Rodent got into my RX
#91
Moderator
A critter ate your wires. The nest probably is in the cabin air filter.
A local independent shop should be able to splice in wires to repair the chewed area, or you can do it yourself.
A Lexus dealer would probably try to charge you to replace the entire harness for $2000
#92
Driver School Candidate
Also, I pulled out the filter and didn't see anything much. Will try to look again a bit more thoroughly (like shove my phone camera back there) later. Will also try to check under that silver engine cover (I assume that just pops right off).
Edit: Also, thanks mods for moving my post to the more appropriate thread.
Last edited by italia0682; 07-01-21 at 06:03 AM.
#93
Moderator
The plastic silver engine cover pops right off. I have no idea what those wires are for but since they are obviously damaged they must be the cause of your problems.
Repair the obvious thing first and that usually takes care of the issue. Some folks get carried away dreaming of crazy scenarios of what could be wrong when the answer is right in front of them. I suspect that all will be okay once you splice them back together unless there is more damage under the engine cover!
The usual target for critters is the fuel injector wires or coil wires. They sell pigtail wire connection kits for these repairs. I think folks found them on eBay or some car parts sites. If you read earlier posts in this thread you will find the answer to how others did their repairs.
Repair the obvious thing first and that usually takes care of the issue. Some folks get carried away dreaming of crazy scenarios of what could be wrong when the answer is right in front of them. I suspect that all will be okay once you splice them back together unless there is more damage under the engine cover!
The usual target for critters is the fuel injector wires or coil wires. They sell pigtail wire connection kits for these repairs. I think folks found them on eBay or some car parts sites. If you read earlier posts in this thread you will find the answer to how others did their repairs.
Last edited by Clutchless; 07-01-21 at 03:13 PM.
#94
Driver School Candidate
Update: Didn't see any nest things under the cover either. Did put some peppermint oil around since I heard that can help repel rodents though.
As for that silver box, some sort of fuel pump module according to the part number I found on it... so yeah... no power to that would stop the car from running.
Spliced the wires together and wrapped in some electric tape.
I couldn't get as much of the exposed wire spliced together as I'd like. Will have to do a more robust fix later with some solder or something. But... she runs!
As for that silver box, some sort of fuel pump module according to the part number I found on it... so yeah... no power to that would stop the car from running.
Spliced the wires together and wrapped in some electric tape.
I couldn't get as much of the exposed wire spliced together as I'd like. Will have to do a more robust fix later with some solder or something. But... she runs!
#95
Good job. Sure do wish the wiring harness fabricators would find something other than soy-based material to make the wiring insulation from. Mice, squirrels, etc. are drawn like a magnet to that stuff. It has been a problem across all manufacturers for years now.
#96
Driver School Candidate
I think I saw Honda makes like a pepper/capsaicin tape. That would be quite a surprise for the little critters hahah.
#97
Moderator
You can get the Honda pepper - capsaicin tape on eBay. This is the listing title:
NEW GENUINE HONDA ACURA RODENT RAT MICE MOUSE PROOF ELECTRICAL TAPE 4019-2317
NEW GENUINE HONDA ACURA RODENT RAT MICE MOUSE PROOF ELECTRICAL TAPE 4019-2317
#99
Moderator
I think you could start with one roll since that will set you back about $47. See how far it goes covering up the most exposed engine bay wires before determining if you want to get another roll. I suspect one roll would be enough to protect the main trouble points in most vehicles. Plus a few moth ***** and maybe some other critter repellent sprays and a few mouse traps around the garage. I have used rat traps for squirrels with some modifications to make them more deadly following instructions from youtube.
#100
Another attack
Number 4 injector wire must be extra tasty. Check engine light came on last week with misfire. Code came up as #4 misfire. Pulled the cover and found a lovely squirrel nest made from my firewall insulation and foam from the engine cover😟😟. Found #4 injector wire chewed off plus 2 ground wires chewed off. After an afternoon of cleaning, soldering and heat shrink, it is running ok again. Put the cover back on and the next day it had come back and chewed up more foam from the cover. Open warfare now with rat trap set but haven’t got it yet. Take no prisoners!!
#101
Moderator
Here is the squirrel modification for rat trap. Easy to do and much more effective.
#103
The war is over
The squirrel came back again and chewed up more of my firewall insulation. I modified the rat trap as shown and sometime during the day today, the squirrel came back - for the last time!!!! It had even chewed on my #4 injector harness again. I think it was in the way of building the nest.
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laserwiz (12-12-22)
#104
Moderator
Congratulations on stopping the varmint from doing more damage. You should be able to get another engine cover at a junk yard or ebay.
#105
Thanks, we had cut back a row of bushes in front of the car and there were snails around them.
I'm parking the car on the other side of the driveway until the neighbors tangerines are done.
I have some peanut butter dessert on a special plate for them (on top of a shed between the tree and the driveway).
I'm parking the car on the other side of the driveway until the neighbors tangerines are done.
I have some peanut butter dessert on a special plate for them (on top of a shed between the tree and the driveway).