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Replies: 41
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All-In [10430]
TigerPulse: 100%
45
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Critters chewing on car wires
3
Sep 11, 2024, 8:45 AM
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We have to keep one of our cars parked up at the street, and we have a very wooded neighborhood, so lots of squirrels, etc. Twice now, we've had wires chewed at on that car (a 2013 Mini Cooper - very low to the ground). One repair was around $1000. The last we caught pretty early, thankfully. We currently have two ultra-sonic emitters in the hood, that we installed after the first $1000 wire snack, but that didn't stop the second at all. Any other thoughts? The mechanic suggested moth balls under the hood, but I'm concerned that the smell will make it into the vehicle.
I'm thinking of putting some more gravel up there at the road and partially burying a tupperwear type container that has some moth balls in it with some holes drilled in the top to let the scent get out, but to keep larger animals (dogs, cats) out. That way we can have the moth balls under the vehicle when it's parked, and maybe make the critters develop new habits around that gravel area. Any ideas on that one?
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Oculus Spirit [40323]
TigerPulse: 100%
57
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Joined: 2003
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Soak a small piece of wood in peppermint oil and find a spot you can affix it
3
Sep 11, 2024, 8:57 AM
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safely under the hood
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Offensive Star [324]
TigerPulse: 98%
15
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
1
Sep 11, 2024, 8:57 AM
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You probably already know this. But that should be covered under your comprehensive coverage. Subject to your deductible.
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All-In [10284]
TigerPulse: 99%
45
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Joined: 2015
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Put several rat glue boards under the edges. Have to keep an eye on it.
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Sep 11, 2024, 8:58 AM
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They are very large. You'll have to move them obviously when moving vehicle. Catch those things and kill them. I sold pest control for 24 years. Never heard of squirrels doing this, but def a rodent thing.
Or use rat Snap traps. If you're doing this don't leave the car in the street if possible. Put it back in your driveway. Don't use it if you have stray animals around your home. Don't want to catch a cat or something. I had a chipmunk tearing things up, caught him on a large rat glue board.
Things that emit noise don't usually work.
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Paw Master [17807]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Put several rat glue boards under the edges. Have to keep an eye on it.
2
Sep 11, 2024, 9:28 AM
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I’ve seen many squirrel chewed wires in cars. Acorns in air cleaners. Rat nests and all kinds of crazy rodent/squirrel damage to vehicles.
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TigerNet Elite [69781]
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61
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Joined: 2001
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I have a friend who farms...
1
Sep 11, 2024, 9:02 AM
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and, from time to time, it's necessary to leave some of his farming machinery sitting outside in the fields. Like you, he was looking for a solution to keep critters from chewing on wires. He bought a device called a "Mouse Blocker". It attaches to the battery and emits a high frequency sound that rodents apparently hate. When he first told me about it, I thought he had lost his mind (like the deer whistles some people put on their cars). I don't know if the thing works or not, but my friend swears by it. Purchased on Amazon for $50 or $60.
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All-TigerNet [6061]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Playmaker [379]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
1
Sep 11, 2024, 9:09 AM
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Compared to a pump action 177 pellet gun how much louder are those?
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All-TigerNet [6061]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
1
Sep 11, 2024, 10:38 AM
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The air gun will be quieter, but using .22 shorts will get close to air rifle db levels.
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All-TigerNet [6061]
TigerPulse: 100%
39
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
1
Sep 11, 2024, 10:46 AM
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I've used a scoped .177 to kill squirrels and it worked OK, but mainly, the .22 is more accurate and more effective in killing the squirrel.... and depending on the rifle is much faster loading for follow-up shots.
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National Champion [7661]
TigerPulse: 100%
42
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22 travels too far.
4
Sep 11, 2024, 10:20 AM
[ in reply to Re: Critters chewing on car wires ] |
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Since I live on 7 acres, I can't take the chance on how far 22 bullets fly, so a 20 gauge works better. All of the neighbors also use them, so the noise is not a problem.
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All-TigerNet [6061]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: 22 travels too far.
1
Sep 11, 2024, 10:42 AM
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If you have a large diameter tree in the area and sandy soil (no rocks), construct the kill zone in front of the tree in line with your shooting location so the bird seed falls to the ground from the feeder. The tree can serve as your backstop if you're a decent shot.
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National Champion [7661]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Too many different shots for that
Sep 11, 2024, 9:56 PM
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I get them while in the top of trees, front, sides back of the house, and on the run across the yard (they always seem to stop just at the edge of the woods to see what I am doing...the last thing they ever do!), and sometimes at 200 feet. Am well over 500 "stopped" in the last several years. They always come back! Even with the odd shots, and shooting them on the run on some tree limbs, I average 8 out of 10 are kill shots.
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Orange Blooded [2588]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: 22 travels too far.
1
Sep 11, 2024, 10:45 AM
[ in reply to 22 travels too far. ] |
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I've about eliminated the bushy tail rats from my property using a 20 Ga. Was getting 2 or 3 a day 3 years ago. Seldom do I see one now.
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All-TigerNet [6061]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: 22 travels too far.
1
Sep 11, 2024, 10:47 AM
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They'll be back in a year or two.
