Upper Engine Harness Replacement Due to Rodent Damage

[Pantone 294]

I have a 2020 GT350 and about a year ago some rats bit some tubes and caused engine misfire, took it to dealer and got it fixed for $380.

Now this happend again and it is even worse, the guy from dealer told me that the upper engine harness needs to be replaced and total cost could be more than $6000. $400 something for parts and rest is labor. I know this might be covered by insurance as comprehensive but does it really cost that much labor? Shall I take the car to some mechanic shops and see how much it would cost?

How do you guys keep your cars from rodent damage, I do not have a garage and have to park at outside parking spot.

Edit: Thank you everyone for all your help, It really helps a lot. I did some research too that $350 ish parts cost is fair but looks like $6000 plus labor is more than expected. I was just told that the labor is more than 7k if insurance company is going to pay for it. I am located in bay area so the labor fee is anywhere from $200 to $280 per hour I belive. I know usually insurance company will take care rodent damage if you have comprehensive but the agent of my company told me it is not covered. I belive she is wrong and will let the dealer to file it anyways. I have $1000 deductible and I would prefer to file a cliam instead of taking it to other mechanical shops because I have to pay a $250 diagnose fee and I believe it wont cost less than $750 for parts and labor if I get it fixed from other shops. Will keep you guys updated. Again, thank you all.

Edit 2: The labor charge from the Ford dealer is $299.95 per hour and they quoted more than 7k and my insurance did not want to pay for that much. They helped find an auto shop which estimated for around $2500. The shop will only replace whichever part is damaged. Now car is in the shop and I will update when the repair is done.
Anyone used this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D118ZRJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 before? Will this rats repellent thing work?

Sponsored

 

[Skye]

Sorry to read about the damage. Parking outside is going to make it more difficult to control the situation.

I suspect somewhere close-by, there's a food source. Maybe a dumpster, a take-out place, even a fruit tree. And obviously, they're using the car as a homestead. I mean, I would. Heated, covered and free from predators. If you can find another location away from those sources, maybe a lot on the far side of the building, near noise or something less appealing, this could make you less of a target.

The next three paragraphs, I'm, spit-balling. My experience, sometimes the initial applications don't work as intended and you need to make adjustments. Once you're on it, these items require consistent application to be effective.

Most rodents can't stand heavy scents. If you read the posts and blogs, moth balls, peppermints, dryer sheets, etc. Several have commented of these with good results. But they'll need to be placed under hood and kept fresh. Maybe in a bag with some holes in it. Occasionally scatter them (mints) in the area. Possibly have a vessel with scented oil in it nearby.

Traps can be effective. Sticky traps or physical traps. I trap rabbits (it's catch and release) at my homestead, as a means of population control. With no natural predators around, their breeding would otherwise be out of control. It's effective, but requires consistent use and application. From Feb to Oct, I'm baiting traps with apples (two bags of apples a month). You'll need to do same with small rodent traps, mints, mothballs, etc, always keeping one or two out.

Some have had positive effects with sonic emitters, the sound boxes that emit high-frequencies. Maybe one of those under-hood with a bag of scents. You could buy two, and be charging one. Or buy chargeable batteries. Maybe leaving laying under the car when parking. The emitter will need to be moved around, to keep the varmints annoyed.

Check with varmint companies and see what they're doing. Explain yourself. They might have a few tricks specific to your area which could be helpful.

With respect to the engine harness, I'm attaching some documents related to crate engines and harness installations. The logical diagrams will give you an idea of the connections involved from the Powertrain Control Module (under hood, under the fuse box) to the engine components.

If it's from the PCM to the engine and trans, several thousand dollars seems excessive. But if they nicked wires from the fuse panel to the Body Control Module (car interior, with connections to the fuse panel under hood) or other components, that could be very involved. Someone with experience might provide guidance on that.

Once again, sorry to read of what happened. If at all possible, keep us updated on progress.

 

[Pantone 294]

Sorry to read about the damage. Parking outside is going to make it more difficult to control the situation.

I suspect somewhere close-by, there's a food source. Maybe a dumpster, a take-out place, even a fruit tree. And obviously, they're using the car as a homestead. I mean, I would. Heated, covered and free from predators. If you can find another location away from those sources, maybe a lot on the far side of the building, near noise or something less appealing, this could make you less of a target.

The next three paragraphs, I'm, spit-balling. My experience, sometimes the initial applications don't work as intended and you need to make adjustments. Once you're on it, these items require consistent application to be effective.

