Rats are eating my Car.... (Wiring Transmission)

kokoboko on 21/08/2014 - 21:53

Twice in 2 months rats have chewed the transmission cable in my car, how do we get them to stop!

The car is parked overnight in a parking spot in the alley behind where we live. It's been parked there overnight since 2012 and this is the 1st year that we've had this problem. Twice in 2 months rats (or mice) have chewed through the transmission cable and we've had to have the car towed and repaired. We've also started to find food debris left in the engine compartment from the rodents (some really weird nasty crap).

We want to deter the rats from getting into the engine compartment and undercarriage, and my google has turned up contradictory suggestions such as moth-ball & peppermint essence or various sprays.

So how can we try and keep the rats out of the car or rat-proof the cables or the car?

*Note I could not park my Car anywhere else.

Automotive

Comments

  • fredzfrog on 21/08/2014 - 22:14

    Don't have a car that's made out of delicious candy? :P

    Seriously, Ask a local pest control or council, they may have a scent or high frequency device that may deter them.

  • 2jzzzz on 21/08/2014 - 22:25

    Is it because it is warm?

    • eatwell365 on 22/08/2014 - 05:01

      rats may chew just to sharpen its teeth. Does the car come back at night so engine is still warm?

  • [Deactivated] on 21/08/2014 - 22:31

    Had this problem years ago when a neighbour stacked pipes close to our garage. Problem was solved when the neighbours rubbish went.
    While we were experimenting with ways to stop the rats, they caused $1000's in damage. They started with a hose or two which was cheap and easily repaired then got stuck into electrics.

    There is probably something rat-friendly in the alley attracting them - might be something the council can clean up.

  • sraymond on 21/08/2014 - 22:37

    Depending on the Council they might do some baiting. Quickest solution is traps or glue boards.

  • Davo1111 on 21/08/2014 - 23:31

    Happened to a friend, fortunately insurance dealt with the cost.

    As for stopping the rats, best to try and remove the source (generally garbage). Then you can go in your way to killing the living ones.

  • ausmechkeyboards on 21/08/2014 - 23:31

    probably glue traps

    • eatwell365 on 22/08/2014 - 04:55

      what to do with rats that are trapped? saw a lot when i was a kid. personally think too cruel for nowadays used.

      • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2014 - 08:04
        +2

        My mother was the same. Grew up seeing glue traps being used for mice and rats. She said people poured boiling water over the live, trapped animal to kill it. Fecking cruel and pointlessly horrible. Even a pest deserves a humane, swift death.

        If you have a Sodastream, whack the glue trap and mouse/rat into a sealed container with a tube connecting the Sodastream valve to the box and a few short presses of the Sodastream will fill the container with Co2 and put the animal to sleep painlessly. It may not always look painless (sometimes they thrash a bit or convulse) but they 'fall asleep' and lose consciousness before that stage anyway.

        Source: many many pet rat owners use this method to put their sick, dying pet rats to sleep at home, humanely. I've never done it myself for my pet rats, fortunately… hadn't had the need yet.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2014 - 15:31

          @WT, you have pet rats? You never cease to surprise me.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2014 - 16:21

          @Jar Jar Binks: lol what do you mean? What's surprising about pet rattums? :P

        • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2014 - 20:11

          @waterlogged turnip:you're special: warm , caring, strong, compassionate,a heart of gold and just a little weird. I like you :-)

        • [Deactivated] on 25/08/2014 - 02:59
          +1

          @Jar Jar Binks: lol thanks JJB. Being a little weird definitely keeps life interesting lol

      • Malarkey on 22/08/2014 - 09:47

        Just knock them over the head with a length of pipe or timber, it's probably the quickest way to do it.

  • zolinger on 22/08/2014 - 01:14

    Invest in a Tom?

  • eatwell365 on 22/08/2014 - 04:57

    report to council as it is also a public health issue.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join