Mice eating car wires 😱

*Astrantia* · 12 January

Just wondering if anyone has had this problem & how you’ve resolved it? My OH found that a mouse (assuming a mouse) has started nibbling at the battery cable on his car. Having read online how much damage they can cause we’d like to nip it in the bud (pun intended) in fact it’s 10.20pm & no doubt they are out there munching away right now!

So, we have seen devices that emit a noise that deters them and peppermint spray which apparently rodents hate, just wondering if anyone here has had this problem & how you’ve resolved it or if you’ve used these devices or sprays?
Hoping to get out tomorrow to purchase above items or any suggestions you nice people may have!

SherwoodArrow · 12 January

Would you trap them?

There was a thread the other day about using chilli powder made into a paste to stop rabbits and squirrels, maybe it would work here?

Topbird · 13 January

We had this problem with a motorhome. Think the mice were climbing up the tyres and into the engine compartment. We laid 4 mouse traps baited with peanut butter - 2 in the engine compartment and 1 by each front wheel. First night - killed 4 mice. Second night another 4, then 3 then 2 then the odd one once a week. That's a lot of mice😬

Think the main issue with the motorhome is that it was a vehicle not used for weeks at a time - months during lockdown - a nice quiet, warmer winter home. So make sure the car is started and driven regularly, preferably parked away from undergrowth where mice may be nesting.

It's a problem to get on top of and not be sentimental about. One mouse decided to shred the air filter and make a nest in there. That lot was sucked into the engine which caused blockages further in the system and eventually the EGR valve exploded on the M3 motorway. Nightmare grinding slowly to a stop on a fast motorway - and it cost around £6000 to investigate and repair.

Good luck with your problem.

Dovefromabove · 13 January

I remember the problems you had with mice @Topbird … it went on for a while didn’t it … and was certainly very expensive!!!

As you say, a problem to get on top of quickly.

Topbird · 13 January

I still have the occasional nightmare about the M3 episode @Dovefromabove. It was very scary and I know you had a similar experience near the Dartford Crossing.

Hope @*astrantia* can nip this in the bud but it's not an easy one.

Dovefromabove · 13 January

Pa occasionally found mouse nests within the workings of the combine as he prepared it for work each summer … but not usually in the engine … I suppose there were plenty of cozier places on the farm. 😊

Ante1 · 13 January

Morning all. Once I bought a car in Germany (my sister lives there), and found around engine few small metal boxes. I asked what this is and they told me that it's device against rats, squirrels, weasels and few other rodents. I don't have this problem in Croatia, so I don't know is it useful. It's connected to the battery and look like this

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/b0/rb9dduemtmjk.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qm/1h268njkzdjv.jpg

Pete.8 · 13 January

I had squirrels nesting on top of my car battery about 4 years ago - as discovered when it went in for a service.
There were bits of acorns everywhere.
I read that they can't bear the smell of cinnamon, so each autumn I sprinkle some cinnamon powder on the battery cover and check every couple of weeks.

No squirrels since.
But I was told by the service centre they had a customer and their quite new car had much of the wiring loom damaged by rodents to such an extent that the car was a write-off, and the insurance wouldn't pay out.

*Astrantia* · 13 January

Oh no what awful stories ! Have ordered a sonic device & peppermint oil from the big river company hopefully coming early next week & will get some traps thanks for the suggestions.
he uses his car every day that’s why we were so surprised !

Topbird · 13 January

The same year we had the problem with our motorhome, one friend opened his motorhome door to find a mouse on the passenger seat waiting to go for a drive😬, another had some chewed wires.

Another friend owns an ancient Porche which he only uses in the summer. Went to turn the engine in spring and found lots of debris in the footwell. All the wiring behind the radio had been chewed away. Car had to go for a full check over to make sure it was safe to drive.

The common factor with all the vehicles we know about is that they were all laid up for many days or weeks at a time, so keeping things moving seems to be a deterrent. We did try sonic devices and peppermint spray as well as the traps but it's impossible to say how effective or otherwise they were.

coccinella · 13 January

Thank you @Ante1, I will mention it to my friend whose car is regularly attacked by martens. Once she left it at the rail station where she lives and 4 hours later the car's electrics had been chewed. Not fun to walk home by herself at mighnight.

Mice eating car wires 😱

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