Squirrel Issues?

M

moore1

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Hey all, first time in here. I have a 2016 4Runner SR5 with about 50k clocked.

I went out the other day to drive my 4Runner and all the sudden the check engine and TRAC OFF light was on with no power (limp along). After some researching I found that squirrels crawled up in my engine compartment and chewed up my wiring to the Air Injection Drive Control Module.

Do I need to replace the entire harness or can I get a pigtail connector to solder in place to fix the issue. Not a good time for xmas to be stranded :( The squirrels also got into my minivan and chewed up the air intake system twice along with the hood insulation.

Anyone else have squirrel issues and how do you prevent them from doing it again?

Thanks in advance for your info.
 

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I put out large quanities of black sunflower seed, mixed nuts and finch food(that squirrels don't like) all the way across on the other side of the yard. And sometimes suet cakes.

And plant giant sunflowers for them during the summer.

Why would they eat the soy insulation on the vehicles?


We normally have 6 or 7. Once the numbers get higher the big owls and hawks move in for a week or two. They prefer the rabbits...
 
johnbt said:
I put out large quanities of black sunflower seed, mixed nuts and finch food(that squirrels don't like) all the way across on the other side of the yard. And sometimes suet cakes.

And plant giant sunflowers for them during the summer.

Why would they eat the soy insulation on the vehicles?


We normally have 6 or 7. Once the numbers get higher the big owls and hawks move in for a week or two. They prefer the rabbits...
Click to expand...


I dont have any feeders in my yard. I know there are about 5 grey squirrels in my backyard. I think they got into my truck late night when I got home for a warm place to sleep and then got hungry to chew up my wiring harness. This isnt uncommon around here since I know others that have had the same issue.

Would mothballs or alike work in the engine compartment?
 
Squirrels do this crap as well? I thought it was only rats/mice. For a rat leave the hood open. Sounds like a squirrel would thank you for making it easier. Some insurance carriers will cover animal damage, some will not. So check. Do that first before you tamper with the evidence. If you can purchase just the plug you might be able to splice it in. Wouldn't hurt to try depending on what the dealer charges for the part.
 
Had a rat take up residence under my F350 hood- smart devil- placed baited traps on top of the engine- he built his nest snuggly around them- never touched the bait. Built the nest mostly out of my underhood insulation.
Saw him several times when I opened the hood- big rat.
Finally one day I opened the hood and he ran down the back of the engine- but never dropped off to the ground. I was ready for him.
I quickly crawled under the truck and waited- eventually he poked his head off the top of the transmission- let me tell you a .22 revolver under the truck is plenty loud with no ear protection.
Rat shot lived up to its name. Didn't even chip the paint on the transmission tunnel.



For size reference that is a Ruger SP101
 

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Sky said:
Had a rat take up residence under my F350 hood- smart devil- placed baited traps on top of the engine- he built his nest snuggly around them- never touched the bait. Built the nest mostly out of my underhood insulation.
Saw him several times when I opened the hood- big rat.
Finally one day I opened the hood and he ran down the back of the engine- but never dropped off to the ground. I was ready for him.
I quickly crawled under the truck and waited- eventually he poked his head off the top of the transmission- let me tell you a .22 revolver under the truck is plenty loud with no ear protection.
Rat shot lived up to its name. Didn't even chip the paint on the transmission tunnel.

For size reference that is a Ruger SP101
Click to expand...

Lol, sounds like a cartoon skit from the 70s
 
Draggin said:
Squirrels do this crap as well? I thought it was only rats/mice. For a rat leave the hood open. Sounds like a squirrel would thank you for making it easier. Some insurance carriers will cover animal damage, some will not. So check. Do that first before you tamper with the evidence. If you can purchase just the plug you might be able to splice it in. Wouldn't hurt to try depending on what the dealer charges for the part.
Click to expand...

Well it could be possible field mice but no signs except for the chewed up wiring. I did buy some sachets for mothballs and hot spray to put around the engine compartment.

As to replacement, toyota doesnt sell the pigtail connector, but I found them aftermarket. Just takes the time to ship....
 
