Posted on 04/25/2024 6:44:06 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
I'm not sure if car and truck manufacturers are still using soybean based coating for the myriad of wires in vehicles with sensors all over them. A friend just spent over $3k on two vehicles because of squirrels eating the wires. Both vehicles required complete re-wiring, entire harnesses were chewed through. Their pickup truck is only a few years old, the suv a bit older about 4 years. The insurance would not cover the damage, and the manufacturer would not either. Trying to find out if our 2022 Buick Encore has soybean coatings, lots of squirrels, mice and other critters around here.
In my area we have a 1/2 ton of cats. No mice or Norway rats. Still have moles and shrews though.
I would think that would drive up the cost, maybe not making it cheaper than petroleum based coatings.
the treehuggers.
Of course it was, also cost. Rodent will also gnaw on non-soy wire insulation, it’s just not as testy. Class action suits…
I have had the same thing happen with my two trucks. Soybean based plastic coated wires.
My brother had the wiring eaten out of his brand spanking new Toyota pickup truck some months ago. The insurance company wanted to Total the car(!) the dealer wanted 13k another dealer wanted about 4.5 k the part is about 1.3 K but there is a considerable amount of snaking and pushing and pulling to get it installed.
He often goes 10 days or so in between episodes of driving his truck. In that time he leaves the hood up. It has worked so far.
Rodent will also gnaw on non-soy wire insulation, it’s just not as testy.
but we can’t sue the rodents?
$1,100.00 to repair chipmunk damage to a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe parked outside in central Missouri. Happened three years ago.
We have cats, coyotes, wild pigs, deer, and something that made my hair stand up. And I’m in a lakeside town. Yet no mice/rats.
This happened in 33523, Florida. Car was parked under pine trees for some time. It was wiring right at the spark plug interface on top of the block. Nests were there too.
Moth balls are a good repellant. Those suggesting poisons should remember that poisons often have a peanut butter type attractor smell. You don’t want to attract these rodents in any manner.
I had a 2005 Mercedes SLK 350 (fun 2 seater!). Best car I ever owned, just sold it a couple of weeks ago. It was bullet proof, never had any major issues outside of standard maintenance (I almost didn’t want to get rid of it but I’d bought a BMW M3 convertible, needed 4 seats).
Anyway - one day I start her up. I get several ECU errors all at the same time. I’m an automotive software architect. I knew almost immediately - this is a CAN bus cable problem. No way so many different ECU’s would fail together.
I lifted the hood - and there it was, a perfectly round nest (squirrel/chipmunk). After looking around - yep, chewed right through the wire harness. I’ve heard of this soy based shielding. Yep, $3.5k for a new harness and install. Almost 20 year old car, taken down by furry.
That said, while I had a high deductible, the insurance DID cover it. It wasn’t just mechanical wear, I equated it to vandalism.
My rv was rendered inop due to mice feasting on wiring in engine and transmission. Two grand to repair. One season sitting outside near a woodpile was costly.
Oh, crap. I park near my woodpile!
A groundhog ate the wires off my transmission. My mechanic took me to the dump yard to get a replacement plug. We like to have never figured it out.
From what I’ve just read looks like this is more a rat issue.
We’ve got a car on that list, have lots of squirrels, but no rats.
No gnawing, either.
At least not on the cars.
The electric utility’s wiring, well, that’s another story.
Moth balls and Empty toilet paper rolls.
Put in the mothballs and tape over the end leave gaps.
place them however you can under the hood of your vehicle in places you will not smell when operating.
The smell is horrible but it works.
Don’t do this to your car if you stored it in a garage.
Also remember that the smell is a toxic gas.
Rats, and rodents in general, have been chewing through insulation for a lot longer than insulation has been made from soybeans.
I had a snow bird neighbor lose a Honda that way.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.