especially for those who do not drive their F150 all the time...

I went out to the truck to check the coolant level as I had been having a slight issue with the heat blowing warm and then cool and then warm again...opened the hood and found leaves and sticks the size of two basketballs underneath the hood...

Recently I had opened the hood to find some Maple leaves under the hood but I believed this was from my Maples and the high winds we had experienced and thought nothing more of it...I was wrong...

I removed as much of this as I could and then used a combination of a shop van and a leaf blower to get 90% of the rest of this then noticed two heater hoses chewed on (but not through) as well as a small rubber hose near the firewall that connects to both sides of the engine chewed through...a clean up of the ends and a plastic Tee got the hose attached (and although no long trips, my intermittent heat issue in the cab has been solved)...I am getting two new to me codes: P0553 and U1950

I just wanted to post a reminder to those who do not daily drive or who park outside to check their vehicles under hood area...after cleaning out this squirrels home and going back in the house, two hours later I found him back under the hood trying to rebuild...persistent little guy

I need to check better to see if there is any other wiring damage causing my new codes or if it is just the next repair in my 2007 F150 journey...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Bill

 

squirrel tastes like chicken , , ,
just sayin,

 

Mice are just as bad! I keep traps out all the time since we always have one car outside.

Sorry to hear they got your truck.

 

That sucks. My grandpa had the PCM wires chewed through by squirrels in his 2010 Silverado. 500 dollar repair done by dealer

 

My truck sits out 24/7 and it sits a lot.
I feed the squirrels so my dogs can chase them. lol
I usually have 8 - 10 every morning in my yard.
But they have never messed with my truck(s) or tried getting into my garage or shed in the 11 yrs. here.
And the truck sits outside the fenced yard.

Now ya got me worried ….lol

 

now that its winter, they'll be trying to find a warm place to live. and your engine bay might just be the place. watch out for it. my grandpas truck sit for a month when his pcm wires were chewed through. he don't let it sit that long any more lol

 

I had squirrels chew threw my PCV line, my coolant line, and ALMOST through my wiring harness leading up to the ECM (above the battery). Had to have it towed to the dealer to repair. Ever since I've brushed liquid bear mace onto the sensitive parts they like to chew on and around the entrances into the engine compartment and have never had a problem since.

 

Squirrels chewed the plug wires on Mrs. Aqualung's 2002 F150. We solved the problem by zip-tying a couple moth blocks in the engine compartment. They help keep the pests away.

Be warned, they do get hot and melt a bit and also, don't tie them in a location near the heater/ac blower because it'll bring a high concentration of mothball smell into the cabin...not good.

​​​​​​Much better than the other illegal and immoral options suggested...

Aqualung

 

Folks. What was suggested is illegal on many counts. Please don't be dumb. Just be nice.

 

Hhmmm