You may be wondering how you can prevent rodents from chewing car wires after hearing friends or relatives share their experiences.
Squirrels, rats, mice, chipmunks, groundhogs, woodchucks, and opossums are some creatures that can find their way into a car and call it home.
In some cases, you can be clueless about how to deal with them. You may also think they can’t invade your vehicle until you notice ripped-up wires or unexpected fluid leaks.
And after going to the garage to fix the faults, your mechanic tells you that rodents may be the cause.
Frankly, rodents can wreak havoc on almost every part of a car and lead to expensive repairs or replacements. The hoses, plastic components, power steering lining, air filter, seats, and cushions are all at risk.
What do you do?
Breathe a sigh of relief if you have been troubled by rats, mice, or squirrels taking up residence in your car and causing destruction.
This write-up will take you through how to prevent rodents from chewing car wires and other vital parts.
How to Prevent Rodents from Chewing Car Wires
1. Set a trap
When rodents infest a car, they can camp anywhere inside the components. This can make it hard for you to flash them out.
Before you give up, consider setting out traps. Fine, this is an old-fashioned tactic, but still efficient to keep squirrels from eating car wires.
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You will only need to place baits on the areas you think serve as the entry point in your car or garage. Be cautious not to expose your domestic animals to the baited trap or rat rapper electric traps.
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2. Secure the car openings
Rodents can penetrate a car through even the tiniest openings. They squeeze through the wheel vents or crawl to the engine bay via the exhaust pipe.
Ensure the rats or squirrels don’t reach the engine bay or interior of the car by securing possible loops and rubber hoses with thin metal mesh.
Always keep the windows and doors closed after parking to prevent the rodents from sneaking and eating car wires.
3. Park the car on clear ground
Trashed or shrubby grounds are conducive hideaways for rodents to invade your car and feast on wire coatings.
Exposed wires pose a threat. They make the vehicle unsafe to drive and can short circuit several components.
If you park inside a home garage, ensure it is free from garbage trash bins, food sources, or papers. Otherwise, this stuff can seem like a piece of snack for the annoying rats, attracting them to creep into a car.
4. Use smell deterrents
Despite your efforts to park the car in a garage and embrace a clutter-free surrounding, it can be hectic to keep off rats.
The good news is that all hope isn’t lost. You can use unpleasant smells to prevent chewed wires if you leave the car idle for an extended period.
Black pepper, peppermint, cayenne pepper, or tobacco leaves are ideal to use. You can also leverage under hood rodent repellers like naphthalene balls or mothballs to prevent the rodents.
It would be best not to use these products inside the car since they produce an awful smell.
As for the car’s interior, you can keep rodent repellant in the form of granules or cake under the seats. Still, you can soak rags or cotton balls with anti-rodent solutions and place them around the trunk or hood.
If you wish to use spray rodent repellents, brace yourself to reapply them routinely since their scents often fade faster.
Be sure to clean the car well after getting rid of the rodents. Move it to an open space and use a vacuum cleaner if possible.
Wear a face mask and rubber gloves to avoid breathing or contact with the repellants or droppings, which can cause diseases.
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5. Park the car in a sealed garage
It is advisable to park your car in a closed garage if possible. This prevents squirrels and rats from sneaking in and chewing the car wires.
It even becomes easy to deal with them while in a small space. More so, parking the car inside a garage will go a long way to prevent rust and headlights from yellowing.
6. Scare rodents with sound waves
Rodents can invade the car’s components during chilly months to take shelter or breed. The trunk, the hood, and under the seats are perfect hideouts for rats and mice.
Be on the lookout for their droppings, urine, gathered nesting material, or traces of food particles.
In the same vein, listen to scratching or scuttling sounds from the engine bay and inside the car. Any strange odor in the cabin or air vents can also signal rodent infestation.
Use sonic or ultrasonic devices to create irritating sounds and drive the critters away if you notice any signs. You can also honk the horn or play loud music around the hood with a portable radio.
7. Empty the trunk and remove edibles from the car
Of course, you can drive home late carrying animal feeds or garden seeds and decide to leave them inside the car overnight.
The feed’s aroma can attract rats. This makes it worthwhile to clear the hood before parking. It would also be wise to dispose of unused boxes and cans since they can be hideouts for the critters.
8. Start the car regularly
Rodents can be quick to invade your car’s engine compartment once the weather gets cold. A peaceful and warm place with less disturbance is all they need to thrive.
It is wise to start your car regularly if you keep it in the garage for a long time. The sudden disturbance can help keep mice out of the car cabin filter.
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9. Keep the car clean
Okay, you will often eat inside the car, but do you bother to clean up? Food leftovers and wrappers can draw rats without your knowledge, and the aftermath will leave you at losses.
It is recommended to avoid eating inside the car if possible. Don’t feed your pets near the vehicle to avert attracting rats. Otherwise, ensure you attend to the area as soon as you finish the feeding exercise.
10. Inspect the car
How often do you assess your car’s interior? Rats and mice can cause electrical faults in a vehicle, making the dashboard warning lights flash like a Christmas tree. The damages can often be unnoticeable, especially if the rodents only rip up the insulation material.
Ensure you inspect the interior and hood for signs of rodent infestation. Remove the plastic engine cover if possible.
Also, look for holes under the seats and mats while cleaning. Such places offer ideal breeding beds for rodents. Be sure to check whether there are any damages or oil leaks from the systems.
11.Keep the hood open at night
Unless you keep rodents as pets, you obviously don’t need them in the car. Most rodents like to destroy wires at night or places with less light, heat, and interference.
You can run a heater on full blast in the car with the windows and doors rolled up. The sudden temperature change may push away the creatures.
Keeping the hood open at night and the garage lights on are wise ways to avoid rats in the car naturally. You can also opt to park the car outside the garage during the day, even if you don’t use it.
Doing this for a few days is adequate to scare away the hiding rodents.
FAQ’s about Keeping Rodents away from your Car
Why do rodents chew car wires?
Rodents chew car wires to trim and sharpen their ever-growing teeth. More so, wires are some of the most accessible parts they can get their mouth on fast.
Why are rodents attracted to the engine compartment?
The engine bay offers rodents a serene, warm environment to hide and breed.
How much damage can rodents cause in a car?
Despite the rodents chewing wires, they can bring waste materials such as papers and dry leaves into the bonnet. This can pose a potential fire outbreak in the hood if the engine overheats or the temperature increases, causing significant damages.
Are rodent damages insurable?
Some comprehensive insurance policies often cover damages caused by rodents chewing wires. But again, it is prudent to check your current cover to understand the rodent insurance provisions.
What can I use to seal rodent entries in a car?
You can mix filler and a hardener. Place a fine aluminum chicken wire on the underside of the hole and apply the mixture. Use a perforated file to level the surface afterward.
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Now you know how to prevent rodents from chewing car wires. It is time to act. Be watchful of the signs to avoid expensive damages.
Take your car for a tune-up often. Doing this will help uncover chewed wires and fix them before they cause huge problems.
Remember to wear protective rubber gloves when using rodent repellents and clean your car to avoid contact with diseases.
Afterward, dispose of the cleaning material and wash your hands thoroughly. Overall, if the critters seem to be winning the war, reach out to a local pest control service for help.