Rodent damage: my washer fluid reservoir was leaking. It was chewed through by something.

[TrooperCA]

Went into Tesla service today for alignment. Alignment has been off since I took delivery.

Received a text with update, during inspection they discovered my washer fluid reservoir was leaking. It was chewed through by something. Rodent damage is not cover under warranty obviously...

So ended up having to pay $221 for repair.

just wanted to ask if anyone else has rodent damage. Not sure how the mouse got into that area. At least it didn’t chew up any of the harnesses.

 

[Shateam]

Apparently this happens much more frequently nowadays. Most car manufacturers have switched to soy-based wiring which has amplified this issue.

Do a search on the forum for ‘soy’ for more info.

 

[holmgang]

Vermints can get in anywhere.

My last car had an extremely tight engine compartment, and occasionally I find foreign objects and detritus (like a small plush toy) nestled in some corner of the compartment that I can barely stick my hand in.

And because I only open the hood like for 5 minutes twice a year, it mustve been dragged in by a vermint, because there's absolute no other plausibility for their placement.

 

[M3DS]

In my previous car - Audi - I have had wires chewed and a few mice that made their way into awkward places. It seems to have accelerated since the car has been displaced in the garage by the Model 3. This time of year they are looking to come in from the woods around the house to find warm spots for the winter. never had one chew into anything like the washer fluid reservoir - could be something larger like a squirrel?

 

[Marcin411]

I've found it's almost impossible to prevent a rodent from getting into a vehicle, there are just way too many openings for them to squeeze through. One thing that works for me are adding dryer sheets into the engine compartment, cabin and trunk. Under the hood I zip tie them to any metal bracing as long as it doesn't get too hot to keep them from blowing around.

 

[derekmw]

I've found it's almost impossible to prevent a rodent from getting into a vehicle, there are just way too many openings for them to squeeze through. One thing that works for me are adding dryer sheets into the engine compartment, cabin and trunk. Under the hood I zip tie them to any metal bracing as long as it doesn't get too hot to keep them from blowing around.
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I park my cars in my garage and my cats roam free there. I doubt I'll ever see a rodent in my cars. We don't even have crickets in the garage anymore since we got the kittens.

 

[calidreamz808]

Just start putting rat traps under your car at night. LOL That'll fix em. or buy a cat for the garage?

 

[CharleyBC]

A week or two ago someone posted a photo of a white fluff nest (shredded insulation) mice had built in the glove box.

 

[AdamVIP]

Yeah there's no real way to keep out rodents. Too many openings. Try to keep it in the garage and seal up the garage and place traps if needed. Check places like the trunk every so often. The frunk is pretty easy to remove to check under there. You just need a 10mm socket and to disconnect the release button wire. Rodents suck too because even if you keep your house free they can easily come over from the neighbors.

 

[deadlion]

I wonder if some of this happened while the 3's were in Fremont, en route, or at local delivery centers. A few of us have noted falling washer fluid levels.

 

[johnny_snow]

I had mouse damage on my model 3 recently as well. Chewed right through the front wiring harness. Lots of error messages and had to be towed to service center.

 

[Magnets!]

Went into Tesla service today for alignment. Alignment has been off since I took delivery.

Received a text with update, during inspection they discovered my washer fluid reservoir was leaking. It was chewed through by something. Rodent damage is not cover under warranty obviously...

So ended up having to pay $221 for repair.

just wanted to ask if anyone else has rodent damage. Not sure how the mouse got into that area. At least it didn’t chew up any of the harnesses.

Curious if your Model 3 is parked outside overnight?

 

[luke68bird]

I park my cars in my garage and my cats roam free there. I doubt I'll ever see a rodent in my cars. We don't even have crickets in the garage anymore since we got the kittens.

 

[luke68bird]

Also my strategy, one cat and one kitten. We have no rodent problems.

 

[GreenMtnM3]

My Model 3 has been varmint free so far (knock on wood), but I have had one end up in dying in the glove compartment of my old BMW 325 wagon. I didn't find it until I the smell made me start looking under seats and through the car. What I found was too gross to describe. My kid's Honda Fit windshield washer stopped working. I found that he had not replaced the cap on it, and when I went to replace the pump, which required dis-assembling the right front bumper, headlamp and fender liner, I found that not one, but two mice had fallen into the tank, drowned, and gotten jammed in the pump. Yeacch. Needless to say, I'm no fan of the mice. I use dryer sheets in the car and traps in the garage. Every fall and spring, we get a few. I think a hungry cat is the best defense, but my wife is allergic to them, so it won't work for us.

 

[Marcin411]

I park my cars in my garage and my cats roam free there. I doubt I'll ever see a rodent in my cars. We don't even have crickets in the garage anymore since we got the kittens.

"Garage Cat" is an elegant solution however it's incompatible with our our current "House Dog" hardware.

 

[lolder]

2004 Toyota Avalon parked outside always collected rodents living on top of the cabin air filter/recirc door. Finally found there was no screen over the outside air inlet at base of windshield despite there being a screw hole tab for one. Molded some gutter guard over it and no more problems.

 

[Mr. Michael]

Rodent damage in vehicles is a perennial problem in the north. Softener sheets for a clothes drier are repellant. Stuff them wherever. Just need to replace them every month or so. Pick one that doesn't repel you.

 

[hmgolds]

Rodent damage in vehicles is a perennial problem in the north. Softener sheets for a clothes drier are repellant. Stuff them wherever. Just need to replace them every month or so. Pick one that doesn't repel you.

I use old style moth balls in cars, boats, power toys, and anywhere there is anything that makes a good nest material.

 

[TrooperCA]

Curious if your Model 3 is parked outside overnight?

During most nights the car is garaged. Then some nights it at the train station for charging. During work days it in a parking structure.