[Srikanthan]

Originally Posted by RedTerrano

Today, I opened my Nissan Terrano bonnet to top up the wiper fluid and was greeted by this

I think it is the sound damping thing. A closer inspection revealed that the black layer had burnt off, exposing the yellow rockwool(?) inside. I took off the remaining flaky pieces.

Initially I thought some clamp or something has come loose. Closer inspection proved that to be false.

This is rat bite. I experienced similar situation ~ 2 years back. See link here.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ml#post3853648

I used a combination tobacco and rat repellants. I'm now free of such rat bites and I have also NOT replaced the insulation. I just drive around without any issue.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by RedTerrano

Thank you everyone!
Apparently, "rat" never even entered my mind when I saw the damage. Duh!

Rats gifted me the same problem in my Scorpio a few years back, only on the right side. Haven't bothered replacing this insulating material yet.

Cheers,
Vikram

[straight6]

My older damping got destroyed by rats so I put a new one 10 days back and now even thats chewed. Rats should become extinct!

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by straight6

Rats should become extinct!

Not a chance, I'm afraid. They are far too successful a species!

[R2D2]

LOL! Chances of humans being extinct before vermin like rats and mice are much, much higher.

[Thad E Ginathom]

First they came for our car wiring, then they came for us.

(Hope nobody minds the jocular moment on this all-too-serious thread. Even a small amount of rat damage is bad, because it leaves us worrying about what they could do next. Been there, doing that. Trusting to the cats!)

[tushar_b]

Hello All,

Till this day, i was aware that such thread exists, but never thought i'll be part / rat victim in this thread. :(

We have a parking/porch having all sides open/fresh air flowing. Lodgy stands there since last year. During last 1.3 years never had any issue.

Around 2 weeks back i opened bonnet after almost 3 weeks - thanks to busy office routine / constant weekend trips.

When opened, noticed small lumps near battery, air filter cap area. Initial thought was like it might oil/grease dried. On closer inspection found it to be rat droppings. Brother confirmed same.

I was shocked as how come suddenly rat made engine as his home. So cleaned engine compartment as much as possible with wet cloth & then dry cloth.

For whole week car was standstill. Sunday i washed car to give her facial (wax polish) treatment. When opened bonnet - again rat dropping.

In the evening i went out & at night car parked there again with some fear in mind. Monday after coming to office - my first task was reading this thread instead of reading mails in outlook. :P

To my surprise i found this thread to be 83 pages wide spread...wow. So by evening my action plan was ready -
1) Start with local rat poison.
2) Tobacco powder, naphtha balls.
3) Online sprays .

So Monday night i put almost 6-8 small balls of poison mixed in wheat flour, ready to attack with brute force. Spread them well in major ROL (Rat occupied Land) areas like Air filter cap, battery stand, near engine oil caps, near both wheels / engine guard plate.

Thought to wait 24 hrs to see results. Yesterday again checked engine. Rat also i guess is in war/ hide n seek mode. He didn't chew a single ball. But a sigh of relief no dropping in engine bay. Checked engine bay thoroughly. No sign of cutting as mentioned areas throughout this thread.

So today's combing operation - i'll search throughout inside car, if he entered through any intake pipe.

So next plan of action will be - to put tobacco/ naphtha balls & again watch. Till that time i'll ordering online spray for third attack.

Sorry for long post, but i thought to have it mentioned.

[sumeethaldankar]

Originally Posted by tushar_b

Hello All,

Till this day, i was aware that such thread exists, but never thought i'll be part/ rat victim in this thread. :(

You can also try this. Works beautifully for me. Less of a hassle once properly installed meaning you do not have to reload your tobacco powder etc once it's effects gets over. Just fix and check once a while if the brushes are loose or not. Had the brushes in my car for a year now. No more rat worries. If you go ahead with the brush idea do not forget the battery top as this must be secured as well.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ml#post3747750

[fash_1]

Has anyone bought SWE spray recently? Looks like its out of stock almost everywhere and I see some negative reviews in Amazon and was wondering if its still effective?

[GTO]

Originally Posted by fash_1

Has anyone bought SWE spray recently?

Don't know about SWE, but I can vouch for Autoshine's spray - Link & link.

[CowlFlap]

Originally Posted by tushar_b

Hello All,

Till this day, i was aware that such thread exists, but never thought i'll be part / rat victim in this thread. :(

We have a parking/porch having all sides open/fresh air flowing. Lodgy stands there since last year. During last 1.3 years never had any issue.

