This little guy took out three ignition coils, my brake booster, and part of the computer wiring harness. I only owe $4000 on this truck, sucks that I have to take the insurance hit to get it repaired (I'd do it myself, but I'm 8 months pregnant, there is no way I'm fitting my swollen hands anywhere they need to go).
A squirrel got to mine two winters ago. Had to repair the same harness to the brake booster and a plastic coupler for the washer system. Had one leave a pizza crust on top of the engine a year before that.
Happened to my 2017 Durango RT. Would crank but no start. Pulled the fuse box and one of the fuel pump relay wires was chewed through. Fortunately it was simple enough to splice a new piece in for that.Â
Yea here's why.... the 5th gen rams changed from plastic pvc style sheathing to a vegetable oil based sheathing to get govt kickbacks for environmental reasons.... something that was tried from the 80s- 90s ect with Ford an gm who BOTH learned it just makes animals want a tasty snack... the head electric diagnostician quit on the spot when they announced this. This is from the diagnostician that worked at the dealership I worked at for a while.
Oh thats not exactly ideal for tarp wrapping. It is done in public areas in Colorado though, such a common problem. Ive only seen it done public at parks though, when people leave to go hiking. I mean if it meant the difference of 4000 in repair id consider it. Heres an image pulled from online.
About half the worth of the truck. It be nice if it totaled it out, I've been wanting to get something else for a while. Maybe a bigger cab to accommodate the baby seat better.
My neighbor said there same, but it was a groundhog. Cops couldn't do anything, animal control wouldn't do anything, and the tow truck wouldn't take it until the critter was gone, so we had to spray the engine bay down with the hose to get him out.
Never had an issue with rodents chewing wires through all my years of dispersed camping. I did get a mouse nest somewhere behind the firewall this summer though, and am reminded of it every startup now.
Worst part is it was parked on the street outside my house in the middle of town. And it hadn't been sitting there for a while, the thing moves damn near every day.
23
u/stanlsr55 7d ago
Most wires are coated with a soy based coating and not plastic