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Rat

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by billissimo, Mar 9, 2021.

  1. billissimo

    billissimo Junior Member

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    In 2 days, a rat made a warm bed for itself using material from the bottom of the engine compartment. The material is on the top of the plastic splash guard. What is the material? Why did Toyota add it to the engine compartment? The material looks and feels like cotton though I imagine it is fire retardant. Is the material for sound insulation? Thank you.

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  2. tucatz

    tucatz Active Member

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    Same thing has happened in my 2016 Prius, in the same spot! Looks like a warm spot for critters to chew and nest. Be very careful! They will chew through wires and cause expensive damage to the car’s computer systems. This happened to my friends Prius prime $7000 damage. I’ve been scouting my engine bay daily, try the Irish Spring soap trick, and sprinkling peppermint oil into the engine bay and the mentioned underliner.
     
  3. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Over the years, my dad and my uncles have used petroleum based rustproofing in these areas. While rodents will chew on soy or plant based insulation on wires, they do not, if they have been coated with a petroleum based product.

    Also, applying a peppermint oil based rodent repellent and letting it dry completely before applying rustproofing and then re coating it again assures additional protection.



    I've also seen rodent repelling rustproofing.
     
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  4. Pulse07

    Pulse07 Active Member

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    throw some irish spring soap around the car. Purely anecdotal but doesn't hurt to try. Also leave some much traps around.
     
  5. billissimo

    billissimo Junior Member

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    Any idea what the material that the rat chewed is or why Toyota put it in the engine compartment? I think it might be sound proofing. Not sure if I should replace it or not. The aftermarket splash guards do not seem to have the material attached to them.
     
  6. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Mostly sun and heat insulation.
     
  7. tucatz

    tucatz Active Member

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    Anecdotal evidence is that rodents chew on wire harness coverings, perhaps on the wires themselves. The evidence I found on my vehicle is on the plastic undercarriage plates that cover the bottom of the car. Presumably to increase aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The plastic plate below the engine has a insulation pad, filled with a soft fiber like a pillow. It has been chewed, a pile like a nest was retrieved from the engine bay.
     
  8. YogiJr

    YogiJr New Member

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    I just noticed exactly same issue in my prime. What did you end up doing as a deterrent?
     
  9. catsolar

    catsolar New Member

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    Five
    I found the same type of white fluffy material on the floor of my 2017 Prius engine compartment, plus rat droppings on the components above. I live in an apartment and my assigned parking spot is right next to the neighbor's garbage bins, so I have no way to solve the rat problem except whatever I can do in my engine compartment. I would prefer a mechanical deterrent over a spray that poisons the critters. And I don't really want to suck toxins or petroleum products into my air intake. Has anyone had success with Ultrasonic Rodent Deterrents? I am looking at Loraffe because it is ultrasonic but also has strobe lights. Trouble is, I am concerned that it will drain the 12 volt battery. I just replaced mine yesterday.
     
  10. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

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    When we were Traveling full time in our RV we would get fresh peppermint sprigs to keep critters out of the under carriage and compartments. Worked very well and was all natural.
     
  11. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    Try the rodent deterrent tape (see the last paragraph of that posting).
     
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