Best way to connect a electronic mouse repeller under the hood?

Hi folks,
I was a member of Prius Chat when I had my 2007, got out when it died and I temporarily got a RAV4 hybrid, but a year ago Jan, traded that in for a 2024 Prius Prime. So I'm back!

After my dashboard started flashing with all sorts of error messages on Monday, I took it to the dealership today and found that rodents of some sort have chewed through the wiring and caused all sorts of havoc.

After I get it back, am planning on trying one of those electronic things (a near perfect 5 start rating on Amazon) that goes under the hood, but not sure where to connect it. Another site said connect to the 12v battery, but they realized that for the prius, the 12v is in the back, so that wouldn't work, and then suggested getting a fuse tap to connect that in the front and then connecting the device to that.

Just looking for the best way to connect the anti mouse device under the hood. I've used other sonic things to keep cats from my deck, which seemed to work, so given the ratings of the one on Amazon, I'm hopeful that it will work as well.

Suggestions? TIA

 

The dash messages started on Monday, it was working fine on Saturday when I went to work in the AM and then to the movies in the afternoon afterwards. So don't know if they just started on it and did all the damage in one night, or this has been a long term thing and they finally just chewed far enough in to screw up the connection over Sunday. There wasn't any damage when AAA had the hood up to give me a jumpstart in December when my aux battery kept dying, or when Toyota had it then to replace said aux battery.

Thankfully, apparently my comprehensive coverage on the car actually covers rodent chewed engine wires. So since my policy has a zero deductible for that, the doesn't appear to be costing me anything except maybe an increase in my insurance rates in 6 mo. Which is good, since the estimate my Toyota guy showed me this morning was $3100, to replace the whole of something.

And Toyota sent me home in a really nice loaner (2026 Camry HEV). Probably would have been different had I gotten a rental from Allstate and they'd sent me to Enterprise again. First rental I got from THEM was a gas guzzling Dodge Grand Behemoth which I traded back to them for something a little more sized for one person after the first day. But I can deal with a week or so of Camry hybrid.

 

Info from Amazon about the unit I'm looking at, if this helps

Step-by-Step DC Connection:

• 1. Locate the 12V Power Source - Use your Prius Prime's fuse box or auxiliary power outlet under the hood
• 2.Connect the DC Cable - The included DC cable connects directly to your car's 12V electrical system
• 3.Secure the Connection - Ensure a solid connection to prevent disconnection while driving

Prius Prime Specific Notes:•

• Your hybrid has both a 12V auxiliary battery and the main hybrid battery - connect to the 12V system
• •
• The device draws minimal power and won't affect your hybrid battery performance
• •
• The intelligent vibration sensor automatically puts the device on standby when you start the car

 

Here's the amazon listing. Funny you mentioned that it sounded like a robot did it. It's what Rufus spit out when I asked it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQJH1DF7

I went ahead and ordered them, will be here tomorrow. Going to try one under my kitchen sink where they keep getting in through a hole in the back of the cupboard and rooting around in the garbage bin under there. I'll know even before I get the car back if they repel the mice or not.

 

No garage at my house, I cringe every time we get really gusty days, since the yard is full of oak trees and branches frequently snap off and fall. (Currently have a claim in with Allstate for one that poked a hole through my roof and through the side of my house a month ago. Also had the prior RAV4 out of commission for 3 months when a HUGE branch took out the entire back window.)

I'm making notes of all the things to try. Hopefully the mouse repellents will work if I can figure out how to hook them up.

 

Doesn't work so far. Mice made a mess out of my under the sink garbage bag overnight, so I'm going to try it for 24 hours with the 4 AA batteries and see if it works that way. If THAT doesn't work, I'm sending it back to Amazon.

 

Was using a new USB power pack, that might turn out to be the issue. It doesn't seem to want to charge fully. Once I put batteries in in the rodent thing, the eyes lit up and it has sonic'd multiple times. So I rebaited my garbage with some things that are easy to ID if they pull them out and we'll see what it does today and tonight.

 

It's supposed to. They're supposed to shut down when they sense vibration, and then restart a couple of minutes after the car is parked.
Doesn't matter though, I just processed a return for them at Amazon. The one I was testing in the house worked for about a week, and then I could hear them rummaging around in the space right next to it, while it was running. The second one I tested outside underneath the bird feeders where I've actually seen mice hang out. Saw one sitting right next to it last night. So boxed them up for the return. Nice surprise, Amazon is not requiring that I send them back, they've already processed a refund to my giftcard balance. So still looking for something to prevent this from happening again, once I get the Prius back. Took a bit of time to get Allstate to approve and pay for the repair, now waiting on parts, Toyota says it should be about another week and a half or so. So still driving the Camry HEV loaner. Hope they don't expect me to wash it before it comes back, LOL, I got it right at the start of The Pollening here in Raleigh, and now the hangy downs from the trees have started, so the Camry is FILTHY.