[sypher01]

Hey guys,
so, i moved recently to a house in the country, and i got a temp sensor error reading, -40...

Reading around here, people wrote it could be caused by rats.

And damn, i went this morning, opened the hood, and sure enough they were eating the heat shield under the hood.


Are there any good solutions for keeping rats out of the car?

For now i dont even know how to replace the temp sensor as i cant see it ...

On a "new" (used) car that was kept in mint condition, this is bothering me ... :-(

[Chapperss]

Installing a Cat will probably work

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by Chapperss

Installing a Cat will probably work

Secondary cats may also be necessary

[sypher01]

Wanna laugh?

I'm actually a cat breeder. Seriously.

However, they are inside cats, and the only rat they saw was probably on TV.

[ptpending]

you need to get natural outdoor cat

[sypher01]

There's a few outside.

after they get fat enough, they wont care if there's 150 rats around.

[Chapperss]

Originally Posted by sypher01

Wanna laugh?

I'm actually a cat breeder. Seriously.

However, they are inside cats, and the only rat they saw was probably on TV.

lol, that`s quality.

Rats can and will chew through anything so I don`t think any advice you need will be specific to a car. Get on google and see what traps, poison and other gubbins peeps use to keep rats out of their property

and good luck!

p.s. any cute kitten pics to you want to share

[ptpending]

Originally Posted by sypher01

There's a few outside.

after they get fat enough, they wont care if there's 150 rats around.

somebody feeds that outdoor cats ? they shouldn't
another good option is snake

[nsjames]

rodents don't like peppermint.

you can buy tractor cab repellents. They're bags of wood shavings (?) soaked in peppermint oil.

You can make them easy enough. They need changed/refreshed every few months to keep them potent.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...epellant-10-oz

[Bob Shiftright]

Honda sells a hot pepper/capsaicin flavored electrical tape, PN 4019-2317.

https://www.thedrive.com/tech/33236/...odent-invasion

It's wrapped around the BMW's TPMS sensor antenna harness after the second time the the Evil Critters chewed through it.

The tape may be available from the manufacturer and other sources for less than the Honda price.

It's part of "country life". I don't want to think about how much money I spend each year fixing critter damage and time I waste relocating critters to a park.

[mecheng77]

Cayenne pepper and moth balls work

[BSM n54iS]

Didn't Google? I would have thought there are some repellent sprays out there and 5 seconds in searching I'd be willing to try 3m cuz they're good stuff.

[Soden82]

Peppermint oil and dryer sheets is what I use when I store my car over the winter outside

[mousefarmer]

Originally Posted by Soden82

Peppermint oil and dryer sheets is what I use when I store my car over the winter outside

Wow, I thought everyone loved peppermint. I guess rats don't.

Where are you putting this stuff inside the engine bay? I would think putting a bunch of stuff like poison pellets, Borax or something under the area the car sits as well as the underbelly pan and maybe.

[CTinline-six]

Strong smelling dryer sheets (not the weak store brand), change them out every few months. I use them to keep mice out of my power equipment also.

[jarsdad1]

I used Coast Soap shavings when I stored my Vette for winters.

[marvinstockman]

Mouse Magic:

https://www.bonide.com/products/gard...65/mouse-magic

[AllBlackBimmer]

I have had issues with squirrels and have done a decent amount of googling this subject since it cost me a lot of money.
Options are:
1) kill them. Humanly or whatever you choose ridding your pests by death is a permanent solution. More with eventually come back.
2) trap them and release they very, very far from your home. More will eventually come back.
3) try to repeal them with dumb luck and moderate random success. Things work like strong smells - bleach, Irish springs soap, peppermint, hot peppers, moth balls, etc. these can all help but not guarantee to work - many YouTube videos will show rodents adjusting and eventually disregarding the smell. At some point, more will eventually come back.

Cats are a great solution and combination of numbers 1 and 3 above.
I did not want to get a cat, but these rodents cost me more money - when not if - maybe I’ll consider.
So for now, I will randomly spray under my vehicle that sits outside with bleach, peppermint, or hot peppers. You can buy stuff on Amazon pre made or you can make it yourself.
I bought the Honda tape - expensive for what it is - but have not applied it to my vehicle yet, but would like to in some areas.
Does it work?
It works, until it doesn’t.
I fully expect to have another rodent repair bill in my future unless I move first.
Good luck, you’ll need it.

[sypher01]

Thanks everyone for the answers, i went with a few options:

1. i stopped giving food to the stray cats outside, hopefully they'll get hungry enough to eat a few mices.
2. i plan to move my dog outside and keep him leash enough that he can go on the vehicle.
3. i sprayed a pre-made mouse repellant in the engine bay
4. i bought 2 ultrasound emitters (1 already broke down!).

for now, no new bites.
i'm checking daily.

[Soden82]

Hey OP im planning to keep my car under a portable garage this winter. I feel as though if you go out weekly or biweekly and just double check around the car and under the hood you should be good.

Obviously continue to do what your doing with the preventive measures too.