Rats in my engine compartment!

[Mikie]

This has been something that I've always been concerned about when camping, with past cars and my new LC as well. When camping, every day I always check the engine compartment at least once for any signs of visitors... I checked yesterday afternoon, and all was well. But when I checked early (before daylight) this am, four rats had made a HUGE mess of leaves, grass, etc. on top of the engine. I chased them out (as best I could), and cleaned up all of their mess -- but of the four, I still have two scurrying around in the engine bay, even after a two hour drive home from the camping area. I've set up some traps, so hopefully I'll be able to catch them before they do any real damage (i.e. mess with the wiring...)

Interestingly, and somewhat shockingly, this morning I heard some commotion in the air intake, and when I popped the top off and lifted the filter, there were two (live) rats sitting there in the box!!! I'm really surprised that Toyota didn't put some sort of intake block on, at least something that would keep out large rats!!!!

 

[toretto]

im just glad i live in a place that is rat free

 

[TimHerald]

I have heard there is a mint spray that will keep them out. A friend had squirrels in his Sequoia and ate up the wiring to the tune of $4000. Cayenne pepper can also work but the spray is specifically made for engines.

 

[Mikie]

Yea, first thing I did when I got home today was order up some more traps, and a bottle of the peppermint spray.

Incidentally, I did hit a couple of 'em with my bear spray (cayenne pepper spray) this morning, I'd of thought that that would have discouraged them!!!

 

[jbtaco2002]

dryer sheets zip tied in a few places has worked for us

 

[D-mac]

I was in a remote location last week that had frequent critter attacks on vehicles, and the popular countermeasure was to prop hoods open.

 

[Roonie]

I use peppermint essential oil drops every month to keep critters out

 

[Mikie]

I was in a remote location last week that had frequent critter attacks on vehicles, and the popular countermeasure was to prop hoods open.

Yea, oftentimes I do that, but unfortunately, yesterday I only left it open for a few hours in the afternoon, so that the engine could cool (and be less hospitable for overnight guests). I had not seen any signs of critters (e.g. footprints in the dust in the engine bay) thus far in my trip, so I closed the hood before sundown (which apparently was a mistake)...

 

[Mikie]

dryer sheets zip tied in a few places has worked for us

I added those to my overnight delivery -- arriving btwn 4am-8am, thank you Amazon! I'll try anything at this point.

 

[TimHerald]

I added those to my overnight delivery -- arriving btwn 4am-8am, thank you Amazon! I'll try anything at this point.

Works for ants in the mailbox too!

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Set rat trap in engine bay at night

 

[Mikie]

Set rat trap in engine bay at night

I have 5 mouse traps with the car right now, 2 in the engine bay, one on floor on both sides near the front of the car, and one on the rear skid plate. All baited with peanut butter. These are mouse traps, so I'm not positive that they are big enough -- these rats are big and bold, no fear of exposing themselves and looking right at me! Their bodies are 4-5 inches long (not including the tail).

I have 4 bigger rat traps being delivered overnight, and I'll add those to the mix early tomorrow morning!

The rats are still moving around inside the engine bay, and from time to time I can hear them chewing on something -- so it's a race of time, will I kill them before they kill the car!!!

 

[TrailWhale]

I was in a remote location last week that had frequent critter attacks on vehicles, and the popular countermeasure was to prop hoods open.

I wrapped my Prius C entirely in a tarp to protect from Marmots once at Mineral King. It was such a lovely sight, and to this day I'm still upset I never took a picture of it. Some folks also had chicken wire around their vehicles, but the tarp strategy was pretty common.

 

[UtahDave]

Years ago pack rats ate the soya based insulation in my Chevy 3500 diesel. Fortunately they didn't do much damage. What idiots use plant based materials in these areas. Mint oil helped.

Last month it was marmots under the hood of my RAM 2500...grrr. They chewed up the fiber insulation around the batteries and left a lot of crap. I now use mothballs if I'm parking the pickup for any time.

My LC is in my garage but earlier mice got into my Audi SQ-5 engine compartment. More traps in the garage helped. It's the price we pay for living on a small ranch.

If they touch the LC it's war!

 

[TakaraLC]

Best rodent repellant I found is cat hair. When I brush may cat, I put few bundles around the garage. If you have a garden, putting hair near the plants also works against chipmunks.

 

[JoeDirt]

So there is a whole different thread where I discuss my battle with these fakahs. They ate enough of the wiring harness that it had to be completely replaced at a huge $$$$. I’ve tried peppermint oil, sonic system in the engine bay, dryer sheets, etc…. Here is what worked for me so far. I wrapped the main harness in a heat shield (helps prevent the worst damage). I put two boxes of Irish Spring in the engine bay. I also wrapped other critical wires in capsaicin tape (Honda). I trapped the main bastard and hung him up in effigy. Raising the hood works in the field, and it’s now garaged when home. The struggle is real….wouldn’t recommend sleeping on it. Bright light in the engine bay also keeps them out.

 

[basicxj]

Best rodent repellant I found is cat hair. When I brush may cat, I put few bundles around the garage. If you have a garden, putting hair near the plants also works against chipmunks.

If anyone wants a supply of cat hair, I’ve got your back! Sometimes even find stray strands in the Land Cruiser interior.

 

[icurnmedic]

These dang things can be relentless. I’ve killed 29 over the last few months in my detached garage.None in the house this go around. I have concluded that they are there because the dog food. They have chewed into my side by side bed, find the in the damn lawnmower. No joke 2 weeks ago, I was moving the lawnmower and ran over 2 of them. Then moved the side by side and ran over one about 1/2 size of a football. Both on accident. Probably the biggest downfall of living in the woods. Oh and got a 4 foot black snake in a trap last week, presumably looking for the rodents.
Anyway the larger tomcat traps are all I have found to work. And don’t ever put bait in your house, made that mistake a decade ago.

 

[grandsons]

I chased them out (as best I could), and cleaned up all of their mess -- but of the four, I still have two scurrying around in the engine bay, even after a two hour drive home from the camping area.

Problem solved with a dog!, don't need to have a German Shepard, a Maltese Bichon will perform nicely, it will bark when thieves are approaching and give it's life to hunt down a bear, plus it's has been selected specifically for rats hunting.

 

[surfishjoe]

What is the theory- it leaves them exposed so they don’t mess with the engine when you prop the hood open?