Rodents Chewing Knock Sensor Wires

Posted a thread about a CEL that came on couple weeks back, wanted to share my experience here.

CEL threw a p0333 code -- bad knock sensor. Dealer just got back to me. They had to use a borescope to see the damage, but the knock sensor wiring harness is f*cked. Gnawed on by rodents, the dealer says. Found mouse droppings in air filter housing. I just found some mouse droppings on my garage floor beneath where I park the truck. Apparently the wiring casings are soy-based and attract rodents.

Thank god, it looks like my insurance will cover it, otherwise, it's a $1200-1500 repair.

Crazy part is I live in San Francisco. But we have no rodents in our building. I was camping the day before the CEL came on. I think maybe a little critter hitched a ride all the way home.

Anyway, this is a ridiculous problem that Toyota needs to address.

 

While that stinks its nothing new...http://www.synlube.com/IncredibleEdibleCar1.htm

What exactly do you expect Toyota to do?

 

Not use rodent-attracting wiring, I guess. Or figure out a way to prevent rodents from getting to it. Crazy that I'd have a $1500 repair bill on a truck with only 30,000 miles on it.

 

Had this happen two years ago and final bill was closer to $3000. Didn't want to get it done at the dealer but ended up having to just get it done there. Good luck man.

 

Then you can also use this special rodent resistant tape: https://www.amazon.com/Honda-4019-2...pID=31IIUdioHkL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

No rodents in your building? That's what you think.

 

Anyone know why it's the knock sensor wire that gets chewed? I have seen this multiple times and it's always that same wire.

 

This isn’t just a Toyota thing. In my old Dakota, twice I had mice ruin my distributor cap by chewing on it, and ruined spark plug wires.

 

I'm guessing it's somewhere that retains heat and the critters climb in there this time of year as the temps drop lower.

Looks like it's under the intake manifold?

 

If you didn't, you do now.

But I bet you its a local flower child mouse, one who couldn't cut it at the Mouse House down the road.

 

Freaking squirrels chewed the plastic fittings that hold the fuel lines on the driver's side. Started it up one day and gas came pouring out. Used a couple small hose clamps and problem fixed. Neighbor said to hang some moth balls in panty hose and it would keep them away.

 

Fabric softener works wonders to keep critters from your vehicle also.

 

Yep. Right by the intake. Service advisor said critters love that zone.

 

Thanks, I was going to ask the dealer if they had something like that.

 

Ya, no shit. Had never seen any evidence of mice at all here, but the morning after my truck's issue found mouse dropping in the garage. Hopefully it was just one mouse. Got some traps now, I'll take my deductible out of that SOB.

 

Well, I do live pretty close to Golden Gate park. Def some critters in there. Human and otherwise.

 

Rodents are everywhere... Power companies have spent millions of dollars trying to figure out how to keep them out of electrical substations and transformers, it can't be done.

 

I once had a rodent chew the wiring to the front bumper airbag sensor....fortunately I was able to repair it myself with nothing more than a some soder and electrical tape and heat shrink. Im sorry to hear about your troubles.

 

Just wipe it on?

 

My older tacoma suffered from a hungry squirrel. The dealer wanted $1400 to replace the wiring harness.
They would not just repair 3 wires, so I took it to a mom and pop shop and they did a great job for $150
A little research pointed me too a plastic container with holes drilled into it and moth balls, zip tied in my engine bay.