Rat damage to cars | Protection, solutions & advice

beejay · 21st October 2009, 15:45

I remember a rat eating away the wires in my Activa which was lying unused for more than 6 months. Scooter was not starting and I thought the battery must have drained off. The mechanic and I jumped out of our skins when the rodent flew on him from the filter. Actually, hilarious.

benbsb29 · 21st October 2009, 15:56

My car is turning out to be a regular victim to the rodents.
The first instance was when the Autocop siren stopped working, which was traced to snipped wires. Now, the fog lamps have stopped working.. both of them, which makes me think its the pesky creatures at it again.

Where can i get hold of these tobacco pouches? According to the watchman, rat poison hasnt had much of an effect.

sdp1975 · 21st October 2009, 15:59

A rat ( or more than one ) chewed into my M-800 wiring once. Got the wiring fixed by a local mechanic. After this incident, I used to keep pieces of rat cakes under the hood. The rat used to eat it a away happily - nothing used to happen to it - it was a fat rat

I saw under the hood once.

Then I kept full 2 cakes for it one day and it never came back again.

One of my friends had a dead rat in his Santro a/c system. The car turned really smelly. Got it fixed from the asc and they added some mesh as well.

kreddy · 21st October 2009, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by benbsb29

My car is turning out to be a regular victim to the rodents.
The first instance was when the Autocop siren stopped working, which was traced to snipped wires. Now, the fog lamps have stopped working.. both of them, which makes me think its the pesky creatures at it again.

Where can i get hold of these tobacco pouches? According to the watchman, rat poison hasnt had much of an effect.

You fill them in small shops selling beetel nuts, leaves, etc., Rs.2 or Rs.4 per pouch.

benbsb29 · 21st October 2009, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by kreddy

You fill them in small shops selling beetel nuts, leaves, etc., Rs.2 or Rs.4 per pouch.

Thanks a lot! Could you tell me how i could refer to it in Hindi?

zaveed · 21st October 2009, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Thanks a lot! Could you tell me how i could refer to it in Hindi?

Its more often called "Tambaaqu" or "Zarda". you can also find it in the pan shops located on the road side or next to the hotels,bars or restaurants.

Zaveed

greatmana2000 · 21st October 2009, 22:25

"How do you protect your car from rats?"

Just get a cat and tie it to your car in the nights .. that might help

Raccoon · 22nd October 2009, 00:17

^^^ I hope that was ment to be a (bad) joke...

greatmana2000 · 22nd October 2009, 00:41

yep ! that was intended to be a bad joke .. hehe

benbsb29 · 22nd October 2009, 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaveed

Its more often called "Tambaaqu" or "Zarda". you can also find it in the pan shops located on the road side or next to the hotels,bars or restaurants.

Zaveed

Zaveed, thanks for the info. Shall try and get myself a couple of pouches of the same.

planet_rocker · 11th November 2009, 12:35

After effects of rat kill in a hot engine bay:

- Rat Kill has something like WAX in it - melts with heat.
- i kept the entire block of rat kill on the black engine plastic cover last night - thought of keeping it somewhere else because of the hot engine bay - but decided against it - My BAD!!
- today morning i found the entire block stuck on the engine cover like a melted lava - a portion of it crept to the 2nd and 3rd spark plug holes

somehow got rid of a portion of it with a screw driver - but some of it is still stuck.

the major thing that bothers me right now is that two small blocks fell in the gap between the plug holes and the heat sump - not able to access those with screw driver / fingers - will try an use the Vacuum cleaner tonight.

My request to all - don't use it in a hot engine bay - if you still feel the need - keep it somewhere near the shocker mounts - where it can easily be accessed.

will try to keep you guys updated.

tsk1979 · 11th November 2009, 13:06

Yup, do not use rat kill. Use rat trap.
Like this

I have caught 2 rats using this contraption, first one was let off in a drain around a km away, the second one was murdered, by drowning.

adishenoy · 11th November 2009, 13:39

"Tambaaqu" is the Best solution according to me,

Here are a couple of experiences i have had,

1) Autocop siren goes on Full-Blast mode after a rat nibbles the autocop wires.

2) Fuel line nibbled by a rat.

.As soon as i started the car, fuel started flowing over the tank!!. Hadd to tow the car to M.A.S.S and get the Fuel line replaced.Cost 1800rs.

