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🚗 Winter is here, and mice are quietly turning your car into an expensive nightmare.
As temperatures drop, rodents seek warmth and shelter inside your vehicle’s engine bay — especially right after you park, when the engine stays toasty for hours. They climb in through tiny gaps, build nests from insulation and debris, and start chewing on wiring harnesses.
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0:00
Hey buddy, are mice chewing through the
0:02
wires in your car's engine bay this
0:03
winter and leaving you with a dead
0:05
vehicle when you need it most? The fix
0:07
is simple and cheap. Hit them with
0:09
strong scents like peppermint oil or
0:11
capsaisonin tape. Block their entry
0:13
points and inspect under the hood every
0:16
week. But if you ignore it, you're
0:18
looking at over $1,000 easy, sometimes
0:21
three, four, even six grand to replace
0:24
chewed wiring harnesses or fried modules
0:26
in your car. I've seen it way too many
0:29
times in the shop. Okay, so winter rolls
0:31
in, temperatures drop, and mice start
0:34
hunting for warmth. Your car's engine
0:36
compartment is like a five-star hotel
0:38
for them, especially after a drive when
0:40
it stays warm for hours. They sneak up
0:42
through small openings around the wheel
0:44
wells, under the chassis, or along cable
0:47
runs. Once inside, they shred whatever's
0:50
soft, hood insulation, air filter
0:52
material, even leaves that blew in and
0:55
build cozy nests right on top of your
0:57
engine or battery. You know, their teeth
0:59
grow non-stop, so they gnaw constantly
1:01
to wear them down. The thing is, a bunch
1:04
of modern cars, Toyota, Honda, Ford, a
1:06
lot of them use soybased or
1:08
plant-derived insulation on the wiring.
1:11
To rodents, that's basically a buffet.
1:13
I've opened hoods and found wiring
1:15
harnesses looking like they went through
1:17
a shredder, exposed copper, freight
1:19
ends, the works. That damage shorts out
1:22
sensors on your engine, kills spark plug
1:25
wires, messes with fuel injectors, or
1:27
even triggers the immobilizer so your
1:29
car won't start at all. Worst cases, it
1:32
causes electrical fires under the hood.
1:34
Rare, but it happens. Your dash lights
1:36
up like a Christmas tree, or the car
1:38
runs rough, hesitates, stalls out of
1:40
nowhere. And if you're parked outside
1:43
near woods, fields, or even just tall
1:45
grass, you're basically rolling out the
1:47
welcome mat. All right, then let's talk
1:49
signs you can spot yourself before it
1:51
gets expensive. First thing, pop the
1:54
hood on your car and shine a flashlight
1:56
around. Look for tiny black droppings.
1:59
They're like little grains of rice
2:00
scattered on the battery, intake
2:02
manifold, or firewall. Nests are usually
2:05
tucked in warm corners behind the airbox
2:08
near the ECU module or crammed into the
2:10
cowl area under the wipers. You might
2:12
see chewed insulation flakes, bits of
2:15
paper, or dryer sheet looking shreds if
2:17
they've been raining nearby. Sometimes
2:20
there's a sharp ammonia smell from
2:22
urine. It can seep into the cabin
2:23
through the fresh air vents. Inside your
2:26
car, check the glove box, under seats,
2:28
even the trunk. They travel through the
2:30
whole vehicle. If your check engine
2:32
light comes on randomly, or you get
2:34
weird codes for sensors that were fine
2:36
last week, rodents are a prime suspect.
2:39
Misfires, rough idle, reduced power, all
2:42
can come from nod wires in the engine
2:44
bay. Catch it early and you're golden.
2:46
Well, um, the best defense is making
2:48
your car smell and taste terrible to
2:50
them. My number one recommendation is
2:53
pure peppermint essential oil. Mice
2:56
can't stand the menthol. It overwhelms
2:58
their senses. Grab a small bottle, soak
3:00
some cotton balls, and place them
3:02
strategically around your car's engine
3:04
compartment. Put a few near the main
3:06
wiring harness, on the frame rails, by
3:08
the air intake, even inside the cabin on
3:11
floor mats or under seats. Wait till the
3:13
engine is cold before you place
3:15
anything. Hot metal plus oil is a bad
3:17
combo. Refresh them every 10 to 14 days
3:20
or after heavy rain. I've had customers
3:23
swear this alone kept their cars
3:24
rodent-free for years. Honestly, it's 20
3:28
bucks and 10 minutes of work. Another
3:30
killer option is Capsain based rodent
3:32
tape. Honda makes an official version,
3:35
but aftermarket ones work great, too.
3:37
It's electrical tape infused with hot
3:39
pepper extract. You just wrap vulnerable
3:42
wiring bundles, sensor leads, injector
3:44
harnesses, anything low and exposed in
3:46
the engine bay. If a mouse takes a
3:49
nibble, the burn sends them running.
