Rats!

[catrains]

That’s a good idea, thank you! I’ve had a few neighbors have issues, guess I didn’t learn from them. I’m going to Home Depot to drop some $ on some weaponry.

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so your area has a rodent problem with your neighbors .. have all of them contact the city/town and if all of this does create a rodent kill program that will save everyone a ton of $$$..

about 5 miles from my house my family member opened his hood to check out engine bay .. a squirrel jumped out at him that was 2 days ago ..he did not see any damage ..

late yesterday I did take out a squirrel .. they are chewing up my lawn .. squirrel took a long deep bath.... LOL..

 

[Judd94]

Im paranoid and have never had the issue but I’ve come to learn that it’s very prevalent. I was considering a sound emitting rodent deferent. Whatever keeps em way way far away.

 

[EddieV4runnin]

Yeah, but how do you keep from eating the wires yourself once you put that on?

As dumb as it sounds just pray it over the harness they chewed through last time they attacked and when they return it will get between their teeth causing discomfort and they’ll never be back.

It’s not because of soy based wire insulation that makes them attack poor defenseless vehicle electrical harnesses, but rather that their teeth constantly grow and using them keeps them in check. It’s also nice and warm inside the engine.

 

[WallyT4R]

Ok lets start thinking like they do. I say go buy some beer and sit and drink said beer while staring at your sweet 4Runner. Then every time you have to pee, pee around your 4Runner. I mean this has to be a daily thing and you really have to mark your territory. Also don't forget to park in the marked area every time. Those little bastards won't come close to your 4 if you mark it. :art:

EDIT: I guess This is probably why I have never had this problem. Sacrificing my liver so rodents won't eat the wiring harness in my 4Runner...totally worth it.

 

[aelarson]

This winter at my cabin I had a bunny chew through my wheel speed sensor wire. $268 before I was whole again. You can read about it more in my build/mod/upgrade/adventure thread below. Really dumb that Toyota produces soy wires....

 

[WallyT4R]

I have also undercoated the whole truck with fluid film twice now. Maybe those little bastards don't like being greasy??

 

[progress4m]

Take some fabric softener sheets and tie them in a knot around something to keep them in place at the 4 corners of the engine compartment.

x2! Worked for years in my travel trailer that I had on hunting lease.

Or stop washing your engine bay... LOL

 

[EddieV4runnin]

This winter at my cabin I had a bunny chew through my wheel speed sensor wire. $268 before I was whole again. You can read about it more in my build/mod/upgrade/adventure thread below. Really dumb that Toyota produces soy wires....

$268 at the dealer?? A six pack of beer and 30 min, could’ve been a 20 dollar fix.

 

[aelarson]

$268 at the dealer?? A six pack of beer and 30 min, could’ve been a 20 dollar fix.

I couldn’t agree more, but it’s been under 30 degrees since November, and I have no way to get the truck off the ground. Really wish I had a heated garage and the proper equipment.

 

[atchcraft]

I couldn’t agree more, but it’s been under 30 degrees since November, and I have no way to get the truck off the ground. Really wish I had a heated garage and the proper equipment.

Before I found the chewed wires, it did t even dawn on me that that may be the issue. I already had an appointment at the dealer and a tow lined up, basically because I’m not set up for, and not very comfortable with, anything “diagnostic”. I thought I’d done something, screwing with my battery, switch-pro. Install. It wasn’t until I saw the mouse piss that I took a close look and found it. I had the intake manifold off and wires patched in about 30 minutes. it was a valuable reminder for me to slow down and just get in there and do it. I have a mechanical past life. But, I’d say that anyone could do that job. That was actually a job that I could easily do on the trail. It made me really appreciate how much easier and cleaner that was than any SBC that I’ve ever torn apart. It also made me realize what kind of spares that I need for wheeling a “new” rig. Think about it; we build these rigs to go into remote places. When something fails, the more you know and are more familiar with, the better off you are.


