Rodent chewed injector wire
- Thread starter Barabus
- Start date
Rusty Spuds
New member
Moth balls have worked for me.
https://rustyspuds.smugmug.com/MISC/i-gJTVNVW/A
I have a big oak tree in the yard so there are lots of tree rats. They chewed my injector wires up a few years ago. No problems since using the moth balls.
https://rustyspuds.smugmug.com/MISC/i-ptkBdJn/A
https://rustyspuds.smugmug.com/MISC/i-ptkBdJn/A
https://rustyspuds.smugmug.com/MISC/i-gJTVNVW/A
I have a big oak tree in the yard so there are lots of tree rats. They chewed my injector wires up a few years ago. No problems since using the moth balls.
https://rustyspuds.smugmug.com/MISC/i-ptkBdJn/A
https://rustyspuds.smugmug.com/MISC/i-ptkBdJn/A
FrenchToasty
New member
I've herd kitty cats work well
flyrv9
New member
Living in rural Kansas on 10 acres surrounded by farmland, we have our share of rodents and other critters. I have found nests under the hoods of my old Nissan PU, lawnmower and tractor. So far they have not chewed up anything. I do put out this stuff we get from the local co-op called Bar Bait. It looks like a big bar of soap and can be broken up into chunks if desired. Rodents love this stuff and it is a poison that makes them go and seek water.
Bodie the Dog
Banned
Marmots
I was expecting a story about Marmots in Sequoia National Park (happened to me at Mineral King). The recommendation at the time (mid 80's) was wire mesh.
This sucks, sorry for your misfortune.
BTD
I was expecting a story about Marmots in Sequoia National Park (happened to me at Mineral King). The recommendation at the time (mid 80's) was wire mesh.
This sucks, sorry for your misfortune.
BTD
Had a marmot chew my sleeping bag with me in it at Mineral King in 1997. We thought it was something big in the middle of the night. Too funny. Everything at night was a bear after seeing a couple earlier in the day. Marmots are the worse much worse than my mouse problem. If I would have been a more sound sleeper that marmot would have eaten the foot of my sleeping bag.
I use rat wire mesh on the air intake of my vehicles all. one time the CEL came on stopped vehicle and the air box was all loaded up with nest materials.
I have never had rodents chew the wires though. they have placed acorns on the intake manifold so as to roast them but no wire or hose damage .. no Toyota vehicles though.
I make stone houses and have the rat traps with a s/steel wire connected because the trap when catching may get lost as another animal will look to eat the rat/rodent.
I have reduced the population since I do this all year long. they tend to chew up other materials but not wire insulation yet, since I never had a Toyota till now.
rats and rodents are attracted by certain groups of people . dirty people that are not familiar with proper disposal of household waste.
there is a property that is in a city that has these people the real-estate company I know has to get the exterminator there every 3 months..dirty people.. they don't speak English.. LOL..
Is the soy wiring in all cars or just some?
I grew up in the fields of Kansas, and though there were reports every now and then of chewed up wiring, it was rather rare. Fast forward to now, many people around where I grew up complaining about chewed wires, the factor that has changed is everyone has new/newer cars. Anecdotal of course, but I think there is some merit that it should be looked into.
When I use to park my truck in a field for a few months at a time when on deployment in the Navy, not a thought was ever given to mice chewing on things. Now I guess they have notices out about it and suggestions on how to prevent it due to the increase in incidents. Again, the only noticeable difference is newer cars.
I grew up in the fields of Kansas, and though there were reports every now and then of chewed up wiring, it was rather rare. Fast forward to now, many people around where I grew up complaining about chewed wires, the factor that has changed is everyone has new/newer cars. Anecdotal of course, but I think there is some merit that it should be looked into.