3:51
It's semi-permanent, weatherproof, and
3:53
doesn't wear out like scents. Great for
3:55
cars that sit a lot. You can also buy
3:57
capsaison and spray repellent, lightly
3:59
misted wires, hoses, even the tops of
4:01
tires. Just avoid painted surfaces or
4:04
plastic that might stain. Okay, so
4:06
mothballs are old school but still
4:08
popular. They release napylene fumes
4:11
that rodents hate. Scatter a handful in
4:13
old socks or mesh bags around the engine
4:15
bay and under the car. Don't let them
4:18
touch wires or paint directly. They can
4:20
corrode stuff. Use sparingly if you've
4:22
got pets or kids. They're toxic if
4:24
eaten. Irish Spring soap is another
4:27
classic. The strong fragrance bugs them.
4:30
Cut bars into chunks or shave them. Then
4:32
place pieces throughout the engine
4:33
compartment and cabin. Cheap, easy, and
4:36
your car smells like a shower. Bounce
4:38
dryer sheets get tons of love online.
4:41
Tuck them everywhere under the hood, in
4:43
vents, on the floor. The scent fades
4:45
fast, so replace weekly. Results vary,
4:48
but it's basically free if you do
4:49
laundry anyway. Anyway, don't rely on
4:52
just one thing. Layer them up for best
4:54
protection. Peppermint cotton balls plus
4:57
capsaasin tape on the main harness.
4:59
Maybe some soap chunks in the corners.
5:01
That combo is bulletproof for most
5:03
folks. You know, ultrasonic repellents
5:05
are worth mentioning, too. There are
5:07
plug-in units made for vehicles. They
5:09
run off the 12vt outlet or hard wire to
5:12
the battery. They emit high frequency
5:14
sounds that annoy rodents, but humans
5:16
can't hear. Some have strobe lights,
5:18
too. Mixed reviews, but in garages, they
5:21
help a lot. If your car sits for days,
5:24
drive it regularly. Movement, engine
5:26
heat cycling, and noise make the spot
5:28
less appealing. No garage. Park on
5:31
concrete away from vegetation, bird
5:33
feeders, compost piles, anything that
5:35
attracts mice to the area. Leave the
5:38
hood cracked open an inch when parked
5:40
longterm. Lets cold air in. Makes it
5:43
less cozy for nesting. Some guys install
5:45
under hood LED strips or motion lights.
5:48
Mice hate bright light and it barely
5:50
drains the battery. Set conventional
5:52
snap traps or glue boards on the ground
5:54
around the tires. Peanut butter or
5:57
chocolate bait works magic. Check and
5:59
reset daily. If you spot entry holes,
6:02
gaps where cables pass through the
6:04
firewall, stuff them with steel wool.
6:07
Mice can't chew steel. Copper mesh
6:10
works, too. Keep the cabin spotless. No
6:12
food crumbs, wrappers, pet food,
6:14
nothing. They'll crawl through the cabin
6:16
air intake if they smell snacks. Replace
6:19
the cabin air filter if you suspect
6:21
contamination. They're cheap and easy.
6:24
The thing is, if they've already moved
6:25
in and done damage, act fast. Inspect
6:28
every wire you can see for chew marks.
6:30
Exposed copper means trouble. If the car
6:33
throws codes, grab an OBD2 scanner and
6:36
pull them yourself. Links in the
6:39
description for a good affordable one.
6:41
Common ones are Per 300 misfires, sensor
6:45
circuit faults, or communication errors.
6:47
Get it diagnosed properly. A shop can
6:49
smoke test wiring or use a scope to find
6:52
opens. Repairs range from simple
6:54
splices, 50 to 200 bucks, to full
6:57
harness replacement, which can hit
6:59
thousands because of labor. Dash tear
7:01
down engine bay disassembly. It adds up
7:04
quick. But check your insurance. Many
7:06
comprehensive policies cover rodent
7:08
damage after deductible. Save receipts
7:10
for repellents, too. Prevention shows
7:12
due diligence. So, um, let's talk
7:15
cleanup if you find a nest. Wear gloves
7:18
and a mask. Rodent droppings can carry
7:20
diseases. Carefully remove the nest with
7:23
a plastic bag. Vacuum droppings, then
7:25
wipe everything with disinfectant. Don't
7:28
blast with compressed air. Spreads
7:30
particles. Fog the engine bay with
7:32
enzyatic cleaner to kill urine smell. It
7:35
helps deter them from coming back. Mice
7:37
pick easy targets. Make your car a hard
7:39
one. There you go, buddy. Stay
7:41
proactive. Keep those rodents out of
7:43
your engine bay and wiring and enjoy
7:45
trouble-free winter driving. If you
7:47
fought mice in your car before, drop a
7:49
comment below. What tricks worked best
7:52
for you. Share your horror stories, too.
7:54
We all learn from them. Hit that like
7:57
button if this saved you some headaches.
7:59
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description. It's a gamecher for
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diagnosing weird issues. Catch you in
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the next video. Drive safe out