Broken 2010 4Runner - Rodents

[HauKrazee]

Broken 4Runner - Rodents

Alright, two days ago I come home from the store and my 4Runner was parked for less than 2 hours at my parents home. It was snowing after a day of 70 degree weather. I go outside and 4Runner starts up, but idles very rough as if the engine was constantly misfiring. I leave my car there overnight and call the tow truck in the morning.

When the tow truck arrives in the morning, I try and start the 4Runner and move it for the tow truck... the engine fails and shuts off as black smoke comes out of the exhaust... the 4Runner dies. The tow truck takes it to the nearest dealership because I thought at the time it was something wrong that could have been covered under warranty since it is still under 36 months or 30,000 miles.

The dealership checks it out and approx 4 wires have been chewed up by some rodent (Pictures attached)... not covered under warranty.

Because it is my only car and already towed to that dealer... I had to accept the quote that was given to me. Nearly $1,100 to fix the wires...

That is all, waiting for the 4Runner to be fixed. Monday is when the parts arrive and the dealer of course said there might be other issues, but we will take care of the wires first.

 

[Froggy]

. . .not covered under warranty . . .

Comprehensive insurance? Parents' Homeowner insurance?

 

[DannyLlama]

Comprehensive insurance? Parents' Homeowner insurance?

Home owners deductible is usually around 1k, not worth it in my opinion. Considering you might need it for worse things in the near future.

OP - Sorry you have to go through that and hopefully everything works out at the end.

 

[huntsonora]

That just sucks!

 

[cbielat]

That is just plain awful.

 

[KodeRush]

Sorry to hear that OP.

Now I'm concerned when I camp in the middle of nowhere.:doh: Any way to get the vehicle rodent proof?

 

[Eagle]

Sorry to hear about the rats... at least they have good taste. I'd recommend a thorough cleaning of the entire engine bay. I don't know what kind of rats you encountered, but I understand some types will mark the engine with a scent that may attract more rats in the future.

Now I'm concerned when I camp in the middle of nowhere.:doh: Any way to get the vehicle rodent proof?

As far as keeping them away, I've heard that the odor of moth balls and pine-sol may keep rats away. I've never tried it and it likely depends on the particular type of rats in your location. I've also heard of people using baited traps under their cars, but I would avoid anything that entices them to come closer.

 

[Okki]

Sorry to hear that OP.

Now I'm concerned when I camp in the middle of nowhere.:doh: Any way to get the vehicle rodent proof?

Car Cocoon... although a little cumbersome to take with you...

or... plastic wrap.. it's not just for sandwiches anymore! :welcome:

Okki

 

[Jesse1983]

may have been cheaper to fly [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] out to rewire the truck

 

[Froggy]

Home owners deductible is usually around 1k, not worth it in my opinion. . . .

"Home owners deductible" would not apply unless the OP was living with his parents and was covered on the parents policy. Assuming the OP lives elsewhere, this would become a liability issue. I have yet to see a liability payment to a victim with any deductible. Homeowner policies will have a maximum that will be payable for damage to property of others, usually around $500, an amount that would likely offset the deductible that might be found on the OP's automobile comprehensive insurance.

 

[Jayhawk5G]

Home owners deductible is usually around 1k, not worth it in my opinion. Considering you might need it for worse things in the near future.

OP - Sorry you have to go through that and hopefully everything works out at the end.

Comprehensive policy should cover it, and I would never have more than a $500 deductible on comp...

Edit: OP just noticed your Trail has no roof rails, what is seen cannot be unseen.... bizarre

 

[Eagle]

The insurance discussion may be significantly impacted by OP's insurance coverage. The general observations are useful, but OP probably needs to call the insurance companies / read policies for any specific information.

$1,100 seems high, but that's just the estimate. The only person I know who had rats chew wires got a similarly high estimate but the shop completed the work for about half of the cost. The estimate was high because the extent of the damage was unknown before further testing. Of course... it takes an honest shop to do keep the actual bill so much lower than the estimate.

