Caution - wires chewed
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 944
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From: Bucks County Pa
Caution - wires chewed
I stored my C6 this Dec. Yesterday I went to move the car out of the garage and it wouldn't start. I lifted the hood to jump the battery only to find some critter's fur all over the top of the battery and FRCs. That's not all they ate! I found severed wires cut/chewed (O2 sensor, MAF, lights, and fusebox. I spent 8 hrs replacing/tracing wires and using a blacklight looking for fecal/urine traces to see where else they could have been or hidding (interior too). In the end I found a nest in the tailpipe and the air box and a chewed hood liner. Goodnews is that I believe I covered every inch and found everything. Now I declare open season on those @%$^*^&! and traps and bait everywhere! 
:
:
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,306
Likes: 52
Irish Spring bar soap cut into slivers, placed in a pan and slid under the engine. Is supposed to work in keeping mice from nesting in the car. The smell of that soap is supposed to be like rodent repellent. I haven't tried it, but for 2 or 3 dollars it's worth a try
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 577
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From: Doylestown PA
Originally Posted by drrichie
I stored my C6 this Dec. Yesterday I went to move the car out of the garage and it wouldn't start. I lifted the hood to jump the battery only to find some critter's fur all over the top of the battery and FRCs. That's not all they ate! I found severed wires cut/chewed (O2 sensor, MAF, lights, and fusebox. I spent 8 hrs replacing/tracing wires and using a blacklight looking for fecal/urine traces to see where else they could have been or hidding (interior too). In the end I found a nest in the tailpipe and the air box and a chewed hood liner. Goodnews is that I believe I covered every inch and found everything. Now I declare open season on those @%$^*^&! and traps and bait everywhere! :
:Well that surely sucks!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
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From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Originally Posted by Jeffvette
psssst, drive your car.
Letting a car sit is just about the worst thing one can do. 
Bad for the seals, tires and, as discovered, a rodent magnet. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
Likes: 2,194
From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Originally Posted by Sunset Rose
Well that surely sucks!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
As if there werent enough sheet to worry about. What does infestation do to the resale value?
My car has rats...for sale cheap.
Good luck with fixin her up and seriously, drive that thing.
My car has rats...for sale cheap.
Good luck with fixin her up and seriously, drive that thing.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 1
From: Rehoboth Beach Delaware
Originally Posted by drrichie
I stored my C6 this Dec. Yesterday I went to move the car out of the garage and it wouldn't start. I lifted the hood to jump the battery only to find some critter's fur all over the top of the battery and FRCs. That's not all they ate! I found severed wires cut/chewed (O2 sensor, MAF, lights, and fusebox. I spent 8 hrs replacing/tracing wires and using a blacklight looking for fecal/urine traces to see where else they could have been or hidding (interior too). In the end I found a nest in the tailpipe and the air box and a chewed hood liner. Goodnews is that I believe I covered every inch and found everything. Now I declare open season on those @%$^*^&! and traps and bait everywhere! :
:
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 4 MY EGO
Can you spell Mothballs ?
No, becaue it is too hard to get their little legs apart.
BTW, it's so cold out here I saw one squirel wearing golves just to handle his nuts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 1
From: Howell N.J
Originally Posted by SpinMonster
As if there werent enough sheet to worry about. What does infestation do to the resale value?
My car has rats...for sale cheap.
Good luck with fixin her up and seriously, drive that thing.
My car has rats...for sale cheap.
Good luck with fixin her up and seriously, drive that thing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 13
From: Anywhere where Cones need hit
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
CI-X Auto-X Champ (race tires)
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
Originally Posted by 4 MY EGO
Letting a car sit is just about the worst thing one can do. Bad for the seals, tires and, as discovered, a rodent magnet. Tell me about it.. I have a friend with an 82 w/ 44K miles, and between that and his 92 Firebird, he alternates every summer which gets driven ( he says its de to insurance blah blah blah ) and we keep telling him he needs to keep both cars in circulation. That's just ASKING for your seals, hoses, etc to go bad, not to mention as this case... the chance for tennants to squat and set up house.
I've given up on talking to him about it, and said, "one day, you'll see what I mean and understand all the ribbing"
I can see not driving it during the winter in bad weather area ( like here ) but at least start it and pull it out every now and then to keep the parts lubed, and keep it a mobile target for unwanted visitors.
Hope you C6 doesn't get any more "visitors".
Good Luck
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
Running the car won't keep the rodents away either. My truck is my daily driver. The f***'n little pack rat would go up on the engine everynight to stay warm and then go to town on wires & hoses. He'd just jump ship in the AM and returm when I got home...or so is my theory.