Around 2 weeks back i opened bonnet after almost 3 weeks - thanks to busy office routine / constant weekend trips.

When opened, noticed small lumps near battery, air filter cap area. Initial thought was like it might oil/grease dried. On closer inspection found it to be rat droppings. Brother confirmed same.

I was shocked as how come suddenly rat made engine as his home. So cleaned engine compartment as much as possible with wet cloth & then dry cloth.

For whole week car was standstill. Sunday i washed car to give her facial (wax polish) treatment. When opened bonnet - again rat dropping.

In the evening i went out & at night car parked there again with some fear in mind. Monday after coming to office - my first task was reading this thread instead of reading mails in outlook. :P

To my surprise i found this thread to be 83 pages wide spread...wow. So by evening my action plan was ready -
1) Start with local rat poison.
2) Tobacco powder, naphtha balls.
3) Online sprays .

So Monday night i put almost 6-8 small balls of poison mixed in wheat flour, ready to attack with brute force. Spread them well in major ROL (Rat occupied Land) areas like Air filter cap, battery stand, near engine oil caps, near both wheels / engine guard plate.

Thought to wait 24 hrs to see results. Yesterday again checked engine. Rat also i guess is in war/ hide n seek mode. He didn't chew a single ball. But a sigh of relief no dropping in engine bay. Checked engine bay thoroughly. No sign of cutting as mentioned areas throughout this thread.

So today's combing operation - i'll search throughout inside car, if he entered through any intake pipe.

So next plan of action will be - to put tobacco/ naphtha balls & again watch. Till that time i'll ordering online spray for third attack.

Sorry for long post, but i thought to have it mentioned.

You're lucky it hasn't caused any damage yet; not saying too soon, I hope. Having said that, from what I've noticed, they leave their droppings initially to test the area. If it stays there for long enough, it means it's a great nesting area. If you disturb the area frequently, or move the vehicle around, or even fire up the engine once in a while, they'll leave you alone. Meaning, they won't make it their home and just sit and chew away at the wires (like sitting on a nice comfortable chair, munching on fries, watching TV ). They might still make the odd visit. For me, that's quite okay.

As long as they aren't creating a hole in my pocket, I'd rather live with them than go scampering about looking for retardants, poisons, and what have you. Nothing works for long, anyway. They adapt to it.

[nitnab]

I have been using a RatAxe spray (from Amazon) from a spray can for last few years and touch wood, no signs of any rat entering into my earlier Estilo and now my Honda City. I had first given it a complete internal wash. Then just squirted the spray at two ends of an inside ledge like structure just below the radiator (near to the front wheels). I do this once a week or so. The faint smell of the spray inside lingers for quite some time and builds up till the next car wash. I am pretty sure the smell will sustain for a much longer time but I don't want to take a risk so I spray once every week. My first spray can is still not exhausted.

[saket77]

Noticed rat droppings in the engine bay of both my Zen and the Civic a week ago. Bought some tobacco leaves worth Rs 40/- and tied to random places in the engine bay, and specifically over the strut mount area where most debris is often collected by the rats.

Reviewed the status today and found this trick to be working. No evidence of rats. Will urge members to use this easy and inexpensive method before going out for expensive sprays, repellents etc. This stuff can be acquired through any betel shop.

Regards,
Saket.

[tushar_b]

Originally Posted by tushar_b

Hello All,

1) Start with local rat poison. - Done

On 1st day rat played hide & seek with me, but on 2nd day he swallowed 1 poison ball . For next 2 days I did a combing operation through out the car still no sign of dead rat.
Only positive note is that despite being car standstill for next 4 days still no rat droppings in engine bay.I am not going to stop here. This weekend I am planning to do brush fitting. Lets see how it works out.

Thanks all for your valuable suggestions. Team-Bhp is always our lifesaver.

[sumeethaldankar]

Originally Posted by saket77

Noticed rat droppings in the engine bay of both my Zen and the Civic a week ago. Bought some tobacco leaves worth Rs 40/- and tied to random places in the engine bay, and specifically over the strut mount area where most debris is often collected by the rats.

Reviewed the status today and found this trick to be working. No evidence of rats. Will urge members to use this easy and inexpensive method before going out for expensive sprays, repellents etc. This stuff can be acquired through any betel shop.

Regards,
Saket.

Also make sure you clean/wash the engine bay so as to get rid of their urine traces etc which rats used to mark territories. This will way laid them and prevents the rats from frequenting the place again.

Rat damage to a Civic can be expensive. I have payed close to 20k in repairs last year due to same.