After a week my friend's A-Star has the same Fuel-pipe issue.
The only remedy for this problem is to apply grease on the fuel-pipe.

planet_rocker · 11th November 2009, 14:27

Palio 1.6's engine bay so much cramped that it is nearly impossible to place a rat-trap (like the one Tanveer used) - i will have to get the pouches for future use - but right now i need to get rid of the melted remains from the engine bay :(

tsk1979 · 11th November 2009, 14:40

Well I found the rat, inside the cabin. Not in the engine bay. Even the engine bay of indica has enough space for the rat trap, in case you want to catch the rat.
If a rat frequents the engine bay at night, place the trap under the car. Rat will go for food first.
And get trapped.
Its best to use an all metal trap. Later you can open bonnet of car when hot, keep the trap in the radiator, and derive some sadistic pleasure. I got mine from drowing the rat.
Sorry animal lovers, when rats are concerned, I show no mercy

21st October 2009, 15:45	#391
beejay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Nilgiris Posts: 1,963 Thanked: 204 Times View My Garage	I remember a rat eating away the wires in my Activa which was lying unused for more than 6 months. Scooter was not starting and I thought the battery must have drained off. The mechanic and I jumped out of our skins when the rodent flew on him from the filter. Actually, hilarious.
	() Thanks

21st October 2009, 15:56	#392
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,968 Thanked: 13,222 Times View My Garage	My car is turning out to be a regular victim to the rodents. The first instance was when the Autocop siren stopped working, which was traced to snipped wires. Now, the fog lamps have stopped working.. both of them, which makes me think its the pesky creatures at it again. Where can i get hold of these tobacco pouches? According to the watchman, rat poison hasnt had much of an effect.
	() Thanks

21st October 2009, 15:59	#393
sdp1975 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,700 Thanked: 1,273 Times View My Garage	A rat ( or more than one ) chewed into my M-800 wiring once. Got the wiring fixed by a local mechanic. After this incident, I used to keep pieces of rat cakes under the hood. The rat used to eat it a away happily - nothing used to happen to it - it was a fat rat I saw under the hood once. Then I kept full 2 cakes for it one day and it never came back again. One of my friends had a dead rat in his Santro a/c system. The car turned really smelly. Got it fixed from the asc and they added some mesh as well.
	() Thanks

21st October 2009, 22:25	#397
greatmana2000 BANNED Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 703 Thanked: 58 Times	"How do you protect your car from rats?" Just get a cat and tie it to your car in the nights .. that might help
	() Thanks

22nd October 2009, 00:17	#398
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	^^^ I hope that was ment to be a (bad) joke...
	() Thanks

22nd October 2009, 00:41	#399
greatmana2000 BANNED Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 703 Thanked: 58 Times	yep ! that was intended to be a bad joke .. hehe
	() Thanks

11th November 2009, 12:35	#401
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	After effects of rat kill in a hot engine bay: - Rat Kill has something like WAX in it - melts with heat. - i kept the entire block of rat kill on the black engine plastic cover last night - thought of keeping it somewhere else because of the hot engine bay - but decided against it - My BAD!! - today morning i found the entire block stuck on the engine cover like a melted lava - a portion of it crept to the 2nd and 3rd spark plug holes somehow got rid of a portion of it with a screw driver - but some of it is still stuck. the major thing that bothers me right now is that two small blocks fell in the gap between the plug holes and the heat sump - not able to access those with screw driver / fingers - will try an use the Vacuum cleaner tonight. My request to all - don't use it in a hot engine bay - if you still feel the need - keep it somewhere near the shocker mounts - where it can easily be accessed. will try to keep you guys updated.
	() Thanks

11th November 2009, 13:06	#402
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Yup, do not use rat kill. Use rat trap. Like this I have caught 2 rats using this contraption, first one was let off in a drain around a km away, the second one was murdered, by drowning.
	() Thanks

11th November 2009, 13:39	#403
adishenoy BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 61 Thanked: 4 Times	"Tambaaqu" is the Best solution according to me, Here are a couple of experiences i have had, 1) Autocop siren goes on Full-Blast mode after a rat nibbles the autocop wires. 2) Fuel line nibbled by a rat. .As soon as i started the car, fuel started flowing over the tank!!. Hadd to tow the car to M.A.S.S and get the Fuel line replaced.Cost 1800rs. After a week my friend's A-Star has the same Fuel-pipe issue. The only remedy for this problem is to apply grease on the fuel-pipe.
	() Thanks

11th November 2009, 14:27	#404
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	Palio 1.6's engine bay so much cramped that it is nearly impossible to place a rat-trap (like the one Tanveer used) - i will have to get the pouches for future use - but right now i need to get rid of the melted remains from the engine bay :(
	() Thanks

11th November 2009, 14:40	#405
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Well I found the rat, inside the cabin. Not in the engine bay. Even the engine bay of indica has enough space for the rat trap, in case you want to catch the rat. If a rat frequents the engine bay at night, place the trap under the car. Rat will go for food first. And get trapped. Its best to use an all metal trap. Later you can open bonnet of car when hot, keep the trap in the radiator, and derive some sadistic pleasure. I got mine from drowing the rat. Sorry animal lovers, when rats are concerned, I show no mercy
	() Thanks