I hate squirrels
Senior Member First F150
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 1,977
From: Boston, Ma
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 114
Likes: 41
From: Alabama
My 2007 F150 Lariat was out of warranty when squirrels, or other critters, ate the wiring a few years ago. $1,300 worth. The truck was always parked in the driveway, and we live in the woods.
I installed a rodent repellant from Amazon a few years ago:
“Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent for Car Engines, Battery Powered Under Hood Mouse Repeller Device with 4 Strobe Lights Keep Mice, Rats and Squirrels Away from Cars, RVs, Garages, Attics, indoors” from the X-octenol Store.
They are $25 and no more squirrels eating my wiring. I also put them on my wife's SUV as it is sometimes left outside, my garaged convertible, just in case. The golf cart and my lawn tractor have them as well as they are outside under a shelter.
I installed a rodent repellant from Amazon a few years ago:
“Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent for Car Engines, Battery Powered Under Hood Mouse Repeller Device with 4 Strobe Lights Keep Mice, Rats and Squirrels Away from Cars, RVs, Garages, Attics, indoors” from the X-octenol Store.
They are $25 and no more squirrels eating my wiring. I also put them on my wife's SUV as it is sometimes left outside, my garaged convertible, just in case. The golf cart and my lawn tractor have them as well as they are outside under a shelter.
Last edited by Kudzu; Feb 25, 2026 at 01:14 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 121
Likes: 23
From: Ohio
I had this happen in the 2016 XLT I had. Very nearly had to replace the entire engine harness, but my brother-in-law knew a guy who was really good with fixing wiring in cars and he was able to reconnect all of the wires that were chewed and did it to spec, which was awesome!
After that, I found that the best way to keep them out is keeping something with a VERY strong smell in your engine compartment. Every month, I would go in with a spray bottle of a combination of Pinesol and castor oil and spray it on the outer edges of the engine bay, including on the wiring. And, as an added smell, I put mothballs in there as well. In the 3 years between when it happened and when we moved, I never had it happen again.
The fun thing with this is that the casing of the wires is made out of soybeans. This is why they try to eat it.
After that, I found that the best way to keep them out is keeping something with a VERY strong smell in your engine compartment. Every month, I would go in with a spray bottle of a combination of Pinesol and castor oil and spray it on the outer edges of the engine bay, including on the wiring. And, as an added smell, I put mothballs in there as well. In the 3 years between when it happened and when we moved, I never had it happen again.
The fun thing with this is that the casing of the wires is made out of soybeans. This is why they try to eat it.
Last edited by bojesphob; Mar 13, 2026 at 09:52 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I had the same issue and it cost me $850. Ford told me that the wiring that they use now has insulation which is got some sort of soybean extract in it. The only green effect that I had encountered was that $850 coming out of my wallet.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Had this happen to 2016 f150 2 times. They chewed through a harness and was replaced fairly easy at the dealer. The second time it happened, the rodent also got into our 2014 Escape. Had to have both vehicles towed to the dealer. They had to keep the Escape for three weeks because the computer didn't show where the damage was and they had to visually find each bite in the wire and tape them. We ordered a rodent deterrent that went in the engine compartment from Amazon that made a slight whistling noise (we didn't notice it, but people would ask if the noise came from the vehicle). They worked for several years, don't think they work anymore though. Just wore out. Luckily haven't had any more issues.
User Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC, USA
Simple deterrent
i also had small animal damage to a wiring harness on my 2019 F150.
After the repair, one of the technicians suggested that I spread powdered cayenne capsaicin (hot pepper) around the engine compartment. Apparently, the mice and squirrels pick it up on their feet and find it very irritating.
Since doing this, I have had no further problems with this kind of damage. It worked for me, your mileage may vary...
After the repair, one of the technicians suggested that I spread powdered cayenne capsaicin (hot pepper) around the engine compartment. Apparently, the mice and squirrels pick it up on their feet and find it very irritating.
Since doing this, I have had no further problems with this kind of damage. It worked for me, your mileage may vary...
Last edited by mrerick; Mar 14, 2026 at 11:13 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 539
From: Martinez, Georgia
I had this happen in the 2016 XLT I had. Very nearly had to replace the entire engine harness, but my brother-in-law knew a guy who was really good with fixing wiring in cars and he was able to reconnect all of the wires that were chewed and did it to spec, which was awesome!
After that, I found that the best way to keep them out is keeping something with a VERY strong smell in your engine compartment. Every month, I would go in with a spray bottle of a combination of Pinesol and castor oil and spray it on the outer edges of the engine bay, including on the wiring. And, as an added smell, I put mothballs in there as well. In the 3 years between when it happened and when we moved, I never had it happen again.
The fun thing with this is that the casing of the wires is made out of soybeans. This is why they try to eat it.
After that, I found that the best way to keep them out is keeping something with a VERY strong smell in your engine compartment. Every month, I would go in with a spray bottle of a combination of Pinesol and castor oil and spray it on the outer edges of the engine bay, including on the wiring. And, as an added smell, I put mothballs in there as well. In the 3 years between when it happened and when we moved, I never had it happen again.
The fun thing with this is that the casing of the wires is made out of soybeans. This is why they try to eat it.
Tom
