This quick article will provide you with a simple checklist to detect a rodent intrusion in your car before it becomes a problem. What you will need:
- Flash Light
- 5 Minutes of your time
- Black Light (preferred, but not necessary)
Before we get into the details, it is going to be important that you add these steps into your routine for at least a few times each week (especially if you park outside). You should initially pop the hood on your car and start to gain a familiarity of what things look like. That way it will be much easier to tell if things start to look out of place.
Now, let’s get right to it!
If you refer to the Home page, there are 3 main reasons why rats are interested in getting into your car’s engine compartment: Nesting, Chew Toys, and Food (i.e. soy based wiring).
Step 1: Look for Signs of Nesting
There are a few things that will immediately tell you that you have a problem: rodent droppings and bits of leaves or scraps of plastic/paper in little nooks or corners. As shown in the picture above there are both rat poops and bits of leaves. If you see this anything like this, take action ASAP! Here is another example:
This one is a little harder to see (bust out that flashlight!), but this is in the back left corner of the engine compartment behind the engine. See all those scraps back there! Not a good sign!
Step 2: Look for Signs of Chewing
Notice the bite marks above. Easily identifiable.
Once you gain a familiarity with the look of the engine compartment, bite marks like the above will stand out right away. Here is one more example:
And the interesting thing is that these pictures in Step 2 are all of my current car and there is no engine light on! After I got my car fixed I started seeing new damage so I stepped up my defense and haven’t had any new damage since. This really goes to show that you can’t wait until the engine light goes on take action.
Step 3: Look for Signs of Urine (Black Light Required)
See the glowing. Yup, that’s rat piss.
Taking a few minutes out of your day to look for these warning signs is going to save you a lot of grief and money over the long run.
If you do see any of the above signs in your car, you need to take action asap. Head on over to the Home page for the best solutions on how to solve this problem.
I hope this article has been helpful! Thank you!!
-Rat King Dave
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I had a rat problem with my new Corvette that cost 3k; covered by comprehensive car insurance. 6 weeks later I see rat droppings again. Electronic deterrent installed didn’t work -the rats setup a eating area right in front of it. Black pepper sprinkled and dryer sheets placed everywhere didn’t do anything as the rats just sat on top of it. Peppermint spray didn’t deter them, either. So I placed 3 Tomcat snap traps loaded with peanut butter under the hood in the engine compartment. FYI the only method that works is traps in the engine area. I zip tied them in 3 different areas of the compartment.
Hi Jack! So sorry for the delay in my response. I am just now getting back to my duties as Rat King, but oh man, you’re new Corvette!? Agh..
Glad to hear that your comprehensive coverage was able to cover a nice chunk of the bill. Honestly, not surprised that the electronic device, black pepper, and dryer sheets didn’t work. All of those methods are really hit or miss. And yep, traps. I’m curious where in the engine compartment you placed them. Not sure if you saw my other articles, but I recommend setting them at the bases and tops of the tread of the front two tires. This is the path that rats usually take to get into your engine compartment. Anyways, I hope the traps have continued to workfor you. I also wouldn’t be shy to leave the hood up as well. That in itself will deter the rodents from going into the engine compartment. Hope this helps. Thank you for your comment! RKD
I had a rat problem in my 2010 Mazdaspeed3 a few years ago. Already aware of horror stories on the internet about chewed wires, I IMMEDIATELY set out to destroy them. So I set a rat trap INSIDE the engine bay, baited with cat kibble. I placed it on top of the fuse box, with the hood left slightly open to make more space for it. I also placed a few random kibbles around the trap to entice them. I also made a thing out of cardboard to keep the rats from being able to eat the bait from any direction but the front of the trap, ensuring a kill. The next morning, there was a dead rat on the trap. So I set it again… a day or two later, there was another dead rat. I kept doing this until I killed like 5-6 of them. Then they were gone. Thankfully I was able to kill them all before they did any serious damage. I only noticed a single wire that was slightly pinched but not cut. Haven’t had any rats since… oh, and we also found their nest and we got rid of it too. It was atop a perimeter wall that had a lot of brush on it.
Hi H! I’m so sorry for the delay in my response. That’s great to hear that your method worked! Typically, there will be a particular group or pack of rodents that will get in the habit of going to your car. Once you take care of them, the issues should stop, until the next wave comes. It is important to keep checking under your hood to ensure new generations of rodents haven’t discovered your car. Stay safe out there! Thanks for the comment! RKD
Dec 2017 my 2015 Mazda 3 was in the Shop due to a rat destroying my engine harness as well as well as my PCM costing me over $3000. I’m thinking this is the reason I get new cars, so I don’t have to put extra money into the car for a good 4 years. Wrong! I read up on the rodent problems with new cars and wish I kept my 2010 caliber because I had no issues then.
Now my car is back in the shop with the wiring harness being damaged by this damn rat. And of course nothing is covered by your insurance or the bumper to bumper coverage on a new car because it’s a rodent. So what am I paying for then? What’s the point of any of that?! So up to today I’ve now put in 5000 to this 2 year old car. Seriously!!!
Hi Carolyn! Yikes! Time to put this rat in its place. Do you not have comprehensive coverage on your car insurance? It should be covered under CC if you have that but it would still be a $500 deductible.
The fact that rodent damage is still not covered under any extended warranty makes my blood boil. I agree, what’s the point of the coverage then. Dang. Well, please ensure that once you get your car back that you take some preventative measures. The rats are just as likely to come right back and start chewing again if you leave your car exposed. If you have any questions, please let me know! RKD