They seem to like insulation. I had one trying to move into my Passat’s hood liner. I was lucky to find out before it discovered how tasty wire harnesses are. ?
oh man after only a week the little jerks moved in. that has me kinda concerned now, my ranger sits parked five days a week until im free on the weekend to enjoy it.
I thought about the colder climate thing, as well. I grew up in New Mexico, so occasionally we had a desert mouse, but nothing like what we have in the Seattle area...though Albuquerque was warmer during summer months, but it also got colder in the winter months.
It's got to have something to do with that. Although, I've lived where there's a real winter my whole 45 years. I've never had such an occurrence. Even when my neighborhood when it was still under construction. We'd catch a couple here or there in the garage, but they never got at the cars.
It was pretty common to have this happen when I lived back in MA where it was cold. I lived out in the country so even more common out there with all the woods around. One thing I heard from people who lived in the burbs was sometimes cats will crawl up into the engine bay to stay warm at night. So when they'd walk out to their vehicle they give the hood a tap to make sure non were in there. Not a pretty sight when you remote start your vehicle and one is in there.
Mark, you might want to consider getting a battery maintainer if it's sitting like that. There's a lot of parasitic draw from all the electronics and in time it will wear your battery out quick. Also the heat will kill them quickly too, I just had mine replaced (under warranty) back in April which was only 21 months old. I use this one along with the extension leads so I don't need to open the hood to connect it.
One of the mouse countermeasures I read about was just leaving the hood open at night, so it doesn't provide shelter and warmth. That's a bit much though.It was pretty common to have this happen when I lived back in MA where it was cold. I lived out in the country so even more common out there with all the woods around. One thing I heard from people who lived in the burbs was sometimes cats will crawl up into the engine bay to stay warm at night. So when they'd walk out to their vehicle they give the hood a tap to make sure non were in there. Not a pretty sight when you remote start your vehicle and one is in there.
I haven't heard of that one. Depending on the area that could open up a whole mess of problems for vandalism and stolen batteries. With my luck I'd go out and the engine would be gone. lol
I don't even think it would keep critters out since the wires are soy-based it's just an easier to get to meal.
You make a great point i should get something to keep the battery up. I never thought of how much stuff is pulling on it while it is sitting. my older trucks were great on the battery, when the key was of the entire trucks were pretty much dead. It threw me off when i noticed the door lock buttons are lit even after the truck is off and locked.It was pretty common to have this happen when I lived back in MA where it was cold. I lived out in the country so even more common out there with all the woods around. One thing I heard from people who lived in the burbs was sometimes cats will crawl up into the engine bay to stay warm at night. So when they'd walk out to their vehicle they give the hood a tap to make sure non were in there. Not a pretty sight when you remote start your vehicle and one is in there.
Mark, you might want to consider getting a battery maintainer if it's sitting like that. There's a lot of parasitic draw from all the electronics and in time it will wear your battery out quick. Also the heat will kill them quickly too, I just had mine replaced (under warranty) back in April which was only 21 months old. I use this one along with the extension leads so I don't need to open the hood to connect it.
https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-40-206-...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=49ASSR9018D3NYB1Y1HX
https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-304-...67d51&pd_rd_wg=gfDr6&pd_rd_i=B00ADIHUVG&psc=1