 

[ZO6_Vette]

Soy Wiring ?

Rodents love to eat soy-based materials of

 

[esto70]

Same thing happened to me...

The wife and I were getting ready to leave for a spring break getaway to PHX last year. The wife's CR-V was in the garage waiting to be loaded. It wouldn't start, crank, or shift out of park. Dead.

The dealership (College Hills Honda, Wooster, OH) was super cool. They didn't have the wire harness in stock, so they yanked one off a used car of the same model year on the lot. Problem solved, vacation achieved. I have no idea what the critter was that did this.

 

[zznalg]

Oh that sucks!! I've been there with a BMW X3 once. The rodents ate the wiring harness...$800. I've found mouse nests in both a Golf's and a Wrangler's engine bay. I've seen rabbits jump out from under my car after startup. Solutions are tough to find.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Yeesh, hungry little buggers! Get a Truck Cat, its like trunk monkey but cat like for rodent hunting while you're away!

By the way that Carcoon thing is both epically awesome and ridiculous.

 

[HauKrazee]

Responses

Comprehensive insurance? Parents' Homeowner insurance?

Actually your car insurance will cover this under vandalism. The problem here is that my deductible is $1,000. Cost to repair was $1,100... not worth the claim. I made a dumb decision to reduce my payments by increasing my deductible... I guess I am going to contact them and reduce it back down to $500.

And yes... that cost is "stealership" rates. I know I could have purchased the harness and tried to install it myself... but I been fairly busy recently and just ate the cost.

Comprehensive policy should cover it, and I would never have more than a $500 deductible on comp...

Edit: OP just noticed your Trail has no roof rails, what is seen cannot be unseen.... bizarre

Heh, I had great plans to buy a Gobi roof rack, but I been putting my money elsewhere. Someday I will get it.

Soy Wiring ?

Rodents love to eat soy-based materials of

Yes, exactly what the dealership said... I want petroleum products... not soy.



Thank you every one for the replies... I hope that little rodent didn't mess up anything else or if I hurt my engine revving on 3 cylinders.

 

[Sputnik]

I just checked my air filter , and I found sunflower seeds on the bottom of the intake... Signs of rodents

Alright, two days ago I come home from the store and my 4Runner was parked for less than 2 hours at my parents home. It was snowing after a day of 70 degree weather. I go outside and 4Runner starts up, but idles very rough as if the engine was constantly misfiring. I leave my car there overnight and call the tow truck in the morning.

When the tow truck arrives in the morning, I try and start the 4Runner and move it for the tow truck... the engine fails and shuts off as black smoke comes out of the exhaust... the 4Runner dies. The tow truck takes it to the nearest dealership because I thought at the time it was something wrong that could have been covered under warranty since it is still under 36 months or 30,000 miles.

The dealership checks it out and approx 4 wires have been chewed up by some rodent (Pictures attached)... not covered under warranty.

Because it is my only car and already towed to that dealer... I had to accept the quote that was given to me. Nearly $1,100 to fix the wires...

That is all, waiting for the 4Runner to be fixed. Monday is when the parts arrive and the dealer of course said there might be other issues, but we will take care of the wires first.

 

[K O]

I just checked my air filter , and I found sunflower seeds on the bottom of the intake... Signs of rodents

Or baseball players

 

[Latoya]

Joined this forum when I bought our 2013 4Runner. Only 13,6K miles, everything has been fine. Started it Friday to go run errands, rough idle, VCS, ABS, check engine lights. Towed to dealership thinking it was a warranty issue and learned that it is rodents. I saw a squirrel hanging around in my garage so I had my suspicions as to why problem cropped up over night.

Checking the internet, problem is a big one for many different cars and brands due to manufacturers going to soy based wiring covers. Seems to me this is basis of class action suits and recalls to fix.