When I use to park my truck in a field for a few months at a time when on deployment in the Navy, not a thought was ever given to mice chewing on things. Now I guess they have notices out about it and suggestions on how to prevent it due to the increase in incidents. Again, the only noticeable difference is newer cars.
bofa
New member
I bet [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] could make it happen
wfo9
New member
If the soy insulation is demonstrably more attractive to rodents, and if vehicles with soy insulation are damaged by rodents significantly more than those without, if Toyota knew about it but continued with it in order to save money, and could have done something about it but did not, then they should pay.
They are in the business of making money, sometimes businesses need a little guidance toward making a better product.
Also, having tried to get simple and non-controversial information from Toyota, and failed; and being dissatisfied with warranty service, I have no sympathy for their business model.
In fact, I may even have some schadenfreude.arty:
The move to soy based was not a cost savings thing. It was from environmental pressure originating in European laws. It's a great example of a good intention law that makes things much worse in the end. Now you will have tons of vehicles totaled (because the wiring will be more expensive to repair than the value of the vehicle). All in the name of making the coating on the wires more environmentally friendly.
1engineer
Moderator
Yeah it's a bummer when it happens but some people can't get it through their head that sometimes, stuff happens and there is no one to blame. Take hail damage. I'm sure somebody has sued because the metal should have been made to resist hail damage.
Sometimes shit happens. Fix it and move on.
looks like Toyota is not gonna save money LOL>> .. another legal challenge. Rodents Are Chewing Up The Wiring In Toyotas - Termite Inspection Orange County Termite Terry Pest Control
http://www.wthr.com/article/13-inve...icles-attract-rodents-causing-costly-repairs
LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA HAS TO DO A RECALL AND APPLY THE RODENT DETERING ELECTRICAL TAPE.. THAT COULD SAVE US..
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A.Wilson013
New member
My buddy [MENTION=99825]bwright[/MENTION] had the same thing happen a few months back on his 2015 Limited. Drives his truck every day as well. He may be able to offer some insight on what the remedy was for him.
I believe he dealt with Toyota of Seattle on the issue.
I believe he dealt with Toyota of Seattle on the issue.
Brandonium
Member
I've never had this issue but I suppose I could have. I left out of state for work for 3 months in 2011 and family watched my two dogs. While I was away rodents decided to move in and found the 65lb bag of dog food stored in the cabinet. First night back it sounded like a festival in the attic. Ended up killing 58 mice over the course of two weeks. I found droppings under the hood of my Scout parked in the garage but no damage other than random turds here and there. I suppose they could have feasted on my classics in the garage. 
wfo9
New member
Yea, I feel ya and know what you are saying. Shit happens, but this is a gray area. I think Toyota and all the other mfgs have screwed up from an engineering perspective on these coatings. Time to take responsibility and come up with a solution. Real world use in the field shows it is a problem for all mfgs (not just for Toyota....).
The cars fail when being used in the normal operating environment. We know that rodents are out there and we now know they are attracted to the wires. Its a very common problem. How to Protect Your Car From Rodents | Rodent Tape - Consumer Reports News
Honda started producing this tape and published TSBs on applying it.....
So If I'm a Toyota electronics/quality engineer I should be looking for similar solutions. Just like I would not leave sensitive ECU components exposed to the elements, I should not leave tasty wires accessible to rodents that are obviously prevalent....
Now I understand they can't make every wire rodent proof... But they should be able to cover some of the very common ones like the injector wires (which seems to be the most common feast on most 4runners) and the main wiring harness...
Tail lights and stuff like that are going to happen, but it would be nice to buy a car that had some thought put into preventing this problem...It's not just some freak act of nature like a tornado, hail storm, or theft...
wfo9
New member
I've never had this issue but I suppose I could have. I left out of state for work for 3 months in 2011 and family watched my two dogs. While I was away rodents decided to move in and found the 65lb bag of dog food stored in the cabinet. First night back it sounded like a festival in the attic. Ended up killing 58 mice over the course of two weeks. I found droppings under the hood of my Scout parked in the garage but no damage other than random turds here and there. I suppose they could have feasted on my classics in the garage.
They won't because they don't taste good. 5th gens are yummy. I hear the KDSS versions are consider a real delicacy in rodent circles.