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Athletic Dir [1151]
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Re: 22 travels too far.
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Sep 11, 2024, 10:55 AM
[ in reply to 22 travels too far. ] |
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Use 22 rat shot
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Playmaker [379]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: 22 travels too far.
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Sep 11, 2024, 11:34 AM
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How loud it is compared to a normal 22LR? Thanks for the suggestion too, hadn't thought of using that before and if quiet enough I could likely still use it in my neighborhood since it is very wooded behind my house. I have a bunch of trouble causing tree rats that chew on my house and other things. They have also chewed holes into my porch screens and crap all over it going back and forth through it all day long.
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All-TigerNet [6061]
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Starter [292]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Re: 22 travels too far.
2
Sep 11, 2024, 2:04 PM
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But they won't have enough recoil to cycle a semi automatic pistol or rifle. Good for revolver or lever/bolt action rifle.
TOL
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All-TigerNet [6061]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: 22 travels too far.
Sep 11, 2024, 2:21 PM
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I've never tried them in a semi-auto, but I expect you're correct. I used a bolt action, magazine-fed, sporterized and scoped US Army lend-lease Mossberg 42MB - great rifle. I did not have the silencer:
https://rifleman.org.uk/Mossberg_42MB.html
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All-TigerNet [6061]
TigerPulse: 100%
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National Champion [7661]
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Re: 22 travels too far.
Sep 11, 2024, 9:51 PM
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That is the 22 LR, which should not have recoil problems...the earlier post was 22 short, which most likely will have trouble in some guns.
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Clemson Icon [24205]
TigerPulse: 100%
54
Posts: 24529
Joined: 2003
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This whole thread is awesome.***
1
Sep 12, 2024, 8:36 AM
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Orange Blooded [2481]
TigerPulse: 100%
32
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Pair the sub sonic rounds
Sep 12, 2024, 8:29 AM
[ in reply to Re: 22 travels too far. ] |
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with a .22 suppressor. All you hear is the action of the gun.
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Rock Defender [74]
TigerPulse: 100%
8
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
1
Sep 11, 2024, 9:22 AM
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Put 1 Tbsp Hot Chili Pepper, 1 Tbsp Cinnamon and 5 or 6 cloves of Garlic minced in a bowl.
Add to 1 cup of water, 3 tbsp of vinegar. Let it sit for a couple of hours.
Strain it and use the liquid to spray around the area or dip in cotton balls and place around the area. The scent will disipate after 3 days. Repeat a few times and the mice, rats and roaches will stay away.
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1st Rounder [618]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
Sep 11, 2024, 12:12 PM
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Hmmm...if that doesn't work to kill the critters, that chili/cinnamon/garlic mix sounds like a great idea as a pork rub for the smoker!
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Game Day Hero [4143]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
Sep 11, 2024, 9:31 AM
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Next door neighbor had that happen to his relatively new truck parked next to his house. Think it cost 3k to repair. Few months ago found half of a pecan shell on top of my '93 Chevy S10's valve cover. Didn't detect any damage so think the varmint didn't care for the older wiring.
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1st Rounder [668]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
2
Sep 11, 2024, 9:52 AM
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I’ve had the same issue with squirrels getting into a couple of my vehicles wiring with similar costs in damages as you. Mothballs in a bag under the hood didn’t work, they just used it a foundation for the nest. Since declaring jihad on them, and going after them with any firearm that goes boom was out of the picture, I bought a C02 powered fully automatic Thompson looking BB gun that’s fun to unload on them, if I don’t hit them, I guess it scares the crap out of them. I also bought a couple of bottles of Squirrel Mace, that I spray on the engine blocks every couple of months or so, and I also sprinkle some cayenne pepper around the vehicles too. I’ve done this for 3 years and it seems to be keeping them away.
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Letterman [152]
TigerPulse: 100%
12
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Ive had squirrels around my vehicles, but the culprit for chewing wires has
Sep 11, 2024, 9:53 AM
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Always been mice. Stared out using mice killing baits , but ended up with dead mice in undesirable locations in the vehicle. Solutions was to use mice traps and capture as many as possible.
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Dynasty Maker [3326]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Ive had squirrels around my vehicles, but the culprit for chewing wires has
1
Sep 11, 2024, 1:56 PM
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I have a detached garage and a spare car that I keep there. Mice were a problem for about three winters. When I went to have the spark plug wires replaced for the third time (and the air intake manifold once) the dealer suggested I just leave the hood up. Surprisingly, this worked. Apparently it isn't cozy enough for them when it is exposed.
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Mascot [15]
TigerPulse: 91%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
Sep 11, 2024, 10:06 AM
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A bar of irish spring soap left in the floor board inside the car has helped with this problem when we have had it several times before. Helps more with keeping vermin out of vents and the car itself but maybe not quite as good with engine wiring. We had similar problem recently with a pick up and started backing it in to parking spot to keep engine further away from grassy area and put irish spring bar in plastic container with holes punch in top and placed it where it is under middle of engine when backed in. So far so good - no problem in past 6 months since we started that.
