Community Chat

[Tinkrbl44]

OP is lucky there wasn't an engine massacre under her hood ........     When animals die under the hood, it's almost impossible to get the SMELL out .... might as well just buy a new car.   

[Goodie2shoes]

Venezia wrote:

Did the Fresh Cab say it was okay to tape it to the motor? I'm not sure what you mean by that, but just make sure it's not somewhere that the heat from the engine might set it alight.

I'm not trying to scare you; just trying to make sure it's taped away from the actual engine block, if there's anything flammable in it. I've never heard of Fresh Cab but I'll look it up. Any extra tools in the arsenal to defeat the little rodents is okay with me!

No it didn't say ok to tape it to the motor but the shop rep said ok to tape dryer sheets to the cover over the battery. I have a 2013 Equinox, taped the bag over the covered area of the battery, nothing exposed to any wires. I thought about that  because I didn't want any exposure that would cause a fire.  Thanks for your concern.

[Venezia]

@Goodie2shoes  - I just checked online about this product and I'm going to be out tomorrow so will buy some.  It sounds really good.  Thanks for the information!

[croemer]

We had that happen once to our DD's car...and oh the odor...for MONTHS! When we turned the car on...it made mince meat of the mice. UGH

[SXMGirl]

@Goodie2shoes , I have never heard of that but I am glad that your car was not damaged by rodents and that you got your car taken care of quickly.  

[BirkiLady]

I have a friend who didn't realize squirrels had damaged her brakes. She drove her car about 1 1/2 blocks from her home and was unable stop when another vehicle ran a red light. Both cars were totaled, but no injuries. It was a residential area. When the insurance companies were going through her car, they found the damage to her brakes! Fortunately for her, the other driver had run the light and was ticketed. But, it did make her feel better about her own driving skills.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

I have not had that happen, but one year I got the lawn mower out, cranked it up, and had body parts flying from the undercarriage - yes, there was a nest.

No need to call an exterminator.

[DiAnne]

I had mice build a nest in my car and they did chew the wires.  Several hundred dollar repair.  I guess they were just trying to get warm.  I do not have a garage but so far it has only happened once!

[GCR18]

My mother had issues with her sunroof leaking.  Took it to the dealer and was told the wires were chewed leading to the sunroof. Told her it would run $3000 to replace the wires.  Have to disassemble a lot to do it.  We haven't done anything about it, but will have to do something.  I have to deal with it next time I visit.

[WindingRoad]

This problem is getting more common as cars converted from petroleum base wire covering to soy base covering around 2012 or so.  There's been many reports of Toyotas with this problem but all the manufacturers have changed over to the new wiring.. It's mice and rats, they love it.  Much better than the old rubber wires.  Some repairs are 1k,5k and even over 10k, with car owners fighting with their insurance companies to cover their the claims.  The lawsuits against Toyota and others have been dismissed in court.

It's not just up north where it's colder, it's all over, even in Florida. Nothing to do with the cold weather.  Investigate all the preventative remedies, there's many, check on Amazon. This many be cheaper in the end for the car co's, but not for drivers