Mice chewing on car wiring...

[vfx]

All cars are vulnerable. My SUV has had more mice damage than my Roadster.

One Roadster had $10,000 in rodent damage. It's for sale online now. The entire wiring harness had to be replaced.
I have had coolant, brake and wiper fluid bottles all chewed. Not much wiring.

Best solution I have heard is to surround the entire car at night 360 with sticky traps. (not that sticky traps are perfect).

[Sig698]

I have a co-worker whose Toyota 4 Runner was totaled over the course of a weekend while it sat in his garage, all due to rodent chewing. They went through 4 wiring harnesses, most of the interior panels, and a good chunk of the upholstry! All in a weekend from coming home from work on Friday to getting ready to leave on Monday!

[epley]

Our Odyssey also had the wiring tampered with by the little buggers. They are destructive! Definitely no EV-exclusive. In fact, some argue that the heat from the engine draws them to the car in the colder months, only to find a plastic banquet for their dining pleasure!

[TEG]

As I recall, rodents tend to need to chew on things to keep grinding down their teeth. Unlike people, their teeth keep growing throughout their life...

Why are rats always chewing things? - Yahoo! Answers

Maybe if you can't get rid of them, you could put an alternative chew item (e.g., wood block) off to the side away from the car so they use it instead?

[NigelM]

Here's what we used to do on the farm where I grew up to get rid of rats and other rodents:

Cut the top off a barrel or oil drum, grease the insides and then put molasses and newspaper in the bottom. The rats are attracted to the smell of molasses and once they fall/jump in the barrel they can't get out. When they've eaten the molasses they start to cannibalize each other, and when there's one or two big cannibal rats you tip the barrel over and let them go. The cannibal rats then keep the rodent population in check by eating the other animals. Bingo, no more rodent problems!

[TEG]

Disgusting, but effective...

[vfx]

.... The cannibal rats then keep the rodent population in check by eating the other animals. Bingo, no more rodent problems!

LOL!


Problem is, now I would worry about my pets!

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... you could put an alternative chew item (e.g., wood block) off to the side away from the car so they use it instead?

They like what they like. Certain plastics probably of a certain density. Tin foil (usually has food on it), and even had one eat through an aluminum cat food can for the spoils inside.

The single most patented item is the mouse trap.