Foxes have done me dirty - AGAIN

[kombisnaps]

As the title says - foxes have eaten my wiring again only 5 months since last time. I mean this time they were kind enough to munch my oil sensor on bottom of engine, rather than the NOX sensor again - so we're not running out of cable to splice. Wahoo.

This is a serious post to see peoples thoughts about fabricating some kind of wire guard that actually works to block access - not just smearing some chilli on it or whatever.

Who would I need to go to in order to get something designed and made? Am thinking if I get it right, could start making them in batches as it's such a common issue, with no total fix!



If anyone has done anything that works well (apart from cable ties / oil / etc) let me know.

I'm thinking some kind of alu sheet guard that can clamp / fix on with a medium strength adhesive (so it can be pulled off) to stop entry to cabling from foxes and rodents.

 

[Dellmassive]

how do you know its foxes?

i was told it was Rodents . . . ie Rats or Squirrels?

that are attracted to the smell of the rubber on the cable for the high temp sensors?

+++++++++

anyway,

have you got any pics of the damage or area?

++++++++

 

[Rfkdemon]

Stainless wool is great and stopping rodents from chewing through stuff but if the fox has an obsession with wires then they will probably love that too sadly.

Mat

 

[Stu007]

We have a cat that likes to chase the foxes off and eats the rodents haha.. touch wood no wire eating issue yet

 

[Sasquatch]

Dell's right - pictures would help us to help you.

 

[kombisnaps]

how do you know its foxes?

i was told it was Rodents . . . ie Rats or Squirrels?

that are attracted to the smell of the rubber on the cable for the high temp sensors?

+++++++++

anyway,

have you got any pics of the damage or area?

++++++++

Hey

99% sure it's foxes in my case as they're terrors around here and are always playing on / under cars all the time.
They live super near us and are a constant hassle in gardens / dogs going mental etc. Typical London 'don't give a fook' foxes.

My gf mentioned she saw them playing / screeching around my van late last night, so it makes sense to be them on finding the damage thismorning, rather than a squirrel / rat etc. (Road parking)

No pics of damage as i couldnt see where the repair has been made by the VW roadside mechanic in relation to the oil sensor, and wasnt fully sure which cable / sensor was that one (electrics noob).
I'll get you a pic tomorrow of where i'm thinking to block. Essentially its the part at the rear of the sump guard / undertray where there's almost a hollow.

Mechanic has already stuck on a load of zipties and snipped them so they're like a lo fi barbed wire to poke noses on the cabling. But preventing access would be preferable.

 

[Dellmassive]

Gotcha..

The first thing that comes to mind was wrap it up in steel mesh?.

https://amzn.to/3MVJrTN

.




.

 

[Dellmassive]

And metal cable ties..

https://amzn.to/4egW8Vs

.



..

 

[kombisnaps]

Gotcha..

The first thing that comes to mind was wrap it up in steel mesh?.

https://amzn.to/3MVJrTN

.

View attachment 260439


.

You know what that'd be rad. I was thinking about some chicken wire but it's too much hassle to cut. Wonder if I could cut this and yeh simply ziptie to a few points.

I also thought about metal cable braiding but couldnt find any to suit, and this will work jut as well.

Means if anyone needs to work on van underneath is easy to get it off. Nice one!

 

[Dellmassive]

You know what that'd be rad. I was thinking about some chicken wire but it's too much hassle to cut. Wonder if I could cut this and yeh simply ziptie to a few points.

I also thought about metal cable braiding but couldnt find any to suit, and this will work jut as well.

Means if anyone needs to work on van underneath is easy to get it off. Nice one!

Should be able to cut that stuff with kitchen scissors.(The mesh)

.. metal cable ties are tuffer. I use wire cutters to turn snips at work...

 

[kombisnaps]

Yeh I’ll have a check on suitable temperatures as well just to double check it’d be okay butted up to exhaust

 

[Dellmassive]

It's stainless steel... Exhaust should be no probs.

Says 800degc in the waffle.....

.



.

 

[Grim Reaper]

Also handy for use on your gas stove as a flame spreader to help stop burning your beans onto the bottom of the pan.

 

[kombisnaps]

Also handy for use on your gas stove as a flame spreader to help stop burning your beans onto the bottom of the pan.

Man’s living in 2055!

 

[temporarysecretary]

I've heard of VW recommending these :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Volkswagen-000054650F-Anti-Rodent-Electric-Ultrasound/dp/B014W29H1Y

 

[FerrisBFW]

slam it to the ground

 

[kombisnaps]

slam it to the ground

View attachment 260556

Airbags incoming baby

 

[archersam]

Not used it myself however saw some people on FB pages talking products like this

Anti-Rodent Electrical Rat Tape (20m) - Moto Electrical

Anti-Rodent Electrical Rat Tape (20m). An easy to use, effective solution for protection of cables, wires, plumbing pipes, gas pipes & ducts against rodent damage! Motoelectrical

www.motoelectrical.co.uk

 

[bubbadubba]

It's my turn with the fox damage!!.... They have chewed the wiring to the oil sensor and the adblue injector.
The garage can fix the oil sensor as luckily there is enough wire to join up again. The adblue has been chewed down to the nub so looks like a new one of them. Weirdly though when I popped in to have a look at the damage he said the adblue must be coded out as no fault codes on the dash or vcds?? I have had to top it up a couple of times after prompting on the dash so not sure what that is about?
I also have an intermittent glow plug fault on cylinder 4 that they can't get out. Will need a specialist to remove it. He said If i am keeping the van it might be worth changing the other non sensor ones while he is there and it's stripped down.
Not sure what to do on that yet as the van is nearly at 100k so I might just px it and go for a lower mileage with hopefully less costs going forward.......I have never had to spend so much on a bloody vehicle

 

[BuilderJay]

Hey

99% sure it's foxes in my case as they're terrors around here and are always playing on / under cars all the time.
They live super near us and are a constant hassle in gardens / dogs going mental etc. Typical London 'don't give a fook' foxes.

My gf mentioned she saw them playing / screeching around my van late last night, so it makes sense to be them on finding the damage thismorning, rather than a squirrel / rat etc. (Road parking)

No pics of damage as i couldnt see where the repair has been made by the VW roadside mechanic in relation to the oil sensor, and wasnt fully sure which cable / sensor was that one (electrics noob).
I'll get you a pic tomorrow of where i'm thinking to block. Essentially its the part at the rear of the sump guard / undertray where there's almost a hollow.

Mechanic has already stuck on a load of zipties and snipped them so they're like a lo fi barbed wire to poke noses on the cabling. But preventing access would be preferable.

Ok