Any rats/mice eating your wiring?

[mocean]

I know this is a problem for some folks so, I thought I'd share how to prevent rodents from going after your wiring in your engine.  The wiring contains soy and that entices rats/mice. The solution?  Degreaser. I've been staying with friends in my rv in AZ for 3 years. I spray my engine wiring with degreaser about every 2-3 months and no damage.  I did find a feeding area under the hood once, but wiring wasn't touched. 

Hope this helps someone

 

[user 423]

Since degreaser is a solvent, I wonder if over time (more than 3+ years) it would degrade soy based wiring?

I've been using Tomcat spray repellent but go a step further by placing a LED strobe light under the hood.

 

[B and C]

I put a bag of mothballs in the engine compartment behind each headlight. Lasts about 3 months.

 

[mocean]

Good point. It was a local mechanic well acquainted with pack rat damage, who recommended degreaser. With neighbors using it for 4 years, so far no problems. Before degreaser, friends spent 7K 2x after rats destroyed the wiring harnesses in their two vehicles. After 3 years using degreaser, no more issues.

I can't speak to longer than 4 years, but so far so good. Looks like there are many viable solutions for this problem.

 

[nature lover]

I haven't had a rat problem --yet But as a campground host in Tuscarora State Forest (PA) we told each camper to inspect their brake lining before they got on the road. Seems our porcupines love break fluid and will chew through rubber or even metal lines to get to it. Something you want to check before going over the mountain.

 

[IGBT]

I tied a stray cat under the hood, which worked for a couple of days, but I might try that degreaser idea.

 

[wayne49]

The mothballs are good. I have used them. I only deployed the bag when parked. I kept the bag in a canning jar while driving.
Also a electronic pest repelling device. I got one that was sold as a marten repellent. It is a small drain on the battery, not good for long term storage with no charging source.

 

[wayne49]

The rodents also like plastic vacuum tubing. That is what they destroyed on my van. A very difficult tube to replace, running from the engine compartment down to the HVAC flap valve box inside the van.