First significant problem with LR AWD after 2 years and 28k miles

[ronzastovnik]

I had rodent chew up my fog light wires on my Leaf twice. It's parked outside so my Tesla can park safely in the garage. All automotive wiring should have something in the insulation that rodents don't like. Solutions that I use: I throw some mothballs regularly in appropriate areas. I have a good ultrasonic rodent repeller in front of the car. I spray rodent repellent solution on the tires. I have an AA battery operated ultrasonic and flashing light repeller under the hood. (AA operated so not to run down the 12 v battery)

 

[Dan G]

It turned out to be what Tesla called rodent damage. We actually think it may have been a squirrel based on where the car stopped running. I've never had rodent damage to any car over the last 40+ years of car ownership. Do Teslas have particularly tasty wiring? They repaired the wiring harness near the front drive unit. It cost $232.50. They initially thought they were going to have to replace the harness, but then decided to repair it.

Here's a picture.
View attachment 607855

 

[Dan G]

Had the same thing with a Caddy. Looks like rodents like higher end cars.

 

[EnrgyNDpndnce]

Anyone have any advice for those of us living in squirrel country? We're planning to put up a carport just to keep the squirrel poop off, but have been worried about possible damage. Haven't had it in the past, but we've got some nasty ones here, and any helpful hints would be appreciated.

Pellet guns seem to work well. Or, if you’re out in the country, there are no squirrels in the world that can defeat a 22LR. ;-)

 

[jawnly211]

take a look in your glovebox for a nice white, fluffy nest a rat might have made

its been a pretty popular problem for tesla owners lately

 

[aerodyne]

What makes me wonder the most though, besides the ridiculous hour prices they charge, is why do so many Teslas are being eaten by rodents? Or is it happening to other cars but because they are not in the spotlight we never hear about it? Or does Tesla use especially tasty recycled plastics? I genuinely wonder what the issue is here. Never had a car in the past 20+ years that had a rodent issue... maybe because they find easily proper food where i live.... i am just guessing at this point.

I have heard many modern cars are using soy based plastic for wiring insulation, including Tesla, for Sustainability reasons.

It would be better if they did not use rodent food, as a chewed up car is not very sustainable IMO.

 

[TSLA Pilot]

This might help, and I would have certainly used it liberally after the first repair:

Honda's Chili-Flavored Wire Wrap Could Save Your Car From a Rodent Invasion

 

[GregD60]

I have to tell you a story about that...

Back before I was a Tesla fanatic - I was a MINI Cooper fanatic. One morning my car had that kind of damage - I was able to limp to the dealership on Saturday with all manner of exciting warning lights flashing.

It was a MINI/BMW/Cadillac dealership - but the MINI guys weren't working on weekends back then. I chatted with the BMW guy - and I said "I think my cables have been chewed by rats". He replied "Oh no sir! At BMW we always tell people it's "Squirrels" - it sounds so much nicer!" ...and then from the far corner of the showroom, the Cadillac guy yells "MINK...it's mink that chew the wires on our cars!"

On Monday when they did get to fixing the wiring - the MINI guy laughed and said..."No, here at MINI, it's definitely rats."

It's comforting that the rigorously science-based Tesla guys say "Rodents" - it's a nice compromise!

And that's the truth - squirrels nest in trees - but rats (and to a lesser degree mice) do like a nice warm, dry place to nest...and they're quite happy to strip some cable insulation to make their nests. Get some rat poison and push it up against your tires when you park at night...problem should solve itself very quickly.

The big concern with the MINI was that the rat had chewed through the airbag wiring and there was a risk of the airbag going off when it shouldn't.

No sign of any nests of any critter in the car. The place where the car stopped is a place that my wife goes to frequently and is sometimes there for quite a few hours. There are many squirrels in the area and my wife has seen a couple run out from beneath the car in the past, and that is why we think it might have been squirrels. At home, the car is always garaged. There are no rats in the area we live, but there are mice. I've never seen any mice, or signs of mice, in the garage, but I'm sure they could get in there if they wanted to.

 

[GregD60]

So they did not change the harness?

So you paid 230 dollars just to connect that single 0.5 cable? What is their hour prices ? Unlimited dollars x2?

I am sure he is happy a serious car fault only cost 230 to fix given it was animal damage and not warranty. VW would have charged 250 to diagnose alone and I'm sure many other mnfr the same.

Yes, I had no complaints about the charge; I was expecting worse.

 

[Beyond]

The exact thing happened to my wife's new Subaru when a rat chewed into a cable. It also was not covered under warranty. The problem appears to derive from the use of soy based plasticizers in the covering plastic. Rodents for some reason love the stuff.

I've had 2 friends that have had their Prius's destroyed (totaled) by mice chewing the wires. I've heard that the Chevy Bolt also has the problem (soy based insulation).

 

[Beyond]

There are no rats in the area we live.

So you apparently don't live near Washington DC. ;-)
Sorry, couldn't resist...

 

[PagodaY]

How hard could it be for a manufacturer to require that the soy-based (or other non-petroleum) materials they use in their vehicle contain some of that hot pepper powder?

 

[Beyond]

How hard could it be for a manufacturer to require that the soy-based (or other non-petroleum) materials they use in their vehicle contain some of that hot pepper powder?

I've wondered the same thing. Anything that would repel rodents.

 

[iwannam3]

Does Your Car Have Wiring That Rodents Think Is Tasty? | News | Car and Driver

Toyota wins dismissal of suit over rodent-damaged soy-based wiring

 

[GregD60]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vehicle-...RounhhFyErufb7OOcj6-mM4y52oM2HzQaAonWEALw_wcB

Ordered. Thanks!

 

[GregD60]

I've had 2 friends that have had their Prius's destroyed (totaled) by mice chewing the wires. I've heard that the Chevy Bolt also has the problem (soy based insulation).

I think soy based wiring insulation is environmentalism carried too far.

 

[Need]

About $175 per hour I think is teslas SC shop rates, at least where I am in California.

Took my car in 2 weeks ago and they posted the labor rate in the front. I am pretty sure it has a "2" in the front now.

 

[SageBrush]

I think soy based wiring insulation is environmentalism carried too far.

It's a problem that needs an environmental solution. If capsaicin works, that sounds pretty simple.

 

[hcdavis3]

What makes me wonder the most though, besides the ridiculous hour prices they charge, is why do so many Teslas are being eaten by rodents? Or is it happening to other cars but because they are not in the spotlight we never hear about it? Or does Tesla use especially tasty recycled plastics? I genuinely wonder what the issue is here. Never had a car in the past 20+ years that had a rodent issue... maybe because they find easily proper food where i live.... i am just guessing at this point.

Soy based wire insulation from what I’ve read. Rodents find it delicious.

 

[Futuresystem]

Amazing some of the posts here, saying it should have been fixed for less, is unique to Teslas etc
I actually thought the repair cost to diagnose, find and repair the damage was very reasonable.

I had my first car damaged by rodents (rats?) in the ‘70’s, and again in the early ‘90’s. I’m sure that in those days it wasn’t “soy based” wiring insulation.
I haven’t had damage since then, but have known numerous people who have, including one mate a few years ago who ended up with a bill of well over $2k on a nearly new car, and yes, it was ICE.
Sadly it’s a fact that rats and mice etc will chew just about anything, including wiring in your house. (They’ve caused many house fires.)
With cars, which have wiring looms all over the place these days, the only real solution is to SOMEHOW keep them away from your car- not easy.