Rodent prevention damage

[bronkster]

I had to tow my 2023 Bronco to the dealership with malfunction messages and engine running rough. Many of these issues occurred simultaneously and were different systems (fuel injectors, coolant temp, etc). I suspected electrical issues. Sure enough, I am being told that a rodent chewed through a wiring harness and the estimate is staggering.....$8,000 in parts and labor (most of that is labor), sales tax not included in that!

I cannot afford to have this happen again. I suspect it is squirrels (or rats?). We have many squirrels. Not to mention chewing wires, but they leave their droppings, urine and chewed acorns on the engine and battery. I am going to try using peppermint oil and see how that works. I am curious if anyone out there has had success with this or have other ideas that work. My wife won't allow me to reduce the squirrel population.

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[MayhemMike]

I spray a concoction of Irish spring body wash all over the engine bay of my F150. Seems to work, but you have to be disciplined enough to spray it every month. The squirrels chewed through a vacuum line post and the brakes wouldn’t work.

 

[CarGuy]

I had a pair of squirrels build a nest on my Mercedes. Didn't know until I drove the car (with AC on) and lights went off on the dash. Needless to say, the fan chomped them up. Cost me a small fortune to have MB clear it out and repair the damage.

Since then, I removed the sources of food on the property (bird feeders, nut/seed/fruit trees, etc.) as much as I could. I then trapped many of the squirrels living on the property and drove them to the NJ Pine Barrens with shovel in hand...just like the Sopranos would do. (I released them in the woods far from the house.) Squirrel population decreased considerably and I have not had the problem since.

As for rats/mice, I have a fox family that lives under my shed and also under my neighbor's porch. rats/mice/voles are not a problem. I do put poison trays in my shed and that also eliminated unwanted guests.

 

[Noconer]

Had this same problem with a car a few years ago. There is a rodent repellant spray (does not smell bad to humans, and I never smelled it inside the car), sprayed in in the engine compartment regularly. I also got an electronic rodent deterrent that I plugged in and left under the car (very high-pitched audio, I think. This also was not objectionable to people but maybe to pets?). I got both of these in Lowes / Home Depot near the rat poison etc. Hope this helps.

 

[BEW119]

I had the same problem with my F150, my car insurance covered most of the repair work

 

[615_Bronco]

Call your insurance company

 

[Buck N Bronc]

Fox urine spray from Tractor Supply

 

[indio22]

Raccoons keep invading my Bronco engine compartment. Currently I have a high intensity motion activated light under the dash, they don't like that blinding light. Problem is when the extension cord circuit trips, or my wife drives off with the cord still plugged in, there is trouble again.

I've had it. I bought a high power electric fence amplifier. Just need to build a corral for the Bronco. Hoping it will shock the $&_#@! out of them. Once raccoons develop a pattern it's hard to stop it

 

[brkdncr]

I live in an area that has rodents. While everyone suggests the peppermint or Irish spring or mothballs the only thing that works is leaving your hood open. They like the engine bay because it’s not exposed to birds and other predators. Propping the hood removes that incentive.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Avoid poisons, as they just end up in the beneficial animal population like birds, hawks, etc.

 

[Jdyount]

Get a couple of barn cats. Feeding a couple of outside cats is a LOT cheaper than $8000 in repair.

 

[MilesTeg]

I had to tow my 2023 Bronco to the dealership with malfunction messages and engine running rough. Many of these issues occurred simultaneously and were different systems (fuel injectors, coolant temp, etc). I suspected electrical issues. Sure enough, I am being told that a rodent chewed through a wiring harness and the estimate is staggering.....$8,000 in parts and labor (most of that is labor), sales tax not included in that!

I cannot afford to have this happen again. I suspect it is squirrels (or rats?). We have many squirrels. Not to mention chewing wires, but they leave their droppings, urine and chewed acorns on the engine and battery. I am going to try using peppermint oil and see how that works. I am curious if anyone out there has had success with this or have other ideas that work. My wife won't allow me to reduce the squirrel population.

If you have comprehensive insurance, it should cover rodent damage. And, barring parking inside, making sure to have the right insurance is probably your best bet to protect yourself in the future

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Driving a vehicle regularly is the #1 best defense against critters getting in it. If it sits for long periods (even just a couple days) the critters will start to move in.

Insurance should cover that, it falls under the comprehensive 'damage due to animals' clause for most of them. I'd be calling them up.

It's tough once critters move in...they are difficult at best to get rid of.

 

[Bugkillah]

Can the vehicle be secured in an enclosed garage or shed? Rodent poison stations/boxes around the vehicle and your home helps, if you don’t have cats or foxes. Driving more often helps. Live trapping and releasing, or you can poison squirrels like rats, or set up bird feeder and use a .22 pellet gun.

 

[1987DangerRanger]

Street parking is my only option. Squirrels got me twice, both times covered under comprehensive insurance. Used this spray once and have seen a nibble since, but nothing in months outside of that. It smells like a garlic parm barn.

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