Forum Discussion

thomasmnile's avatar
thomasmnile
Explorer
May 11, 2016

RATS!!!

It's spring TV ratings sweeps, so one of the local TV stations consumer action reporters did a story (hardly original, judging by Google search hits) on the horrors of rats and other rodents feasting on automotive wiring and the damage caused.

The reporter states the apparent issue is insulation used on automotive wiring is made of a soy based material, which rats find tasty. The wiring is used by many automakers, but the report focused on Honda because of a pending class action suit filed on behalf of owners that experienced significant (and unreimbursed) repair bills.

So, how does one effectively varmint proof the under hood wiring in their vehicles or keep them away from the "copper pasta"? Not mentioned in the report was whether or not this damage could be covered under comprehensive coverage of an auto policy. :h
Tow Vehicles
  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    rockhillmanor wrote:

    Second year all I did was throw the pellet packs of Just One Bite under the car and around all the tires


    Gotta say that this is a bit irresponsible.

    Those packets ARE NOT meant for use outside in open areas.

    They can and will be consumed by all kinds of wild life....rabbits, squirrels, etc.....domestic pets....and can be carried to places accessible by children. NOT GOOD.

    A better solution is an enclosed bait station with bait chunks firmly attached inside. The box should have a heavy weight or be firmly staked to the ground.
  • mogman's avatar
    mogman
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    When I worked for Honda as a tech...retired in '08 we had a lot of chewed wires, mostly the red ones. Our provincial auto insurance(ICBC) would cover it under comprehensive.
    My dealership was out near farm land and I would get a harness repair about 2-3 times a week. Most common was the knock sensor on the V6 and of course it was the hardest to get to.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    May 11, 2016
    Fordlover wrote:
    Bedlam wrote:
    Get a cat?
    And then don't feed it. They need to be hungry cats or it doesn't work.
    Nah.. even a well-fed cat can't resist a mouse. Besides, that just sounds cruel.
  • thomasmnile's avatar
    thomasmnile
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    Have not experienced the problem.........yet. We live in an apartment now, woods on two sides, no garage, and truck wouldn't fit anyway. Legions of squirrels, which concerns me more, but the action videos of the under hood rats at work in the report was amazing. Got a cat but she's an indoor kitty.
  • Fordlover's avatar
    Fordlover
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    Bedlam wrote:
    Get a cat?


    And then don't feed it. They need to be hungry cats or it doesn't work.
  • mabynack's avatar
    mabynack
    Explorer II
    May 11, 2016
    I owned a Honda several years ago. One morning I went out to go to work and turned the key and nothing happened. I popped the hood and found pieces of hoses and wiring laying around the engine compartment. The little rodents had done about 800 dollars worth of damage overnight. We had a cat, so that wasn't the answer. I put down some rat baits in areas where the dog and cat couldn't get to them and that did the trick.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    I keep my SUV in storage when I hit the road. First year they got the wires.

    Second year all I did was throw the pellet packs of Just One Bite under the car and around all the tires and one for good luck under the hood. Been going on 4 years in storage, bag under the hood never touched and no more chewed up wires.

    If you get them around the tires before they climb up you won't have any dead bodies. I've yet to see any dead mice using this stuff, they eat it and fill up and move on because it doesn't kill them immediately.

    "... consume a lethal dose in a single feeding, but it may take two or more days from time of bait consumption for them to die..."

    That's why I like this brand. Go to a farm store and get the Agricultural strength.
    http://www.justonebitebrand.com/agricultural.html
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    May 11, 2016
    I saw a photo of one not long ago in a MH DP. The OP thought someone had stolen his wiring harness off the Cummins. The harness was like GONE. Very expensive repair. Some insurance policies cover it, some don't. Read the policy carefully.

    I tried a new one this year 2oldman. Place in Maine on line has several different kinds of urea dirt. I tried the bobcat flavor along with every other device known to man.
    Just a note on poison. You won't be happy when the thing dies on top of your holding tank :W

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