Member Since: 22 Aug 2013
Location: Dublin
Posts: 145
RATS
I opened up my bonnet today to change my horn and while I was doing it I noticed some large size turds on my engine cover (along with what looks like a half eaten nut). Its only a few month since the last oil change so its quite recent. It looks like my nice warm engine cove is popular with the local rat community. We live on a farm beside a stream so I'm not sure there is much I can do to stop them coming and the dogs (2 x cockers) don't seem to be helping.
Has anyone had this happen to them and could they do any other damage (like chew wires)?
12th Mar 2014 7:44 pm
Allan_T
Member Since: 10 Sep 2012
Location: Northampton
Posts: 1034
They could damage the wiring and that has the potential to cause an electrical fire, there's also the various rubber hoses to consider.GAP IID Pro Multi Vehicle Defender L316 2007-2015 - Discovery 3 - Discovery 4 - Discovery Sport L550 - Freelander 2 - Range Rover Evoque L538 - Range Rover L322 - Range Rover L405 - Range Rover Sport L320 - Range Rover Sport L494 Electrical Fault Diagnostics
12th Mar 2014 7:50 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
my brother had rats in his V8 - he was told to put moth balls around the engine, and they have never come back since Duncan
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12th Mar 2014 7:50 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2870
Rodents seem to 'get off'on the plastics within both wiring insulation and also some harder plastics found in the engine compartment and elsewhere. We have had complete outboard engine covers eaten, together with valves for inflatable boats, fuel caps off generators etc. An elderly Volvo had its electrics destroyed, and tghey had a good go at SWMBO's Honda last year. This winter hasn't been too bad as it was mild.
The only solution (long term) is to try and get rid of the bas***ds but, failing that, a cat or chemical deterrents seems to be the way ahead.Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
12th Mar 2014 7:54 pm
Sloss
Member Since: 18 Aug 2013
Location: Aberdeenish
Posts: 1691
The difficulty is getting the balls off a moth......
OK, OK, I'm leaving Stew,
2010 D4 gone but I really loved it
Went back to Merc - C350 AMG
12th Mar 2014 7:54 pm
moorman
Member Since: 05 Jul 2009
Location: East Anglia
Posts: 276
Once changed the air filter on a citroen powered motorhome and found a large cache of nuts in the filter box I think from a squirrel.
Have had mice eat into disco 3 tank (not the only one), chewed through the diesel feed pipe to FBH in front wheel arch and various chewings around the engine bay under the acoustic cover various pipes (surface damage only). Nothing compared to £1100 damage on a Range Rover Vogue when the main dealer under warranty 'repaired' the heater but broke the fresh air flap which that allowed the mice into the heater two abreast and thus into the rest of the vehicle.
To keep the pesky bloody things from under the bonnet now I've put one of these acoustic things plugged into 240volts. If that doesn't work I'll get out my mouse electric chair and put that under the bonnet - that'l fry them.
12th Mar 2014 8:10 pm
lespes
Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Sitting Down
Posts: 2232
I'd check around the fuel tank, quite a few stories around where rodents have found it very appetizing.D4 Landmark MY16 Santorini Black THE LAST
D4 HSE MY12 Marmais Teal: Gone. Missed a lot!
Freelander 2 SD HSE MY11 Silver:Thankfully gone.
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Discovery D2 TD5 Cobalt Blue: Gone Missed!
Discovery D1 Auto Oxford Blue Not missed at all!
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Now demoted to a VW
12th Mar 2014 8:55 pm
Mattyb123
Member Since: 05 Nov 2013
Location: Gateshead
Posts: 90
Re: RATS
IanMellor wrote:
I opened up my bonnet today to change my horn and while I was doing it I noticed some large size turds on my engine cover (along with what looks like a half eaten nut). Its only a few month since the last oil change so its quite recent. It looks like my nice warm engine cove is popular with the local rat community. We live on a farm beside a stream so I'm not sure there is much I can do to stop them coming and the dogs (2 x cockers) don't seem to be helping.
Has anyone had this happen to them and could they do any other damage (like chew wires)?
I dont know why but im in stitches reading this.
Hope you get it sorted out. I think one of the electric deterent speaker things vould be worth a go.
12th Mar 2014 9:14 pm
Dbdisco
Member Since: 09 Feb 2014
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 69
We too live on an old farm, rats can be an issue. Poison in proper bait boxes in places of activity and a jack russel does the trick
12th Mar 2014 10:20 pm
IanMellor
Member Since: 22 Aug 2013
Location: Dublin
Posts: 145
I wonder what the insurance company would do if there is more damage. Is that malicious damage (are rat malicious?) or act of God. If a man got under your car, chewed into your fuel line, had a curry and then sh** on your bonnet I'd think I'd be covered, so why not if a rat basically does the same thing, all be it on a much smaller scale?
12th Mar 2014 11:42 pm
Billy B
Member Since: 21 Dec 2007
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 198
Hi there,
Had the same thing happen a couple of years ago. Rats got into the garage and built a beautiful nest between the bulkhead and engine of the wifes Mercedes, took me a few hours to break in up and get it out only to find that the said rat had eaten all the rubber pipes in the surrounding area. I cut my hand trying to remove the nest and ended up visiting the Doctors and having a preventive jab for 'Wells disease' not nice. Anyway what I had to do was block up every hole and gap that gave them entry into the garage, found out that they were coming in under a dislodged roof tile where the roofing felt had split, built a little platform in the roof laid down some rat poison, no more rats, shot a couple around the bird table a few day later.
My two springers were useless, to tired to catch them or to well fed?????????????Nothing is foolproof as the ingenuity of fools is endless.
2012 Discovery 4 HSE Luxury
13th Mar 2014 10:13 am
moorman
Member Since: 05 Jul 2009
Location: East Anglia
Posts: 276
Not a great fan of poison, too many owls and other birds/creatures could feed off the dead rodent.
13th Mar 2014 11:28 pm
MarkOne
Member Since: 23 Jul 2011
Location: County Antrim
Posts: 3345
When you have problem with rats, birds don't come into it, what do you want to do set live traps and catch the rat?
I had them in the roof space in my last house, they made some mess and would have done anything to get rid of them.
Member Since: 05 Jul 2009
Location: East Anglia
Posts: 276
If you read what I said I was not saying not to use it but I prefer not to. I prefer to kill the pest by using traps that kill and not kill the birds that can and do feed on the rats/mice.
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