This happens a lot. A squirrel or chip monk got into my 2003 Acura a few weeks back. My heater fan stop working and found the wires were all chewed inside the engine that go into the interior. $1000.00 later Acura dealer fixed it. A lot of labor involved. Come spring none of my cars will be left outside. Another garage going up for more storage and my car. Same thing happen with my fan belt a few years back same car. Started the car no power steering. Opened the hood and chip monk was stuck in the belt.
 
moore1 said:
Well it could be possible field mice but no signs except for the chewed up wiring. I did buy some sachets for mothballs and hot spray to put around the engine compartment.

As to replacement, toyota doesnt sell the pigtail connector, but I found them aftermarket. Just takes the time to ship....
Click to expand...

For rats, I've had engine wires eaten twice in 6 months. What did the trick was leaving the hood open slightly and trapping. Talk to any exterminator. The sonic devices with or without a flashing light only work temporarily. Mothballs didn't work on another vehicle either.
 
Thank the enviro nazis who made alot of auto makers switch to vegetable based wiring insulation. The rodents love the taste of it and eat all your wiring harness destroying the vehicle.

Ive heard some have had luck with large applications of peppermint oil. Other not sure how viable is to kill every single last one of them..trap..poison..and shoot.. also park indoors if possible.
 
Draggin said:
For rats, I've had engine wires eaten twice in 6 months. What did the trick was leaving the hood open slightly and trapping. Talk to any exterminator. The sonic devices with or without a flashing light only work temporarily. Mothballs didn't work on another vehicle either.
Click to expand...

Mothballs have changed their formula to be less toxic. The good old ones that you could melt down to make nitro methane fuel booster for the race car...are over.
 
A very familiar situation, I have constantly encountered problems with squirrels before. They chewed me almost all the wiring, I'm a fairly frequent visitor to the local car service due to the fact they chewed me almost all the wiring. I was already thinking about moving because the squirrels turned out to be the most unfortunate and creepy neighbors. But my wife came across an advertisement on the Internet of Squirrel Removal Treasure Coast | Wildlife Removal & Attic Repair, an organization that provides a service for catching wild animals. Their service was a real salvation for me because they were able to catch the family of squirrels and move them. And they also advised me to install an "anti-rodent" system, which emits impulses to drive away all pests. Now I am completely protected from the attacks of squirrels and calm for my car.
 
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xfenry said:
A very familiar situation, I have constantly encountered problems with squirrels before. They chewed me almost all the wiring, I'm a fairly frequent visitor to the local car service due to the fact they chewed me almost all the wiring.
Click to expand...

Buy an ultrasonic rodent repellent, specific for under hood automotive.
 
moore1 said:
Hey all, first time in here. I have a 2016 4Runner SR5 with about 50k clocked.

I went out the other day to drive my 4Runner and all the sudden the check engine and TRAC OFF light was on with no power (limp along). After some researching I found that squirrels crawled up in my engine compartment and chewed up my wiring to the Air Injection Drive Control Module.

Do I need to replace the entire harness or can I get a pigtail connector to solder in place to fix the issue. Not a good time for xmas to be stranded :( The squirrels also got into my minivan and chewed up the air intake system twice along with the hood insulation.

Anyone else have squirrel issues and how do you prevent them from doing it again?

Thanks in advance for your info.
Click to expand...

Sorry for reviving this thread. I just found out I had the exact same issue with the same wires being chewed straight off on my 2013 4runner. I've replaced the wiring harness before due to a similar issue elsewhere on the vehicle and would like to avoid that pricey option.

Were you able to just solder on a new connector? Thank you so much.
 
This MIGHT help (?). We had tree rats & mice eat up the wiring on the ATVs at a hunting camp. Don't know if squirrels are the same, but rats and mice cannot vomit! Mix baking soda with peanut butter and leave as bait. Dogs will like it, also but they can vomit. Be safe and place bait where the dogs can't get to it.

In grad school, we used peanut butter as bait when doing small rodent surveys.
 
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