Rats love to chew on car wires. It’s not just an urban legend, and it’s a scientific fact. Rats will go for the insulation around power lines and then gnaw on the wire itself. They don’t discriminate what kind of car they are chewing on – any rat that comes across your engine is going to want a taste of it too!
The problem with this is that rats can cause damage by shorting out wiring or even setting off the airbags in newer cars. The result is often costly repairs and even worse accidents if you find yourself driving down the highway with no brakes or steering wheel!
So how do you stop this? Read more.
Spiders in Toyota’s Leading to Recall
In 2013, Toyota manufacturers had an 800,000 car recall due to some unexpected problems. What problems? Spiders. Yes, spiders were discovered infesting cars, especially Toyota’s, but why and where? One Toyota owner noticed the scent of mold inside their car. They found the source came from the a/c unit. It was leaking inside the car, causing mold to develop. In determining the cause of the A/C leak, they discovered tiny spiders with webs inside the air conditioning. Female spiders were drawn inside the air conditioner.
She then spun her web and laid her eggs. The web caused condensation to build up inside the air conditioner, causing damages and moisture to flow inside the owner’s car. For a few years, Toyota vehicles continued to have this strange problem of spiders infesting their vehicles. It is still a mystery as to why spiders seem to be invading this particular brand of vehicle. It may be due to a flaw in the air condition design. Regardless, Toyota car owners must be careful where they park. It is recommended to park away from tall grassy areas.
Rodents Chewing Car Wires
Rodents chewing wires might be a problem for your car. Rodents are attracted to vehicles because of the food they hold, but they want more than just what is inside the car. The rodents can chew on things like tire rims and other metal objects with ease. However, it seems that now, they are aiming for the wiring. This can be very dangerous, so it is essential to note what the signs are.
There are many things that you need to know about rodent damage to car wiring. First, you should know where they can come from and how they will affect your car.
How Do Rodents affect Your Car
Rodents love chewing on wires, and they also love nesting in warm places. This is why your car might be an exciting place for them to be in. Unfortunately, cars are usually kept in closed rooms or garages, so it would be easy for rodents to find their way inside the car and start what they do best, chewing on things.
Wires can act as food for rodents. You should know that cables are one of the most favorite things for rodents to chew on. They love to chew on rubber coating, plastic insulation, and the metal core of the wire. The chewing will be done to access what is inside, basically for food purposes or to make a nest.
Wires are essential in your car because it is a primary source of electricity. The car would certainly not function without those wires and certainly not be able to run smoothly. In addition, when the rodent chews on the wiring, it might cause a short circuit, leading to fires.
The chewing can also damage other parts that are connected to the wiring system in your car. This might include the safety features of the vehicle and features that are useful for driving. Without these parts, you would not be able to use your car for its primary purpose.
Rodents can also bring germs to the wiring of your car. The chewing will cause saliva dripping on the wires, which might have come from sick rodents or have some sort of disease. This could lead to severe damage to the car itself.
How to Get Rid of Rodent from Chewing Your Car Wire
Keeping mice and pests out of your car is not much different than preventing them from entering your home. Mice are particularly attracted to the smell of food or pet hair, so make sure you don’t leave any dirty clothes or food scraps in the car. The good idea is to store any food in a closed garbage can with a tight lid to eliminate any chance of attracting bugs from within the vehicle. If you are transporting pets, make sure they are secured in a pet carrier or with their seat belt. If that’s not possible, keep the windows down and air flowing through your car.
Mice will chew just about anything to keep their teeth worn down, but often you can find damage on the surface of the vehicle where mice have been scratching and chewing. If you do see little pads of dirt like below, that’s a good indication that mice are trying to get into your car:
Like homes, mice will sometimes make their nests next to the engine, which is warm and cozy. This is not only an inconvenience but can be dangerous if they chew through the wiring. Look for nests in the following areas:
Under seats Near the engine near air intake or vacuum lines Inside glove compartments, door panels or center consoles Under hoods/bonnets Under carpeting Inside headlight units Under the dashboard/center console Inside an empty radio cavity.
Keeping these areas clean and free of spider webs, nests, or dirt can help prevent mice from making their home in your car. However, regardless of how well you keep your car maintained and how frequently you vacuum your interior, there will always be a chance of finding a few mouse droppings somewhere inside your vehicle. So, if you can, regularly check for these droppings underneath the seats and in the center console to ensure they haven’t multiplied into a huge mouse infestation.
Once mice live inside your car, it is difficult to get rid of them without completely closing off the source of their entry. Unless you can find the entry point, you may resort to trapping and removing them by hand. If just one or two mice have gotten inside your car, a trap can be effective. There are a variety of mouse traps available at your local hardware store, but a simple style with a wooden base and metal bar works well. Place some peanut butter as bait inside the trap and slide it underneath a seat, by the engine, or in any other rodent hiding spot you find. Once the mouse has been caught, take it outside and release it into a wooded area far away from your home or parking lot.
To monitor if mice are still hanging around despite your best efforts to rid them, you can spread some non-toxic mouse or rat bait outside of your car and around the general area where you park. Once they eat the poison, it will take about a day for them to die, and you can check the poison’s label for instructions on how to dispose of their bodies.
If you find several different entry points, it may be necessary to seal them up with scrap wood, steel wool, or any other rodent-proof material.
If huge infestations take place better to ask for the help of a professional exterminator.