Beyond the cute rat graphics and gray color, it deceptively seems like regular electrical tape to us humans. We bought a roll of Honda’s rodent-deterrent tape to check it out. There is a clever solution in a TSB from Honda: rodent-deterrent tape, essentially an electrical tape treated with super-spicy capsaicin, which Honda describes as “the stuff that puts the fire in a bowl of five-alarm chili.” The tape (part number 4019-2317) comes in a 20-meter roll, about 22 yards, and it is available through dealers and available online ($43). (Don’t use them inside the car, or you’ll be stuck with that awful smell.)
However, their effectiveness is in doubt.įor storage, placing mothballs under the hood can help. There are ultrasonic devices that emit sounds to deter rodents, but at a frequency that humans can’t hear. Note that spray products will need to be reapplied routinely, because they can wear away and rinse off. Peppermint oil and cayenne pepper are reported to deter rodents. There are specially made spray products that promise to deter rodents that you could mist under the hood and around the vehicle, if garaged. Here are some other tips to keep your vehicle rodent-free.
If you suspect that you do have a rodent problem, inspect and clean the car outside while wearing protective rubber gloves: Rodents can carry diseases. "Without restaurant waste to dine on, rodents started scavenging new areas, often into residential communities that were still producing food waste.” “Pandemic-driven restaurant closures forced rodents to find new food sources," Ramsey explains. When we’re home, we notice more.”īut that doesn’t mean the rodent threat hasn’t become a real problem.
"First and foremost, people have spent more time at home over the last year than probably ever before. “There are a myriad of reasons why we’ve seen an increase in rodent sightings throughout the pandemic," he tells CR. Glen Ramsey, senior technical services manager for pest control company Orkin, provides a key reality check. Periodically look for signs of furry visitors, such as droppings, urine, scratches, chewed wire, damaged belts, gathered nesting materials, and exposed fiber insulation. In such cases, it can be helpful to use a mobile mechanic, such as those available through, to inspect and repair the damage. If the wire coating is chewed through, exposing the inner wire, the car may not be safe to drive.
#PEPPERMINT OIL FOR RATS AMAZON PROFESSIONAL#
“Chewed wires are a serious concern and will require professional assessment and potentially repair.” “If you see damage from rodents, take action immediately to both deter the animals and keep your car running,” says John Ibbotson, Consumer Report’s chief mechanic. The problems can be severe, ranging from clogging the air filter with nesting materials to damaging the engine wiring harness, which can cost thousands to replace. It turns out that feasting on cars is more prevalent than you might think. Pest control company Terminix considers the temptations of tasty materials to be a myth, and instead, it blames rodent biology and their need to constantly chew, thereby preventing their teeth from growing too long. Several class-action lawsuits have been filed against major automakers in recent years alleging that soy-based products were to blame, but these court cases were later dismissed. Rodent-inflicted damage is an age-old problem that some observers say is increasing as automakers use more plant-based biodegradable materials to reduce waste. This is especially a risk for cars stored over the winter, and those that have been parked for extended periods during the pandemic. Rats! You can buy the most reliable car on Earth and still find convoluted electrical gremlins, fluid leaks, and even outright failure when rodents take up residence and begin chewing on wiring, hoses, plastic, and other critical car parts.
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