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[Gobius]

Yep, those rodent bastards have chewed through my fuel injector wires twice now and chewed up my cabin air filter once. Cost me about $1000 over the past 3 years. I have been using mothballs placed under the hood, which seems to work when I remember to replace them with some regularity.

I am definitely going to try some of that rodent tape, though!

 

[4Patriot]

2023 Rat Update

Please let me know if this should be in other threads, but I didn't know of the danger... as my other cars are old... back when they used rubber to insulate wires... not a SOY BASED product that literally ATTRACTS rats.

Insurance company just approved the Toyota dealer estimate...

https://i.imgur.com/YsNR7iz.jpg

I don't have a personally verified solution, only that someone I know that works at Honda told me about their tape. On Amazon, $50, infused with cayenne powder. When the dealer repairs the $6 THOUSAND dollars of damage to replace the wiring harness (apparently some wiring burnt out), they will use the tape I bought and delivered to them to wrap the wiring.

 

[Jakeepoo3]

I live in the deep forest and sometimes don't drive for a week or two, hermit. Squirrels are trying to live in mine too. I just leave the hood open if it's not going to rain and they won't go in. I wad aluminum foil up and stuff it in my air intake port also since they like that spot. You can see where the rat p_$$y attempted to chew through foil but gave up. So far they haven't chewed any wiring but I'm super paranoid about it. They did damage the giant plastic piece and weather seal between windshield and hood ugh. I could hear the f'er chewing and picking away. That's going to be fixed by plastic welding. That piece probably costs a fortune. I used to just grab the shotgun and blast one here and there to scare them off but Im not a fan of killing them. I'm going to try the drier sheets. Never heard that one.

 

[TK-422]

There are two things you can do to prevent this.

One is an Ultrasonic repellent with flashing lights for under the hood. It will beep after around two months when the 3 - AA batteries get low. Know that so you will not be like me wondering where the f*K that beeping is coming from while standing in the driveway.

The second and cheaper way is to spray mint oil in the engine compartment about once a month. We do both. The dealer said they get multiple rodent issues every week. I believe it.

I had rodent footprints under my hood but was lucky. My wife's car cost us $700 to replace some of the wiring at the dealership. I did not have any codes on hers but the traction control and anti lock brake lights on the dash lit up so we took it in.

 

[phillyd2]

Our pick up lives outside and had the same issue. Tried a few things like mint oil without much luck. Then we decided to just solve the problem

https://www.amazon.com/Farnam-1-5-O...g&qid=1697205111&sprefix=rat+p,aps,71&sr=8-34

The pouches can be wedged in the bay if you don't want to remove them every time you drive. Ours sits for a while so we also lay on one the engine itself. Not sure where their bodies end up but it’s obvious when they feast on it. Haven’t had another issue in years.

 

[HEAVY WT]

I had a rat chew up a little fire wall insulation and start to make a nest over the cabin filter. glad i caught it. I did buy the flasher thing and mint spray. I haven't installed the flasher yet, but I do spray the mint on the firewall once in a while. so far so good.

 

[NMJack]

Our Toyota dealer installs one of those ultrasonic devices with flashing lights. It hooks up to the battery terminals and if the car sits too long will shut down when it detects reduced incoming voltage. They also apply a wash to the entire engine compartment to discourage rodents. They charge about $250, for something I could likely do myself for half the price. I just pay them. We've done three 4Runners this way.

 

[17KT4R]

 

[mrmike7189]

mighty mint

Try some mint scented spray made to deter rodents. Spray it throughout engine bay and the skid plate area. It might help.

mighty mint spray avialable on amazon or target stores nationwide

 

[DAW89446]

I keep a few feral cats on my land, keeping food and water out for them. I park my vehicles between my home and a cabin shed with a covered porch where the cat's food and water bowls are kept.

Oddly, the other day I opened the hood on the 4Runner to fill up the windshield washer reservoir and cat food kibble fell on me. I found more caught in the fold behind the seal that spans the front portion of the hood. I know that the cats didn't take it up there.

Otherwise, I found no damage.