Rodents Chewing Knock Sensor Wires

I've not had any wires chewed yet but squirrels took to packing acorns in the engine bay last year. A lot of acorns.

After cleaning up I took the toes of panty hose and put a wad of cotton in them, and zip tied in two places under hood that were easy for me to access.

Everytime I check the oil/clean leaves off the cowl, etc etc. I put a couple of drops of peppermint oil extract (very strong/concentrated) on them.

No sign of a husk or other trackings since.

We'll see how it holds up this winter.

But the first couple of days you walk by the vehicle after a 'dose' you think of Spearmint gum..........

 

Actually the fabric softener sheets to be more specific. Just stuff them in problem areas/nooks and crannies.

 

I live in a very rodent prone mountain area and they always come and hang out under the engine bay, especially in the winter since its nice and warm. The best ive found are two things: bounce dryer sheets and irish spring soap. They HATE both of them. Stuff the dryer sheets in safe areas in the engine bay. The soap you can shave and put into a bag with holes in it. Then place accoringly

 

Had a guy tell me about rat traps baited with peanut butter. Said to drill a hole and wire it to something or they would run off with the trap!

 

Thanks for the comedy break.

You have rats or mice and it isn't Toyota's problem you have them.

Lots of good tips here. I would stay away from mothballs as they smell like hell.

 

It's not Toyota's problem that mice exist, but it's bullshit that they use coating on their wires that attract them.

 

Another good reason to keep them out of there is that you don't want to be inadvertently breathing any of that crap in.

 

Doesn't that make the pantyhose uncomfortable to wear?

 

ALL manufacturers use the same wire with soy based insulation...

 

And lumpy...

 

They don't ride up as bad!

 

Get a cat, feed it just enough to keep it coming around. It will stay and hunt all rodents 24/7. Solved my mouse in the cabin air filter and heater blower problem years ago.

Even helps my ungrateful cat hating neighbors, haha.

 

Air rifle cut down the chipmunk population

 

Well, got the truck back. $4500 worth of damage. Dealer replaced knock sensor, wiring harness, and a zillion gaskets because they had to take off intake manifold, timing cover, and lord knows what else to get to the wiring. 19 hours of labor. Showed me photos of the knock sensor taken with a borescope -- sure enough, little tooth marks. Found rodent droppings in the air filter and on the intake.

THANK GOD for comprehensive insurance. Just paid a $500 deductible and good to go. Granted, once insurance got involved, the dealer was shocked to discover it would take a lot longer than they'd previously thought and the estimate skyrocketed. MFers. Did a fine job though.

Anyway, this ain't no joke. Keep the vermin away. If I wasn't still making payments I wouldn't have comprehensive insurance and this would have SUCKED.

 

Recently found mice have been fornicaiting in my cabin air filter... I guess it’s time to install some mesh and stuff a bunch of Irish spring soap everywhere possible.

 

My god. Is that what the aftermath of mice fornication looks like?

 

Parked the truck in the driveway for a few weeks, and came back to an awful smell upon starting it up. The bulk of that mess is rotten tomatoes from my garden.

Open to all suggestions to keeping them away for good.

 

call in Bill Murry's rodent removal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lYm0c7gYyU

 

I use a 17M2 for any squirrels on my property....

dead SOB's now....

 

Moth balls and dryer sheets work great.

Also, I go to HD or Lowes and get concentrated liquid bug killer concentrate and poke a hole in the foil top liner and squirt the bottle around the outside of the house and bugs and snakes stay away. Ortho, Bayer or etc works great and cost about $12.00 and lasts 4 to 6 months.