Most rodents can't stand heavy scents. If you read the posts and blogs, moth balls, peppermints, dryer sheets, etc. Several have commented of these with good results. But they'll need to be placed under hood and kept fresh. Maybe in a bag with some holes in it. Occasionally scatter them (mints) in the area. Possibly have a vessel with scented oil in it nearby.

Traps can be effective. Sticky traps or physical traps. I trap rabbits (it's catch and release) at my homestead, as a means of population control. With no natural predators around, their breeding would otherwise be out of control. It's effective, but requires consistent use and application. From Feb to Oct, I'm baiting traps with apples (two bags of apples a month). You'll need to do same with small rodent traps, mints, mothballs, etc, always keeping one or two out.

Some have had positive effects with sonic emitters, the sound boxes that emit high-frequencies. Maybe one of those under-hood with a bag of scents. You could buy two, and be charging one. Or buy chargeable batteries. Maybe leaving laying under the car when parking. The emitter will need to be moved around, to keep the varmints annoyed.

Check with varmint companies and see what they're doing. Explain yourself. They might have a few tricks specific to your area which could be helpful.

With respect to the engine harness, I'm attaching some documents related to crate engines and harness installations. The logical diagrams will give you an idea of the connections involved from the Powertrain Control Module (under hood, under the fuse box) to the engine components.

If it's from the PCM to the engine and trans, several thousand dollars seems excessive. But if they nicked wires from the fuse panel to the Body Control Module (car interior, with connections to the fuse panel under hood) or other components, that could be very involved. Someone with experience might provide guidance on that.

Once again, sorry to read of what happened. If at all possible, keep us updated on progress.

Skye, thank you very much for your kind words, all the details about aoviding rodent damage and the docs. It really helps alot. I will update post till everything is fixed. Again, appreciated your reply!

 

[Torched10]

Sorry to read about the damage. Parking outside is going to make it more difficult to control the situation.

I suspect somewhere close-by, there's a food source. Maybe a dumpster, a take-out place, even a fruit tree. And obviously, they're using the car as a homestead. I mean, I would. Heated, covered and free from predators. If you can find another location away from those sources, maybe a lot on the far side of the building, near noise or something less appealing, this could make you less of a target.

The next three paragraphs, I'm, spit-balling. My experience, sometimes the initial applications don't work as intended and you need to make adjustments. Once you're on it, these items require consistent application to be effective.

Most rodents can't stand heavy scents. If you read the posts and blogs, moth balls, peppermints, dryer sheets, etc. Several have commented of these with good results. But they'll need to be placed under hood and kept fresh. Maybe in a bag with some holes in it. Occasionally scatter them (mints) in the area. Possibly have a vessel with scented oil in it nearby.

Traps can be effective. Sticky traps or physical traps. I trap rabbits (it's catch and release) at my homestead, as a means of population control. With no natural predators around, their breeding would otherwise be out of control. It's effective, but requires consistent use and application. From Feb to Oct, I'm baiting traps with apples (two bags of apples a month). You'll need to do same with small rodent traps, mints, mothballs, etc, always keeping one or two out.

Some have had positive effects with sonic emitters, the sound boxes that emit high-frequencies. Maybe one of those under-hood with a bag of scents. You could buy two, and be charging one. Or buy chargeable batteries. Maybe leaving laying under the car when parking. The emitter will need to be moved around, to keep the varmints annoyed.

Check with varmint companies and see what they're doing. Explain yourself. They might have a few tricks specific to your area which could be helpful.

With respect to the engine harness, I'm attaching some documents related to crate engines and harness installations. The logical diagrams will give you an idea of the connections involved from the Powertrain Control Module (under hood, under the fuse box) to the engine components.

If it's from the PCM to the engine and trans, several thousand dollars seems excessive. But if they nicked wires from the fuse panel to the Body Control Module (car interior, with connections to the fuse panel under hood) or other components, that could be very involved. Someone with experience might provide guidance on that.

Once again, sorry to read of what happened. If at all possible, keep us updated on progress.

They usually get on by jumping on tires
In front wheels.had same issue with my truck.bought 2 hav a hart traps see link and bait them with apples and peanut buttet.my issues were with squirrels so used larger trap linked beloe.if there small rats or chipmunks you coukd use smaller traps.chipmonks can get out of larger traps.so I'd buy one smaller trap and if that works then buy a second and out one by each wheel
Actually now that I think about it the squrrel trap is smaller.i use larger trap fir racoons that destroy mt bird feeder but also trap sairrels

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...JoonvzYCIKDSuNPThusaAr7DEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Here's swurell trap

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...3IURphTbhuNdxNuM-7QaAsWnEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Bruzer]

Sorry to hear about this. I’ve used Fresh Cab and have had good results. You cold easily zip-tie a couple packets out of sight around the engine compartment .
https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Cab-Rodent-Repellent-Pouches/dp/B07Y5M28M2

 

[1 old racer]

I had the same thing happen to me. The damaged occurred in an area that I able to splice in some wires to repair it. since then I used an old farm trick my dad used. I put a small amount of used cat litter around the area my car is parked. And since we have three cats I have no short supply of the stuff.

