We had rain for a couple days last week (constant day/night) and it appears a squirrel or two decided to move in and moved back forth between my 4runner and sequoia. They managed to chew the knock sensor wires on the sequoia putting it into limp mode, no over drive.

The 4runner they found the perfect wire to chew thru, the crankshaft position sensor, that was an easy fix, the sequoia was not.

Lived here 16 yrs, first time this happens, anyone have experience on how to best keep the critters at least out of the engine bay?

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Lethal means are probably the only surefire way.

A friend who says the critters have hit his vehicles several times causing over $5k in damage said he tried many potions, noise makers and nothing worked except trapping them.

I asked if he took them for a drive to release them, he said that would be humane and he was past that after $5K in expenses, so he just drops them in boiling water, a little rough for me but ok...so a trap may be next...but I'll drop them off a few miles away or maybe take them to my deer lease so they can become country critters...LOL.

My Dad has recently dealt with this with his Tacoma. I'd suggest popping the hood once a week for the time being just to inspect things and taking it for a spin on a regular basis.

He doesn't drive this vehicle everyday so I imagine squirrels seem to think that it's a good area to post up at. Also regularly run your engine if you aren't going to take it for a spin. Any movement or loud noise like that should hopefully take care of that problem for you. Just my two cents

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What works on my tractor that stays in the pole barn is, get a bag of moth balls secure it in a bag under the hood. They don’t like the smell, neither do most people. I also do the same with Irish Spring soap bars. Then I remove them when it’s time to fire up the tractor. Works well for me.


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Hey look, I have something worthy of contributing, other than my own constant tech questions!

Not so much for furthering the question at hand, but a worthy story...

'04 Taco (same motor at least).

Ran great from the Spring I got it (2020) till the Fall, when I hopped in for a big trip only to find it wouldn't even start.

Took Sophie the 4Runner instead that day, and dealt with it when I got back.

Got it running, drove it a few miles, and it would alternately run, poorly, and almost die, starved for fuel, near as I could tell. WTF???

Took it to my local garage, hoping for a cheap answer.

Instead, I got a call, "Craig, you gotta come down here, you're not gonna believe this".....

They found the source of starvation, not fuel, but air.

The bastards had discovered a way into my air intake, and had stored enough walnuts in it, to render air passage impossible.

Removed, it ran great.

Then it happened, two more times. At least I knew what to do, and dealt with it myself. But I never figured out how they were getting in, and it's never happened with Sophie, in the same driveway, so who knows.....

But yeah, mothballs, is what I heard works to keep them away.

Check out this bountiful harvest!!

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Great ideas - Funny enough my grandmother (raised by her) always had moth balls in our clothes drawers so I am very used to the odor, its not bad really, LOL.

Rodents don't care for bounty drier sheets either. The cats patrol enough to keep the rodents out of my engine bay.

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I don't see why you have to be cruel and boil them. Drowning is fast and pretty painless. I think you have to be somewhat sick to put them in boiling water. These are just animals doing what nature has taught them to do over time. They are not vindictive like some humans.

Relocating wildlife is illegal in most states. If you trap them the best method is to drown them.

Mothballs are deadly. They are insecticides and meant to be used in closed spaces. If you leave them out they can kill children and pets who touch or handle them, or even breathe the vapors. I suggest some sort of closed metal box if you want to put them in your engine compartment. Trapping them is probably the best method. They are very persistent.

I, too, have heard the moth balls and irish spring soap does the trick, although I don't have firsthand experience with either.

My grandparents used to have mothballs in their house when I was growing up. Makes two of us!

Would agree. That's extra work and cruel. Just get them out and away so they don't come back.

I will say, when my Dad went to turn his engine on, little buddy was apparently near the fan and upon engagement, we heard a thud and I visually observed the thing get flung up out of the engine bay. Took one of his legs off and part of his face. Not funny, but it was comical the way it happened.

This is a timely post as I just had a squirrel issue yesterday.
I've heard hot sauce with capsaicin helps repel them.

Peppermint oil (smells better that moth balls). I read somewhere that critters don't like the smell of peppermint or spearmint. I bought some peppermint essential oil, mixed it with some water in a spray bottle. Every couple of months I give all my cars a couple of squirts in the engine bay.

Seems to work, and safer that moth balls.

Have you noticed the smell inside the truck? Does it permeate through the air vents or anything while driving? That would be my only concern.

No, I don't notice the smell inside the truck. It might smell a little the first day you do it, but not after that. Regardless, the peppermint is a much better smell than the moth balls.

I don't spray that much in the engine bay, just a squirt or two. I don't think it takes that much for animals to smell it.