How to Stop Rodents from Chewing Car Wires

While most people don’t like to think about them, and they usually stay out of sight, rodents are never far away. These little critters can cause a surprising amount of trouble, including what they can do to the wires in your vehicle if they start chewing away. If you see signs that rodents have been hanging around near your vehicle and potentially snacking on your wiring system, you’ll want to come up with a plan right away to put a stop to this activity.

One possible way to keep rodents from chewing on your vehicle’s wires is to park in an enclosed space that is free from little critters. At Carport Kingdom, we make it easy – and affordable – to add such a structure to your property. Whether you want an enclosed garage or a traditional open-sided carport, we will be happy to serve you. Experiment with our Build & Price tool today and remember that you are always welcome to contact us if you need help.

Why Do Squirrels Chew Wires?

At first, it doesn’t make a lot of sense that little critters would be interested in chewing wiring in your vehicle. What are they after? Wiring is not a food source, obviously, so this behavior seems a little strange. While we can’t know for sure, it’s likely just because they are looking for something – anything – to chew on. Critters like squirrels deal with teeth that are constantly growing, so as a result, they need to be constantly chewing to keep those teeth at a proper length.

The Appeal of an Engine

While the chewing of wires might be a little odd, the attraction to the area around your car’s engine is not. This is a sheltered, warm place, so critters will naturally be drawn to it – especially during colder parts of the year. And, once some critters get used to spending time in this space at night, it’s likely that they will come back again and again. They might even leave little bits of food under the hood, or even build a small nest.

A Good Starting Point for Prevention

One of the best ways to stop rodents from chewing on wires in your vehicle is to use that vehicle regularly. The critters aren’t going to be able to get too comfortable if the engine is started up and the vehicle moves at least once or twice a day. This will prevent them from making it a home, even if they do come by from time to time at night. So, if you have a couple of vehicles in your driveway but tend to use one more than the other, try rotating more often so they each get used and no little animals can establish much of a permanent home.

Make the Wires Taste Bad

To a human, wiring would already taste bad without taking any further steps. But that’s not the same story for squirrels, rats, and other critters. So, to make those wires less appealing, consider buying a spray that is designed for just this kind of problem. There are plenty of options on the market, and you can find them in many automotive stores. You’ll simply spray the product onto the wires as described in the directions, and with any luck, the critters will no longer be interested in chewing. This isn’t a fool-proof option, to be sure, but it could do the trick.

Other forms of deterrent include using cayenne pepper around the vehicle, or placing mothballs strategically in openings to create an unwanted smell. You might have to experiment with various deterrent solutions before you get to something that does the trick and keeps the critters away night after night.

Eliminate Nearby Habitat

One other thing to think about when dealing with this problem is what might be drawing critters to the area near your vehicle in the first place. Is there some garbage that has been left out, or maybe a pile of leaves or branches that they are hiding in during the day? If you clean up your property and take away their hiding spots, it’s possible that the critters will leave the area and will no longer be around to bother your vehicle.

Keep the Critters Away with Carport Kingdom

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of trying to use some of the ideas above, turn to Carport Kingdom to create an enclosed parking structure on your property. With a sturdy metal garage, you’ll not only have a way to keep rodents away from your car, but you’ll also have a space that can be used for storage, projects, and more. Experiment with our Build & Price tool today and remember that you are always welcome to contact us if you need help.