 

[ORRadtech]

$400 seems like a fair price for the harness itself. $6000 for labor seems pretty high though. Every job on a car has a "book time" that it should take. The shop then takes that time and multiplies it by their shop labor charge. I don't know your dealers labor rate but at $200/hr that's about 30 hours. Now changing an entire harness is difficult and labor intensive but my WAG for an experienced mechanic would be more like 16 hours.
But that's just speculation, I don't know what all has to be R&R to change the harness out.
Finding a good independent mechanic to get a second opinion is not a bad idea either.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Considering most Dealers labor hours are now upwards of $100-$130 per hour, you need to find someone that can tell you the actual “book” hours to do such a R&R…. As well as knowing where and how that harness is all tied into other harnesses/modules/and intricate paths around the engine bay.

Replacing a main harness in a modern car today is more invasive and tedious than in past years models, let alone any necessary reprogramming needed (IF applicable).

 

[Torched10]

Sorry to hear about this. I’ve used Fresh Cab and have had good results. You cold easily zip-tie a couple packets out of sight around the engine compartment .
https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Cab-Rodent-Repellent-Pouches/dp/B07Y5M28M2

Good idea. If you use the live trap you have 2 choices to get rod of them
drive at least 4 miles away and release them.or fill up a refuse can with water and drown them
Of course another way is shoot them with pellet gun.i found that hard to do because they move around the trap really fast and it's hard to hit them.good luck

 

[Cobra Jet]

Supposedly this is a good trap and was recommended on several sites I’m on including here:
https://www.victorpest.com/victor-electronic-mouse-trap-cm250s

 

[Torched10]

Supposedly this is a good trap and was recommended on several sites I’m on including here:
https://www.victorpest.com/victor-electronic-mouse-trap-cm250s

It won't trap squirrels. Have a hart will.my traps work 100% of the the time.just saying about same price
Advantages of it is you can put it under hood to catch smaller critters like chipmunks and small rats .hav a hart won't fit

 

[luc]

When you remove the engine the harness come out with it and is connected with a couple of big plugs in the passenger side of the engine bay
Some of the harness retaining clips by the firewall are pretty tricky to remove with the engine in the car but $6k seems way to high to r&r the engine harness

 

[Balr14]

Spread mothballs around under the hood, or hang a few bags of them if you can find the space. Fresh Cab works, too. But, it's more expensive and both require frequent replacement.

You might try an electronic pest repellent, like Pest Defense. However, using one in an outdoor area may be a challenge (nearby outlet, range, annoyance to pets, etc.).

 

[SheepDog]

Coyote piss.

https://www.predatorpeestore.com/stop-fall-mice-invasion.html

 

[Pantone 294]

They usually get on by jumping on tires
In front wheels.had same issue with my truck.bought 2 hav a hart traps see link and bait them with apples and peanut buttet.my issues were with squirrels so used larger trap linked beloe.if there small rats or chipmunks you coukd use smaller traps.chipmonks can get out of larger traps.so I'd buy one smaller trap and if that works then buy a second and out one by each wheel
Actually now that I think about it the squrrel trap is smaller.i use larger trap fir racoons that destroy mt bird feeder but also trap sairrels

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...JoonvzYCIKDSuNPThusaAr7DEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Here's swurell trap

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...3IURphTbhuNdxNuM-7QaAsWnEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thank you,

They usually get on by jumping on tires
In front wheels.had same issue with my truck.bought 2 hav a hart traps see link and bait them with apples and peanut buttet.my issues were with squirrels so used larger trap linked beloe.if there small rats or chipmunks you coukd use smaller traps.chipmonks can get out of larger traps.so I'd buy one smaller trap and if that works then buy a second and out one by each wheel
Actually now that I think about it the squrrel trap is smaller.i use larger trap fir racoons that destroy mt bird feeder but also trap sairrels

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...JoonvzYCIKDSuNPThusaAr7DEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Here's swurell trap

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...3IURphTbhuNdxNuM-7QaAsWnEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thank you for sharing. I will at least buy some traps and try other ways too.

Sponsored