[ewiggins]

I think this is a repost. Around September 30, my Check Engine Light came on. After a quick run into the repair shop, I was told a part would be ordered for the charge door positioning switch. A few days later, my car would not charge, then the charge door would not open. A few days later I brought the car in to have the switch installed. Upon installing the switch, the tech discovered a much deeper problem.. A $4,556.89 deep problem and I was told to call my insurance company. Seems a happy little rodent (I think a possum) crawled up into my engine area and decided to see what high-voltage wires taste like and they must be tasty. It took about 4 weeks for the parts to come in and about 1-2 weeks to repair.

The bad - Insurance quit paying for my rental after 3 weeks so I had an $800.00 rental car fee (I bought additional insurance). Apparently you have to remove the 'transmission' in order to change the High Voltage wires.

The good - I only had a $100.00 deductible. A friend lent me her car when the insurance quit paying for mine.

The most upsetting thing is the dealership had to wait about 3-4 weeks for a part.

I am taking suggestions on how to keep rodents from around my car. I have place a few moth balls in the engine compartment, but now it smell like old lady clothes ----LOL.

Such is life... just 3 more car notes and it will be paid for.

 

[Cord]

Here in Texas we call them opossums one was looking in the door at me 1 hour ago

charge door positioning switch ? is this the button inside the car you push to open charger port ?
or an item inside the port that is part of the Solenoid that tells ifthe port actually did open ?

you may get a cell light if you keep pushing the button and the door does not open.

many of us have had the door stick but a good cleaning and and a small bit of lube will fix that for a few years

 

[DonC]

Sorry to hear this. Obviously a bummer. Rodents are definitely a problem with vehicles. The biggest problems come from RVs parked in holding yards.

 

[Aseras]

Did they show you the damage or give you your chewed up old parts?

 

[Geohec]

I am taking suggestions on how to keep rodents from around my car. I have place a few moth balls in the engine compartment, but now it smell like old lady clothes ----LOL.

Such is life... just 3 more car notes and it will be paid for.

Luckily my volt is in the garage, but i hear if you get an outdoor cat then the rodent populations go down quickly. Good luck.

 

[llninja]

Luckily my volt is in the garage, but i hear if you get an outdoor cat then the rodent populations go down quickly. Good luck.

Or get 7 outdoor cats and you get all sorts of killed little critters as gifts on your doormat. Add two great pyranees and you get the next size up, possums, coyotes, raccoons, etc. in your yard. Supposedly they can take on and kill mountain lions, though we don't have any of those here.

 

[Fred_B]

Here is a good explanation of the problem:

http://www.synlube.com/IncredibleEdibleCar1.htm

 

[novaks47]

Ditch the mothballs, they will do nothing to repel mice, much less possum. http://www.jcehrlich.com/blog/myth-busting-natural-mice-repellents/

To get rid of possum, it's either trap and release, or shoot 'em. If you can figure out what time they're in your yard, you can also try running them off. Just walk or run towards them, and make a bunch of noise. Doesn't always work, but it's worth a shot, and the least amount of work and money. I've scared a few off that way.

If you've got rats, well, it's time to set the traps!