Sunday, August 21, 2011

We're flipping our lids!

There's been no conclusive evidence that our car fire was caused by rats in our engine, but we're pretty sure they had something to do with it. Whether the little buggers chewed on the high voltage cables of our hybrid car, or whether their nesting materials caught fire inside the engine compartment, the results were the same.

In ongoing attempts to foil the rodents that destroy cars out here in Topanga, we've started doing as recommended on one website - we're leaving our car hoods open when we're parked. According to one expert, this takes away the sense of protection and enclosure rats seek when they build nests in car engines.


Who knows if this is really true? We're going to have to figure out what to do during the rainy season for the car that parks outside. But at least for now, it makes a habit out of checking the engine for nests every time we drive!

6 comments:

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

feelthy vermin!

You'll get no refuge in this engine.
~

Jason, as himself said...

Whatever works! (And I hope it does.)

Unknown said...

Get out of here! That is too crazy! I hope this works! : )

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

Would spraying capsaicin on the wires dissuade gnawers?

Also, good luck with the procedure tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

I think I'd hang a bag of mothballs from the hood. One you could take off and on. You'll get used to the smell, but the rodents won't.

Unknown said...

Once, whilst I was sitting at a light in San Diego a rat suddenly came running up out of my windshield wiper slot on the hood. A HUGE fucker that made me scream like a banshee. When the light changed, I was driving down the road like a mad=woman zigzaggin around and hitting the brakes trying to knock it off the hood..which failed miserably and could of gotten me in an accident. I drove home with this thing clutching the hood and hanging on for it dear life..When I pulled up and ran in the house screaming...the then current BnC came out side and it was of course gone by then...but when we flipped the hood open..there it was..its little beady eyes staring at us in horror. I went in inside and told him to kill it or get rid of it..I didn't wan to watch.

He tried various ways to end it's life or get it out from under there as we were well aware of the damage they can cause of wire harnesses.

Needless to say he was unsuccessful in ending it's life..but he did get it out from under my hood and it ran into a nearby lot..to live another day and ruin someone else's wiring harness I guess.