Squirrel Chewed Through Charging Wires

[VTbuckeye]

For those with a garage, the best trick I've ever seen / read about is the ol' water bucket with a wire from edge to edge and a soda can or plastic water bottle or a similar round cylinder placed on a horizontal axis in the center of the wire, smeared with peanut butter.

The rat smells the peanut butter, climbs across the wire onto the can, the can rotates and rotates, the rat falls into water in the bucket, can't climb out...

...and the garage owner can count the harvest.

Too bad my garage gets cold enough for the water to freeze.

A few years ago some squirrels made my sailboat their winter/spring home. I never saw the adult, but there were four little cute fur balls in various places on the boat. They destroyed some dock line and one large and one medium sized fender. The line was turned into polyester fluff. The large fender was opened and became their nest of rubber pellets and polyester fibers. They chewed on the wood steps and the polycarbonate hatch cover. They chewed up some of the wiring, no more power for the radio or knot meter, (I just day sail and haven't used the instruments in years). The battery isn't on the boat, the outboard and bracket live in the garage.

I trapped them all and brought them to a couple different trailheads where I run/mountain bike. I really do not hold it against them for finding a dry protected space to make a home.

I don't worry about that now because my 14 year old has turned the boat into a giant fort for the winter. It's their safe space. Trying to figure out how they want to run the rigging differently this year and spend my money.

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[evowner]

Too bad my garage gets cold enough for the water to freeze.

A few years ago some squirrels made my sailboat their winter/spring home. I never saw the adult, but there were four little cute fur balls in various places on the boat. They destroyed some dock line and one large and one medium sized fender. The line was turned into polyester fluff. The large fender was opened and became their nest of rubber pellets and polyester fibers. They chewed on the wood steps and the polycarbonate hatch cover. They chewed up some of the wiring, no more power for the radio or knot meter, (I just day sail and haven't used the instruments in years). The battery isn't on the boat, the outboard and bracket live in the garage.

I trapped them all and brought them to a couple different trailheads where I run/mountain bike. I really do not hold it against them for finding a dry protected space to make a home.

I don't worry about that now because my 14 year old has turned the boat into a giant fort for the winter. It's their safe space. Trying to figure out how they want to run the rigging differently this year and spend my money.

If I was a squirrel I would move into a sailboat too. Only I would be quiet and hide, not destructive, so I could go sailing too.

 

[VTbuckeye]

If I was a squirrel I would move into a sailboat too. Only I would be quiet and hide, not destructive, so I could go sailing too.

It spends the winter on a trailer in the backyard. Cheapest storage ever...

 

[iam-s-Hon]

I’ve tried cayene in my bird feeders, with some mixed results. I may not be diligent enough in using it.

pro tip: avoid applying when breezy outside

 

[OMO7]

If I caught the squirrel that did that he would've wished he chewed through the HVB.

 

[GarageMahal]

Squirrels suck. https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/rodent-damage.18473/

 

[Ricks Lightning]

Looks real clean for a rodent chewing all 3 wires and not shreading the insulation and orange cover more.

Did you find any shavings on the floor when you returned home?

Seriously $1100.00 for splicing 3 wires back together? What am I missing?

Rick

 

[StevenC56]

My guess on the repair estimate is that they are replacing the harness. Sometimes a manufacturer will say certain wiring has to be replaced if damaged, that repairing the wiring and connectors is not a recommended repair due to certain factors.

Edit: I see that the OP says they are going to repair, not replace. Yeah, $1100 sounds pretty steep.

 

[Iroc34a]

Those damn squirrels. I shoot all of them . 100's in the last couple years. Destructive little vermin. The do keep on chewing because their teeth never stop growing. Started with the plastic base my house air conditioner sits on, then they chewed through the old Chevy Colorado wiring harness. Exactly why I own the Lightning now. Final straw was them chewing on my new hot tub. Bought a high powered .22 caliber pellet gun. Smoke them all Now I have a fox the comes by frequently for a free meal!

 

[Skidrowe]

They're estimating 5-6 hours of work and their rate is $206 per hour. 3-way splice of multiple wires that require solder, shrink wrap, and retaping. Then there is the time spent root causing, more diagnostics and testing, and putting back together the parts they take off to access the wiring harness. I wouldn't bat my eyes at 3 hours. So while 5-6 seems a little high, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. The insurance adjuster approved it.

That picture is from right behind the charge port. You can't get to it by reaching under the wheel well. So it seems like something small had to crawl up there to get to them unless someone took parts off my truck in the driveway, clipped wires, and then put it back together. Also, there wasn't a clear path for the chewed contents to fall to the ground with the wheel well liner. I accept the premise that the damage was caused by a rodent.

 

[evowner]

Those damn squirrels. I shoot all of them . 100's in the last couple years. Destructive little vermin. The do keep on chewing because their teeth never stop growing. Started with the plastic base my house air conditioner sits on, then they chewed through the old Chevy Colorado wiring harness. Exactly why I own the Lightning now. Final straw was them chewing on my new hot tub. Bought a high powered .22 caliber pellet gun. Smoke them all Now I have a fox the comes by frequently for a free meal!

But.. but.. they are so cute bouncing across the snow.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

Had this happen with my old Jeep. It happened after I had parked it outside for over a week while driving my other vehicle. I now try and drive each vehicle regularly as to not let the little guys think they have a lot of time to make a nest.

 

[TreatYoSelf]

My understanding of the problem is that they are using plant based material for the insulation. We had a big problem in our area with our new fiber optic cables being eaten by squirrels.

THIS.
I was told this when a rabbit chewed through a wiring harness for the drive unit on our Tesla a few years ago. I believe it's a soy-based insulation. Required a tow to the service center and $250 to replace the harness.

 

[Skidrowe]

I never updated here, but I was trying to humanely deter the squirrels (despite my bluster). But in the last week of February, I returned from a 4-day trip where my truck had been parked at the airport. The morning after my return, the squirrels struck again and destroyed the same wiring harness behind the charge port. The dealership said they would have to buy a new harness because of reasons. This time the total was about $2300. It took insurance almost 3 weeks to approve the work because I switched carriers and they thought I was committing fraud by trying to get paid twice for the same damage. I had to prove that it was new damage caused in the same place.

Since then I've taken out 12 squirrels that run along the fence of my house with a nice Gamo pellet gun I picked up on my way home when I got my truck back the first time. I've also rubbed Irish Spring soap under my wheel wells to leave a strong scent I've heard they don't like. It's been almost 4 weeks with no new damage.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Peppermint spray for rodent control might also help.

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