I popped open the hood of my car and I found some wires stripped for no reason. Anyone know how or why this could have happened? These are very close to the engine. The car is running normally.

 

Anything aftermarket on the car?

 

No, not anything electric or mechanical under the hood. Could splashed brake fluid eat thru electrical lines like this?

 

any rodents chipping at it nearby?

 

Definitely rat/rodent damage, better start leaving out traps before they damage more stuff.

 

I see this on a weekly basis in the shop...its either a mouse or a rat. It helps to put dryer sheets in and around the engine bay. Staple them or zip tie them around insulations and wires. I always recommend this to customers. The rodents tend to stay away from them. If you have to, put traps in the engine bay. The worst I've seen was a whole family that demolished all the wires and insulations in an 08' Tundra. Radiator chewed up, knock sensor chewed through, you name it. The owner was outraged. Hope this helps.

 

yeah looked immediately like rodent or creature damage. moth balls?

 

That is just bizarre! I would never have thought of that, but you guys are right. The tube running from one windshield wiper sprayer to the other was pretty much eaten up. I noticed that the broken tube was ripped and not melted. I replaced it with a cheap clear tube from Home Depot and it's working pretty well.

I'll just stuff a cat into the engine for a few days - j/k! The car is no longer in the area where the wires got chewed up, so I think that solves my problem. I was just worried that it was some engine problem.

Thanks again for the expert diagnosis!

Anyone know what that wiring harness is? Maybe I'll just replace it before something stops working.

 

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