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National Champion [7661]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
2
Sep 11, 2024, 10:15 AM
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I live in the country. Squirrels are terrible. They have chewed through the gas lines in my truck 3 times. They chewed through the gasoline vacuum line on the top of the gas tank 4 times. They chewed holes in the roof of the house, shop and sheds. The chewed the wires on two lawn mowers. They chewed bicycle seats, handlebar grips, plastic lights. They chewed through the power lines supplying the shop, causing arcing, and the loss of main power (power company had to be called...they said squirrels do it all the time). Many others problems, besides all of the bird feeders that were damaged/ruined. After 20 years of just putting up with it, and thousands of dollars in repair costs, finally started getting rid of them. They can't be trapped and released due to "territory problems". It is costly to buy 20 gauge shot shells, so started reloading them. Over 500 removed the last 6 years. Watching one under front bird feeders as I type!
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1st Rounder [618]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
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Sep 11, 2024, 10:25 AM
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Bought a new 2024. After a few days, wires and window washer resevoir chewed up...$1,000 to repair and replace. Week later, SOS, another $1,000. Dealer advised wrapping dryer sheets (3-4) around various hose lines. Easy to do with no damage risk. Not sure if that was what did the trick, but no longer have issues. Cheap insurance and I replace them every few months or whenever that "Fresh Spring Scent" or "Lavender" disappears...Ahhhh!
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Orange Phenom [14594]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
Sep 11, 2024, 10:27 AM
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A friend lost most of his wiring on a parked pontoon boat (on the water) years ago. Was about $4500 to repair.
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Fan [37]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
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Sep 11, 2024, 11:37 AM
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I've had numerous rodent/mice and squirrel problems. Under the hood they chewed through some electrical wires. I bought some braided steel rubber hose, cut it to length, slit it lengthwise and put it over the electrical wires then wrapped it with muffler tape. They also chewed through 2 fuel lines near the muffler under my Tacoma pickup and 3 times through the fuel hose where fuel is pumped into the tank. I bought some muffler tape and wrapped it around the 2 fuel lines that had to be replaced. There are some rodent proof tapes but I couldn't find any locally so I just used muffler tape. I bought Bonide Repels-All at Lowe's and sprayed it all around the fuel lines, fuel Hose, electrical wires and everywhere else I thought I could have a problem. You will probably need to respray areas the Bonide Repels-All periodically. I had to pay a mechanic to drop my fuel tank to get to the fuel hose but he didn't wrap any type of tape around the hose so I just sprayed the Bonide Repels-All liberally around the hose. I haven't had any more problems in the past 6 months.
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National Champion [7661]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Sounds like me
Sep 11, 2024, 10:08 PM
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Been there, done that. I had to drop my fuel tank (2014 Ram) on the first cuts on the fuel line to the tank. Made some minor changes so that if it happened again, I could take off the left rear tire and get access.
Finally just put some metal flashing around the area to prevent the squirrels from reaching the area. When they got to the vacuum line above the tank (2019 Ram) the first time, I was not able to do the work myself (and was not knowledgeable to find the leak at the time, or why the fuel cap light would not go out). That one cost me over $800. Once I knew what had happened, I repaired it the second time with new lines, and rubber instead of the plastic they loved to chew. Found out later5 there was another line that I did not see the second time, so that time, I got under there and replaced all of the plastic/rubber with copper tubing. Placed metal flashing around the connection sites for the plastic to copper, where I could not remove all of the plastic without dropping the gas tank. That has been over a year ago, so maybe I fixed that!
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All-TigerNet [5643]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
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Sep 11, 2024, 12:22 PM
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get a bunch of country cats from pet rescue...
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Heisman Winner [85726]
TigerPulse: 100%
62
Posts: 38782
Joined: 2003
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Years ago, when SC first mandated vehicle inspections, an old farmer in our
Sep 11, 2024, 1:37 PM
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area brought an old farm pickup in to be inspected. (We ran an Inspection station as part of our general service garage.) When I got to checking out the lights, it had nothing working on the back, no tail lights, license plate light, or brake lights.
Upon investigation, it had no WIRES left running to the bed of the truck. Rats has completely gnawed away everything, leaving only the tail light pods with short pieces of wire sticking out. I don't know what it is about copper wire, but those vermin love it.
Luckily, there was just enough wire sticking out for me to connect new wires from up around the cab, where they had stopped chewing for some reason. A good three or four hours work, when all said and done. I shudder to think what a garage would charge for that kind of job today, if they would even take it on at all.
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Head Coach [918]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Valley Protector [1426]
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
Sep 11, 2024, 10:05 PM
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My wife twice had mice set up nests in her Lexus. Choked down on 385. Car parked in garage. No more dog food outside.
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National Champion [7585]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
Sep 13, 2024, 3:46 AM
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We had this issue at our mountain place until I bought some concentrated Peppermint oil on Amazon, diluted and put in a spray bottle and sprayed everything under the hood and around the wheel wells a few times. No problems since. A local mechanic told me that Toyotas were the worst because their wiring was made from a compound of cellulose which rats love.
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Dynasty Maker [3460]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Critters chewing on car wires
Sep 13, 2024, 6:31 AM
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Sell the mini cooper
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Replies: 41
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