Hey all,

Picked up a ‘02 Sebring last year and absolutely love it. Now for the sad part. First winter and learned the hard way about rats loving the engine bay. I am in the processes of cleaning out a big infestation (air box was packed and every horizontal surface was covered in rat crap). In the process of cleaning I found a gnawed part that I need help with IDing. I found it over by the brake fluid fill with a other wires exposed, but not severed.

Can you guys help ID? Also curious about repairing the semi-stripped wires in the harness that leaves the master cylinder (I think). Simple as using a high quality electrical tape?

I know the precautions now (steel wool, plug the holes, etc) but need some help bringing her back from shambles. My fuel level isn’t working either (but I suspect that to be an unrelated problem.

Appreciate any and all help!
YR

 

Tachometer signal wire. The rat/mouse wanted to feel the pulses when you were reving high in the powerband until redline

 

I see so many new vehicles near my work location that get hammered by mice and squirrels, newer wiring is made from soy based products, the pests just love it and see it as a food source. Older vehicles don't get hit as hard but it still happens. I know some newer vehicle owners who incur thousands of dollars of wiring damage, it is crazy. I seen one squirrel who was determined to get into my engine bay from the wheel well when I stopped to park there one day, he was on a mission.

The master cylinder wire is just a fluid sensor wire and you can fix it easily with tape if needed, it doesn't really carry much current.

 

Rats chew on wires, as a way to keep their teeth short and sharp.

Why do they chew on wires in the first place?

 

Dryer sheets, moth balls or peppermint tea bags will keep mice/rats/critters/bears/hippos, etc away from your vehicle.

We do this at the dealership for cars at the back of the lot, and I do it for personal storage.

 

Food for the taking, they can't resist

Does Your Car Have Wiring That Rodents Think Is Tasty? | News | Car and Driver

 

Shawn Woods has done numerous Youtube videos on what does and what does not work- Mousetrap Mondays. He has variable success and many failures with certain deterrents.
darcy

 

This is what works for me.

 

Looked though the entire 1000 page service manual and couldn't find part IDs for a tach signal wire. Does anyone have a link to one? Couldn't find anything remotely close on Majestic's website either.

Thanks
YR

 

No on electrical tape.to cover the chewed up part.

If it were me, I would cut the wires, and re-solder (and if damaged enough you may need to add wire) and use proper sized heat shrink tubing over the repair. Then, if the loom or bundle needs re-wrapping, you can use electrical tape for that. But I use this method if doing that: 1) First wrap is done with the tape inside out (Sticky side OUT). Make this wrap a bit tight so it stretched the tape slightly 2) twist tape and do a second wrap with sticky side IN. For this wrap, pull the tape snug but do not stretch it. This prevents the tape from trying to spring back and pulling the end loose. Not doing that on the last wrap is why you see the end of electrical tape hanging loose on a lot of applications over time.

There are better, more expensive tapes for wrapping bundles. If using electrical tape, use good stuff like 3M, not the $1 per roll stuff that is hard as hell.