Rats!

Any suggestions on how to keep rats nesting in your engine bay? Found a nest under the intake manifold today when my check engine light went on. They chewed 3 wires clean off from what looks like a temp sensor. F***ing hate rats!

 

Bounce dryer sheets and Irish spring soap

 

Tried both and had no luck. They actually used a dryer sheet to help build their nest! They chewed through a lot of my wires last year. I spray under the hood once a month with tomcat rodent repellent and have one of these. So far so good.
Loraffe Under Hood Animal Repeller Rodent Repellent Ultrasonic Rat Deterrent LED Strobe Lights Keep Mice Away from Car Pest Control for 12V 24V Automobile Truck RV, Rodent Defense Vehicle Protection

$30 Under Hood Rodent Repellent for Car Engines, Dual Action Ultrasonic & LED Strobe Lights for High-Efficiency Rat and Mouse Deterrent, Pest Control for 12V 24V Vehicles, Cars, Trucks, RVs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LCKBGY8?_encoding=UTF8

 

Had to be specifically brand bounce dryer sheets. I don’t know what kind of dark magic they use but they work

 

I am very successful running old school Victor rat traps... think "snap their fucking necks"

How to:
- get two or four Victor rat traps. I like the copper bait holder and trigger vs. the plastic "cheese looking" version
- pre-drill a small hole to attach a screw, put string around screw and tighten. This string will be attached to something immovable; stake, brick, etc. We don't want them running away with our traps... it happens.
- put some yarn on the trigger mechanism. Short piece, tie a knot
- put peanut butter on yarn
- set trap along perimeter of house, garage, etc.
- check every morning
- removing vermin is best with a needle nose pliers, rubber gloves, etc... wash your hands. Not for the faint of heart.

I did not invent this, came from a pro. And yes, everyone has rats, like it or not. I keep my area in check and have been running this trapline for years. The carnage I have seen...

 

Neither will do anything at all, Peppermint Oil seems to be the only thing that deters the little bastards.

 

I have had them chew on the Irish Spring Soap and they also tore up the Bounce Sheets too.

 

Once they've found your car it's over. You have to kill all the rats. I sprayed tomcat everywhere, dryer sheets, the soap, electronic repellants, peppermint, they still came afte my rav4 after they ate the Tacoma twice. Eliminate anywhere they can nest near the vehicle, and declare all out war on the bastards.

Don't mess around with old wives tales. Without insurance my rav4 hybrid would have been $8000 in rat damage.

 

Get cats. Lots of cats. My neighbor has about 10 cats and they breed all year. I have paw prints all over the engine.

 

Tent it!

 

Cats!

 

$40/Month for a local Pest Control Service. They maintain three bait stations in my back yard, one about 20' from where my Taco and another car I own live. I asked about placing one of the bait stations next to my Taco and was told that was a bad idea as it's better to lure the critters away from where you don't want them to be.

My house and yard are clean, however I have two Citrus tree's which my Pest guy says attracts the Rats.

 

Take your tacoma for a swim! ALL the way up to the to the hood! TOP GEAR STYLE

jk op GOOD LUCK

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. I removed the plastic cover off the top of the motor and ordered two of the items below to try out. Expensive but cheaper then replacing harnesses. In the mean time I'm going to buy some traps and two rechargable strobing bike lights for under the hood to make it as unwelcoming as possible. We'll see. Thanks again.

 

Here is 123 posts on this topic.

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

 

I put two of these under the hood. If the sound don’t chase hopefully the strobing LED’s will.





$29 Loraffe Rodent Repellent Ultrasonic Under Hood Animal Repeller Battery Operated Rat Strobe Light Mouse Deterrent for Car Engine Garage Home Attic Warehouse, Indoor Pest Control, Vehicle Protection

$29 Rodent Repellent for Cars Battery Operated Ultrasonic Mice and Rat Deterrent with LED Flashlights, Wireless Under Hood Animal Repeller Pest Control Device for RV, Truck, and Vehicle Engine Protection

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B081NDPJD4?ie=UTF8

i use rechargeable C-Cell batteries and swap the out every week.

And here is another thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/underhood-ultrasonic-rodent-repellents.700179/#post-25108995

 

Mothballs?...suppose to deter mice, might work on rats too.

 

Found making a mix of crushed garlic with mashed habanero peppers added to water then sprayed on the motor and surrounding areas keeps them away for awhile till you need to reapply it. Other than that get out the JAWZ brand rat traps with peanut butter, bacon grease, and set them in there.