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.

 

[BlueLightning]

The other day, I walked out to my truck in warmer (40 degree) rain after a week of sub-freezing temperatures. I saw some chewed up acorns on top of my rear passenger wheel. I instantly had murderous thoughts about rodents. The first few months I had my truck (Sept '22), I had found a mountain of acorns and shells on top of everything behind the access panel in the back of the frunk. A shop vac had cleaned up most of that with no adverse consequences. Well...this time was different.

I got into my truck and started driving and about 5 minutes from home, my watch buzzes at me that I have a message. It says something about powertrain failure as a message from the ford pass app. I didn't have any reduced power according to the dash gauges and the truck drove just fine. I had already forgotten about the squirrel nuts on the tire. I drove it the rest of the day with no issue other than the wrench icon and request that I take it in for service as soon as possible. So I took it in the next morning.

The service advisor told me that they wouldn't be able to look at it until the next day, but because I pointed out some recall work that it needed, he wouldn't have any problem providing me with a loaner.

NOTE: Prior to them determining whether a problem you're having is covered under warranty, they're gambling providing you with a free loaner. I think I'll save up my non-critical recalls for visits like this to ensure I have the best possible chance of being put in a "free" loaner truck.

Last night I got the email from the dealership that it's rodent damage to the charging wires. It's a little over $1100 in estimated cost for them to manually repair the damage (they're not planning on ordering a new harness and believe they can repair it). Once it's repaired, they'll run diagnostics again to determine if there are any more faults contributing to the "powertrain malfunction" and will submit them to Ford if applicable.

For some reason, I decided to overpay for auto insurance 5-10 years ago and only have a $100 deductible. They cover damage caused by animals and it's a no-fault claim. So I'm starting with that route and they don't mind me using the dealership to perform the work. I'll update here as things progress. In the meantime, I'm going to incur the ire of my neighbors by killing some squirrels.

Yep those soybean wrapped wires are delicious ‍🫣

 

[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!

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