Oh rat(s)

[Duh_OZ]

Last week I get in my car, close the door and see some rodent scamper
across my feet. Oh great, somehow I picked up a hitchhiker (I leave
my windows down in the garage so the moisture from my ice fishing
stuff won't freeze the windows inside the car).

Took me two days to get the blasted thing out(don't ask, the varmit
did not want to leave my vehicle), and meanwhile I noticed my check
engine and ABS indicator lights were on. Wasn't too worried about
the check engine as my flaky knock sensor had that randomly go on and
off. This time though, on for a solid week so something different
may be amiss. As to the ABS, never had that happen before and car
is now at local mechanic. Needed an oil change so I told him to
check out the codes.

The rat may have had the last laugh?

BTW, no rats in the hood, but plenty by work. I may have hopped a
ride in the engine compartment, then crawled inside when I parked it
in the garage?

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

Last week I get in my car, close the door and see some rodent scamper
across my feet.    Oh great, somehow I picked up a hitchhiker (I leave
my windows down in the garage so the moisture from my ice fishing
stuff won't freeze the windows inside the car).

Took me two days to get the blasted thing out(don't ask, the varmit
did not want to leave my vehicle), and meanwhile I noticed my check
engine and ABS indicator lights were on.    Wasn't too worried about
the check engine as my flaky knock sensor had that randomly go on and
off.   This time though, on for a solid week so something different
may be amiss.    As to the ABS, never had that happen before and car
is now at local mechanic.   Needed an oil change so I told him to
check out the codes.

The rat may have had the last laugh?

BTW, no rats in the hood, but plenty by work.   I may have hopped a
ride in the engine compartment, then crawled inside when I parked it
in the garage?

maybe the ABS light functions for the 'low brake fluid' warning?

I dunno - hope it isn't chewed-up wiring!

 

[S]

Hi Oz, Carl, All!

Last week I get in my car, close the door and see some rodent scamper
across my feet. Oh great, somehow I picked up a hitchhiker (I leave
my windows down in the garage so the moisture from my ice fishing
stuff won't freeze the windows inside the car).

Took me two days to get the blasted thing out(don't ask, the varmit
did not want to leave my vehicle), and meanwhile I noticed my check
engine and ABS indicator lights were on. Wasn't too worried about
the check engine as my flaky knock sensor had that randomly go on and
off. This time though, on for a solid week so something different
may be amiss. As to the ABS, never had that happen before and car
is now at local mechanic. Needed an oil change so I told him to
check out the codes.

The rat may have had the last laugh?

BTW, no rats in the hood, but plenty by work. I may have hopped a
ride in the engine compartment, then crawled inside when I parked it
in the garage?

I have had a lot of trouble over the years with mice, (or actually
voles, we call 'em "field mice") getting into parked cars and making
nests. Aah, the simple joys of rural living. They're not particularly
sanitary, and make a stinky mess that is usually a b____ to clean up;
they seem to prefer heating ducts and similar hidden places. Sometimes
you don't discover they've been to visit 'til the heater comes on in
the fall

I wish I knew for sure how these pesky little bast . . . um, beasts
get into a closed up auto, but I suspect they come in thru the outside
air intake below the windshield. I have noticed that they are more
likely to infest a car left sitting for awhile in the tall weeds in
the back yard than one parked on the dirt drive, and also that they
tend to stay away from vehicles in regular use.

I haven't ever had problems with them chewing up wiring, but they sure
do like the carpet padding, and the foam inside the heater box.

Oz, it's probably worth the effort to pull the panels from below the
steering wheel and glove box and do a thorough inspection with a
flashlight. Alas, this requires a head-stand in the foot well to do a
good job, but if mister rodent has munched on your ABS, there may be
other more critical systems hanging by a thread as well.

Finally, I have had good luck using a live trap baited with peanut
butter. Keep resetting it til you go several days without catching
anybody; these guys are colony dwellers, and where there is one, there
are probably several.

Once you master any disassembly required, hot water and soap do a
decent job with clean-up, and a product called Febreeze (or something
like that; the missus uses it for her cat's indiscretions, but _that's
_another_ story) seems to null out the stench reasonably well.

Best of luck.

ByeBye! S.
Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Duh_OZ]

Got to the auto place too late so I'm not sure of the car status. I
do know it is in the shop at least.

Stay tuned for "as the bill grows"?

 

[Dean Hoffman]

Got to the auto place too late so I'm not sure of the car status. I
do know it is in the shop at least.

Stay tuned for "as the bill grows"?

Good title.
Have you tried using mothballs to keep the critters out?
Supposedly, mice don't like the smell any better than we do. I've never
had mouse problems so can't say if the mothball trick works.

 

[johninky]

Not really on subject but I started to deal with a mice problem
today. Saw a mouse last fall in the garage where my dog stays at
night. I spend a lot of time out there tinkering/sleeping/watching
TV. Over the winter I left small amounts of food out for the little
guy. Lately I have been seeing more than just one and discovered
mouse droppings all over the place. Plus the little guys had started
chewing into everything. Enough is enough and I bought 4 traps this
morning. So far I have collected 10 mice. Don't know what the
population will turn out to be but they have to go. Hated to kill them
but I can see them eventually chewing on the electrical wiring causing
a fire. My dog, have had her for 14 years, comes first.

 

[Duh_OZ]

Looks like the problems weren't rodent related. The check engine was
indeed due to the knock sensor which must really be knocked out as
usually the check engine light would stay on for less then 2 days, if
on at all. As the the ABS, the mechanic said I needed a new control
module and when I asked how he determined that, he kind of gave me the
run around, like he may have been guessing? Anyway he said the
brakes were fine, although the front brakes probably have about 2 - 3
months before they need servicing and to look for used parts (sensor
and module) and replace them myself or bring them in and he'll do it.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

Looks like the problems weren't rodent related.   The check engine was
indeed due to the knock sensor which must really be knocked out as
usually the check engine light would stay on for less then 2 days, if
on at all.    As the the ABS, the mechanic said I needed a new control
module and when I asked how he determined that, he kind of gave me the
run around, like he may have been guessing?     Anyway he said the
brakes were fine, although the front brakes probably have about 2 - 3
months before they need servicing and to look for used parts (sensor
and module) and replace them myself or bring them in and he'll do it.

I don't recall the year/model of your car, but I THINK there were some
ABS pumps in the 90s that would 'buzz' or fail occasionally. Perhaps
you picked up some debris that is stuck on a wheel sensor?

good luck

Carl

 

[mulder]

Looks like the problems weren't rodent related. The check engine was
indeed due to the knock sensor which must really be knocked out as
usually the check engine light would stay on for less then 2 days, if
on at all. As the the ABS, the mechanic said I needed a new control
module and when I asked how he determined that, he kind of gave me the
run around, like he may have been guessing? Anyway he said the
brakes were fine, although the front brakes probably have about 2 - 3
months before they need servicing and to look for used parts (sensor
and module) and replace them myself or bring them in and he'll do it.

The ABS light indicates a trouble code has been stored, just like when
the check engine light comes on. In order to properly troubleshoot the
problem, the code has to be retrieved. This can be done either by
using a scanner that communicates with the ABS module, or by following
the procedure in the service manual to read the codes through the
light itself (by counting flashes in a diagnostic mode). If your
mechanic hasn't done either one of these then there is no way he can
tell you for sure what is wrong. Don't proceed with any repairs until
you get more specific information that includes the actual trouble
code(s).