lavender (they hate those two smells).
Last year while camping in Mojave, I woke up one day early to give my truck a once over from the road the day before. Found little paw prints all over my engine bay and of course feared the worst. Luckily the little bastard(s) were only looking for a warm place to sleep at night so no damage was done. All it took was one night and they found a way in. If they had been hungry, it might have gone a bit different.