How to Protect Your Car From Rodents
CR offers clever solutions to critters nibbling at your car's wires
Rats! You can buy the most reliable car on Earth and still find convoluted electrical gremlins, fluid leaks, and even outright failure when rodents take up residence and begin chewing on wiring, hoses, plastic, and other critical car parts. This is especially a risk for cars stored over the winter.
Rodent-inflicted damage is an age-old problem that some observers say is increasing as automakers use more plant-based biodegradable materials to reduce waste. Several class-action lawsuits have been filed against major automakers in recent years, alleging that soy-based products were to blame, but these court cases were later dismissed.
Pest control company Terminix considers the temptations of tasty materials to be a myth, and instead, it blames rodent biology and their need to constantly chew, thereby preventing their teeth from growing too long. It turns out that feasting on cars is more prevalent than you might think. And a representative from the pest control company Orkin told CR that there was a rise during the pandemic, partly because more people were working from home, thereby driving less frequently and having more chances to observe rodents.
How to Avoid Attracting Critters
• Ideally, park away from places that are known to draw rodents, such as near trash bins or natural food sources, like vegetable gardens.
• Park in a sealed garage, if possible, and keep the doors closed.
• Make sure the garage doesn’t have stored food and prime nest materials like newspapers, cardboard, straw, rags, and patio furniture cushions.
• Look for gaps around garage windows and doors for possible places that rodents can sneak in. Weather strips under the side doors can help seal them. Likewise, inspect the vertical seals on retractable garage doors for damage.
• Don’t store trash cans used for food waste in the garage.
• Keep the car interior free from food wrappers; their scent can draw rodents.
• Move the car regularly, discouraging varmints from taking up residence. You can also honk the horn before starting the car to scare away any napping critters.
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How to Get Rid of Furry Vandals
There are specially made spray products meant to deter rodents; if garaged, you could mist one of these products under the hood and around the vehicle. Peppermint oil and cayenne pepper are reported to deter rodents. Note that spray products will need to be reapplied routinely, because they can wear away and rinse off.
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There are ultrasonic devices that emit sounds to deter rodents, but at a frequency that humans can’t hear. However, their effectiveness is in doubt.
For storage, placing mothballs under the hood can help. (Don’t use them inside the car or you’ll be stuck with that awful smell.)
A technical service bulletin from Honda offers a clever solution: rodent-deterrent tape, essentially an electrical tape treated with super-spicy capsaicin, which Honda describes as “the stuff that puts the fire in a bowl of five-alarm chili.” The tape (part No. 4019-2317) comes in a 20-meter roll, about 22 yards, and it is available through dealers and online for $42.
We bought a roll of Honda’s rodent-deterrent tape to check it out. Beyond the cute rat graphics and gray color, it deceptively seems like regular electrical tape to us humans. There is no tear-inducing odor, but it does carry a label that warns against prolonged exposure to skin. Despite dares and double dares, we did not taste it and will trust that it is potent enough to deter even the most ravenous varmint.
Other suggestions for dealing with rodents under your hood include installing metal mesh around wiring harnesses and rubber hoses and across any openings where rodents could crawl into your ventilation or intake systems.
Placing rodent traps around the garage can reduce the population, but just be careful of exposing domestic animals and children to poisons or dangerous snap traps.
If the rodents are winning the war despite following these tips, contact a local pest control service. They are trained to combat stubborn rodent issues and can address your specific challenges.
What to Do If Your Car Has Rodents
Rodents and their droppings can carry dangerous and even deadly diseases. If you find them in your car, it’s important to clean them up properly.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, do NOT use a vacuum cleaner, as it may cause virus-containing droplets to spread in the air. Instead, spray a nest or evidence of infestation with a disinfectant (not bleach, since that will ruin your upholstery and damage car parts) and let it sit for five minutes. Wear disposable gloves and use disposable paper towels to remove any nest or droppings. Then, clean the area again. Wash your hands before and after removing gloves.
If you find rodents or droppings in the vehicle’s air intake, dispose of and replace the air filter.
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