Have you covered your exposed wires?

Might be better to zip tie some metal mesh around the connector up past the split loom but still allowing the wires to flex. Too rigid casting in a block can cause the wires to fail from too short a flex length.

 

It depends on what you're protecting against, weather intrusion, not worth it. Animal intrusion, I have no idea. For me, I'm cool with weatherpacs.

 

True. I often camp and have found mouse tracks on top of the engine, saw rabbits and hares under the truck, some often smelling its underside, and have seen ground squirrels jump out of the wheel wells.

Cayenne pepper stopped most of the mice visits into the engine bay, but cant keep the larger animals from under the truck without wrapping it in chicken wire like they do for porcupines!

 

This is a good idea for the stuff under the truck. I know about the virtues of crimping vs soldering battery lugs, same issue as you mentioned.

Hmm, I will have to think more about all those connectors in the engine compartment, there also has to be a easier way to cover them and enable those wires to flex as well that would be better than sealing them onto the connectors.

 

Covered mine with Fluid Film when I rust proofed the truck.....

 

Even employed as an Electrical Engineer, I'd do a lot of things before I was worried about those wires.

 

There's a few places near my town where chicken wire isn't enough. People routinely have brake lines chewed 30km from the nearest town which only has a population of >700 people

 

Ah, but it all has to do where you live. My workmate had over $600 worth of damage done to his Dakota from hares while in our employee parking area.

 

Does no one make a product like Bitter Apple (or similar) that could be sprayed on and around rubber or plastic parts that would discourage animals from chewing? Made specifically for vehicles?
And what do farmers and construction companies use to keep animals out of their equipment wiring? Seems like tractors and other equipment spend all their lives in fields and work sites but i’ve never heard of chewed wires being a major problem? Just curious....

 

I hope not Fluid Film rots rubber so who knows what it does to wiring.

 

Thats fair. And hilarious.

Up here we just get shit on by seagulls at my office.

 

I've been using these products..

https://www.earthkind.com/product/fresh-cab-rodent-repellent/

and a Messinas rodent repellent in a pellet form. I couldn't find a product link, not sure if it's discontinued?

Both when fresh are pretty pungent. For the rodent pellets I used some velcro to stick a small tupperware tub in the engine bay and put a cup or two of the pellets inside with some holes punched in the lid. I had some humorous thoughts of buying a plastic garden defender owl to put on my bed when I'm in the danger zone. I've also been parking in busier parts of our lot at my workplace, where the damage occurred, to discourage any attempted squirrel squatting.

I think several different types of repellents or taste discouraging solutions are a good step if you know there are rodent issues wherever you are. I like the idea of wire wrap for the little critters. The idea of an animal eating entire connectors and other plastic bits keeps me up at night. Not to mention porcupines eating tires? Yikes.

 

I read, in another thread, one member keeps a spray bottle of PineSol in his bed and sprays wheel wells and such with it when he is parked at a trailhead.
Don't recall the thread.

 

Pretty popular at some Colorado trailheads too.

 

I think I’ve just found the holy grail of rodent wire chew proofing!!

3M 24-1X15FT Scotch Electrical Shielding Tape 24" x 15', 1" x 15', 50 per case

$37 3M Scotch Electrical Shielding Tape 24, 1 in x 15 ft (25 mm x 4.6 m), Tinned Copper, Open-weave, Shielding Braid Tape, 1 roll

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078VLJ3ZB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HTZsDbGHEFEZY

Plus if you use this stuff on your truck, you can wave at people as you drive by their EMP disabled cars during the next nuclear war! (Well, maybe )

I will test it out for rodent resistance and post if...

 

Propping open the hood 5 or 6 inches when parked will usually prevent rodents from building a nest. I think this fall I will try mounting a night light under the hood and plug it when parked.