Howzit? What a day :censor: :banghead:

My wifey calls and tells me that the Mini wont start, Its a 2006 bought back in January (4k miles only) so I had my nephew look at it..he tells me that a mice or a rat chewed up the sparkplug wires. So I called my Pest Control guy (I had one done exactly five days ago) and he tells me that the rodent may have entered through the garage door or the side door since I have a detached garage that it should be the only cause. I guess my questions are: 1. Any thoughts on how to avoid this again? 2. I bought some mouse/mice trap should I put this underneath the car or should I place it by the walls.

Oh well, so I ended up buying a new aftermarket one (my only aftermarket part in the mini) Its still considered oem since its made by Mini's performance department so warranty is not affected. BTW, My BMW and MB were not affected with the BMW only showing signs of a nest in progress.

 

Apparently the BMW is more comfortable but the MINI just tastes better.

I've seen this sort of thing before on cars from rural areas and it's always nice when they chew on something easily replaceable like a battery cable or plug wire instead of the harness That's also why it's probably not a good idea to dust the new wires in capsaicin powder.

I'd focus on weatherstripping and sealing the garage over high-maintenance things like baits and traps (or a pest-control "subscription"). Or you could use it as an excuse to get a cat.

 

As according to the attached photos, it looks like the insulation were damaged and not the wires. IMO will not affect starting problem.

 

Just what I was thinking. I worry there are more wires chewed on some where else

 

Get a high performance aftermarket cat for your MINI.

Sorry about the rodents. . .

 

Just sent my MCSCa into the dealer...rodents had a field day digesting the rubber windshield fluid hoses...

 

some people suggested using moth ***** to repell skunks... perhaps
it might work for mice too.

i'd give it a shot. when it gets colder out, it will worsen as they will
try to make a nest in your car (no joke).

 

Perhaps placed a fresh piece of cheese in the mouse trap

 

I found out I had a rat or something in my garage, and I thought "Holy crap what if it chews through my wires in my MINI!!!?" well I set a trap (one of those humane ones) with some string cheese, and bam! I caught the little critter in half an hour, I drove to a park near my friends house and let him loose. Now I hope he doesnt find his way home

 

Use peanut butter as trap bait, preferred over cheese by rodents 10:1!

 

Good job & well done

 

So, did you catch the bugger and does your MINI now run after replacing the plug wires?

...Les

 

I just spent $185 getting all the wires fixed on a Ford that had been chewed up by the wood rats. For some reason, they really like Fords. Never touched my old Chevy pickup. Didn't know they liked MINI's, guess I'll have to keep moving it. I was also told to put mothballs around.

 

Here in Germany we have martens that will chew wires. They even sell a spray to help keep them away.

 

I had a mouse chew the plug wires on a Neon I used to own. They were relatively new thicker insulation performance wires and they chewed half way through the insulation but it didn't affect the operation of the plug wires. They continued to work fine for years.

You can buy shielding type coverings for wiring harnesses and plug wires gthat will make it very difficult or impossible for rodents to chew through. Best to go after the rodents though. Killing them is much more effective and safer and simpler than live capture.

-Keith

 

I had the same problem - a rat chewed through the insulation down to the wire on (3) spark plugs.
Posted my 16-year old in the garage with a pellet gun.
Took him three days - no more rat problem!

 

Use a trap and bait with walnuts. Gets them everytime.

josh

 

I had this and my car sat outside one night. They like the soft boots of the spark plugs.

Even found little nut shells under the intake manifold. Keep a look out thats where they nest.
In my BMW the nested in the hood liner and ripped it apart which is 189.00 new!

 

I use the "sonic" plug-in rodent noise things in the shop and house and have yet to find anything related to these nasty little creatures since. I think I would go nuts if I found anything like posted above

 

Just for everyone's info, the reason the rodents are eating the plug wires and the wiring in general in the newer cars is because all of the wires insulation is made with partial recycled food......so to the rodents, it's basically a free-for-all buffet under the hoods of most cars

I just had my '04 Mini's spark plug wires eaten yesterday

 

I had some small bite marks on the plug wires.

Did not affect the starting or performance. I tied bounce dryer sheets around the wires.

Have not had the problem since.

Good Luck and happy motoring

 

If you do get alot of damage your insurance should cover it. I had them eat the wire , plug boots and they pulled the clip out on the clutch line and crewed the plastic on it.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ed-wiring.html

 

How do you get insurance to pay for rodent damage. I have full coverage and I don't think they would cover that


QUOTE=ECSTuning;4364626]If you do get alot of damage your insurance should cover it. I had them eat the wire , plug boots and they pulled the clip out on the clutch line and crewed the plastic on it.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ed-wiring.html[/QUOTE]
Insurance

 

They covered mine, you just have to report it and then the adjustor has to come out and look. I had progressive and they covered it twice.

 

On my 2005 R53: Had rodents chew my spark plug wires and windshield washer tubing, when car parked at airport. Replaced the spark wires (and plugs), probably time anyway. Can someone give me a hand with taking a picture of the windshield washer tubing in the upper passenger side of engine? Need to see how to reconnect those lines.