Critters Chewing Gas lines

I just went through multiple repairs at the dealer on my little 2004 Tacoma 4-banger totaling over 1500 bucks for "rodent damage".
I know from experience that mice like to eat automotive and motorcycle wiring insulation, but I was really surprised when I was told that something had chewed up a gasket on my gas tank filler pipe (took it in because when I tried to put gas in it, the gas just ran down the inside of the body and onto the ground).
And then to add insult to injury, immediately after the filler pipe repair, the check engine light came on and when I took it back the shop said that there were bites out of the tubing that leads to and from the gas tank to all those emission control valves.
I do leave the truck parked in the driveway, and we do have both mice and squirrels, and even groundhogs running around in the area, but the idea that anything would chew on anything that gasoline touches sounds a little strange to me.
Since there is a complex purge valve set up to prevent gasoline fumes from escaping the gas tank, I am wondering if that is the real issue, and the "chewing" is being used as an excuse by the manufacturer to avoid needing to do expensive recalls on old vehicles.
Has anyone that does their own repairs instead of having to rely on the validity of what the dealer says had any experience with actual rodent damage on the gas lines going to and from the gas tank?

 

I have not.
However, years ago a squirrel kept getting into the attic of my garage and had some obsession with chewing cords off appliances. He/she cut off the cords of every wire in that garage and cut some cords in half repeatedly. It was super frustrating to find every cord severed.
Like humans, some animals have bizarre and unhealthy obsessions!
Rodents got in my land rover but just seemed to shit everywhere and pack fluffy insulation and acorns into tight places.
GL~

 

I had to have the filler neck replaced last year because of rodent damage. I started using Tom cat rodent spray. It seems to work, so far.

 

They should be fine with showing/sending you photos of the chewed lines, if they won't I'd suggest finding another shop. (depending on where you are and if that's feasible or easy to do) The chewing is not subtle, and you can tell what it is right away.

Rats got to a bunch of coolant lines in my truck. I replaced once, then they came and finished the job on some more, including some other lines/hoses to the throttle body, by then I'd hit my limit and had it towed to the local and the first thing a tech did was send me photos and video of the gnawed lines to be replaced. Even though I'd seen them, it was a nice bit of customer service, up front, no upselling or BS.

Good luck. I don't wish it on anyone, it sucks dealing with them.

 

Remember
By definition
This would be a Comprehensive Coverage Loss
(If you have full coverage)

im 50/50 if dmg total is $1500 thou
(They will surely raise your rates nowadays)
But if additional dmg found…….
Always an option

 

As far as vermin and fuel lines……
After 26yrs as adjuster, seen all kinds of things chewed…including anything rubber

interesting thou…..I just found this out 3-4years ago
The wires
Typically (every manufacturer) makes a harness….lets say 15 wires in a bundle, wrapped with a harness sheath.
Industry standard…..to promote flexibility/lack of kinking wires of harness assembly, manufactures/sublet vendors that make OE harnesses use corn starch inside harness. Thats what vermin are after when chewing wires
Crazy.

 

I've twice had to replace the fuel return hoses going into the tank. Don't know why the critters are targeting them, but it gives me practice lifting the bed.
On a similar note, the local squirrels seem to be attracted to gasoline. Over the years, they've chewed through the plastic tanks on my tiller and two lawn mowers as well as chewed through a couple of plastic gas tanks. I've had to wrap things with hardware cloth to impede their huffing habit.

 

92 f250 ruined, was worth something but it's going to scrap yard now. No harnesses to be had. Sad Has a 351 and a manual trans. Vermin

 

that’s crazy
Has to be some reason
Like smell (?) or they think bc fuel doesn’t freeze it’s water?
I dunno

 

I cannot ‘like’ your post

Ugh….what a kick in the teeth
Sorry

 

Thank you all for the info!
I am going to try all the repellant sprays and noisemakers and mothballs. Since my wife's Nissan is also parked next to my Tacoma, I am worried about it also. I am thinking about looking for a wildlife camera with an internet connection so that I can be alerted and try to run the critters off the next time.

 

For me it was ground squirrels on my old '94 pickup, they only got to the casings of the throttle cables but I'm always under the hood for one reason or another. We had other problems with them that turned me into this guy . . . .



Are you in an area where you can have a couple outdoor cats? Good luck with these little demons and welcome to TW.

 

Kinda gross, but for me, pouring some of my urine around where my truck is parked kept rats from rumbling around inside my engine compartment and chewing on some hoses. They are well known to be fearful of predator piss.

 

Rodents will eat anything & everything....

Its a 2004, theyre not lying to you, or trying to cover-up anything that the manufacturer would have to pay for....
Theres no conspericies going on here.....

Get your rodent situation under control, or it will just happen again, & again, & again....
Ive had to replace the same NOX sensors on an f150 eco boost 3 times for a customer a week apart each time, which required remove intake manifold assy, coolant distribution time that isnt fun to get to, all the DI fuel injectors & fuel rails to access the NOX sensors....
& reassemble...

 

That connector can still be purchased....
& the wiring harness can easily be repaired...
But appears you just let it go at this point & they probably overtaken the entire vehicle....

 

Yeah it had been sitting for awhile, and it was a dawg with other fleas and that harness pushed it over the "its getting to be a big hassle" limit. It's going away sold are junked.

 

I think they like the high