My sons 2 series BMW recently had a warning light come on saying “drive train”
He took it to a BMW dealership,had to pay £150 for a diagnostic check to be told there was a wiring fault caused by rodents and £500 to sort it. Any suggestions on how to deter the rodents.
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When my daughter's MX5 was stored on a drive for six months while she went travelling, I sprayed WD40, liberally, around engine bay and underneath. Didn't have a problem, mind you, it wasn't parked on a farm.
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>> Buy a cat?
His car has a cat, it was useless.
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>> be told there was a wiring fault caused by rodents and £500 to sort it.
>> Any suggestions on how to deter the rodents.
Surprisingly common, it may be covered by his insurance, but frankly he is lucky to only get a 500 quid bill, it can be very expensive.
Check out car ultrasonic rodent repellents.
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Has anyone used a rodent repellent,sounds interesting.
Last edited by: maltrap on Wed 29 Oct 25 at 15:58
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Some of the following may help:
Things that have actually been shown to help
1. Peppermint oil / menthol pouches placed under the bonnet
Rodents really can’t stand strong minty smells.
Needs re-application every couple of weeks, but many people report success.
2. “Rodent tape” (Toyota and Honda both sell it)
This is normal wiring tape impregnated with capsaicin (chilli).
You wrap vulnerable wiring sections and rodents learn very quickly that chewing = pain.
It’s oddly effective.
3. Engine bay rodent scent packs (like “Fresh Cab” / “Rodent Sheriff”)
Again, scented rather than ultrasonic, but easier to tuck in the bay.
4. Traps in the garage / driveway
Not glamorous, but if the little so-and-so is living nearby, it’s the most permanent solution.
⚠️ Ultrasonic car repellent devices
These do exist — small 12V units that you mount under the bonnet.
They’re a bit like the home ones, but designed for enclosed engine bays.
Reports are mixed, but they work better on cars than in houses because:
the sound can bounce around the confined engine bay
the rodents aren’t living in there — they’re just visiting
So if someone wants to try a gadget, this is one of the few cases where it can be semi-effective.
Brand examples:
Brodit (Europe)
VOSS.Sonic
Kemo M180, Kemo Z100 (German-made, decent reputation)
Expect ~£20–£60.
Simple best practice summary:
Method Cost Reliability Notes
Peppermint / menthol pouches £5–£12 Moderate Needs refreshing
Capsaicin rodent tape £10–£25 High Proven deterrent
Under-bonnet ultrasonic device £20–£60 Mixed/Better than indoor Needs wiring to 12V
Traps near car £5–£15 High Works if pest is local
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Thank you De Sisti for your comprehensive suggestions.
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If it is rats there will be more than one. Traps will get one but the others learn from their comrade's fate and won't go near the trap again. Rats are very intelligent and learn quickly. Poison can work but results in sick rodents staggering around who get eaten by cats and owls. This results in poisoned cats and owls.
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Anyone care to rent one of my jack Russell's? :)
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>> Anyone care to rent one of my jack Russell's? :)
>>
Jack Russells what?
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>> >> Anyone care to rent one of my jack Russell's? :)
>> >>
>>
>> Jack Russells what?
Note to Paul, who may not be aware. Duncan is the group gramatical pedant. We allow him his little fun due to his advanced age, and we realise its probably the only thing that prevents his full blown slide into raving uncontrolled dementia.
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... and Zero is the one who often misses smileys when he's teasing! :-)
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"Duncan is the group gramatical pedant."
It's spelled "grammatical".
I hereby challenge Duncan's role as pedant.
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As a prospective pedant could you please give your view as to whether a colon would be more appropriate than a full stop after the word “aware” in Mr Zero’s post.
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On the subject of Jack Russells... I was visiting a cousin and one of his two jack russells decided to take a chunk out of my trousers for no reason other than it was a bad tempered little b******
He had to lock it out whenever I went to visit.
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"As a prospective pedant could you please give your view as to whether a colon would be more appropriate than a full stop after the word 'aware' in Mr Zero's post."
Glad to oblige.
I think either is acceptable, but the meaning is subtly different. In Mr Zero's post as it stands, the opening sentence states, generally, that a point is being made to Paul about Duncan. The following sentence gives an allegation about Duncan.
If a colon was used instead of a full stop, the two are more closely linked. The use of a colon indicates that what follows it is an elaboration of what preceded it.
The distinction is probably unimportant and it would be difficult to justify the one over the other.
I trust my reply is sufficiently pedantic for you.
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“I trust my reply is sufficiently pedantic for you.”
Alas the statement that “The distinction is probably unimportant” is not the answer of a true pedant.
Regretfully therefore I cannot offer my support in your bid to become forum pedant.
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>> I hereby challenge Duncan's role as pedant.
>>
You are very welcome young fellow.
I have more than done my shift.
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"Young fellow".
I'll have you know that within the last couple of months I celebrated (if that's the right word) a very significant birthday.
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>> "Young fellow".
>>
>> I'll have you know that within the last couple of months I celebrated (if that's
>> the right word) a very significant birthday.
I am sure, on the Duncan scale of human longevity, you are a mere foetus.
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A significant birthday here would have to be 90.
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I deal with rodent damage on a regular basis. I use an aerosol spray called “rat stop “ . Dreadful stuff , so hope it keeps our little friends away . Available on Amazon.
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Btw , a 2 series is likely to be an F 22 model . The E 36 range ended in 1998 .
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An observation.
Pedants hear will often pick up on punctuation errors and use of incorrect terminology but knot obvious mispellings. Some posters don't appear to read wot they have wrote before posting.
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Being called a pedant can sometimes attract the attention of the wrong kind of people; those with limited intelligence who think that a pedant is someone who messes with young children.
Then they start throwing bricks at their windows.
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At one time here they were known as pendants...
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>> At one time here they were known as pendants...
That was, IIRC, Pat.
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>> I hereby challenge Duncan's role as pedant.
But do you frequent 'Spoon's?
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Not "frequent", no.
I had a coffee a couple of times in Wetherspoons at The Crown, Berkhamsted - one of your posher 'Spoons, I believe, and my elder* son once took me for a meal in one of the 'Spoons in Leeds (possibly the Stick or Twist), which was unbelievably cheap and actually quite a reasonable experience.
* Note the use of elder - not "eldest", which would imply I have more than two sons.
Last edited by: James Loveless on Thu 30 Oct 25 at 20:54
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He is losing his touch, though. Is he not missing an apostrophe?
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Starting to love it here chaps, love a bit of banter and leg pulling.
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>> Starting to love it here chaps, love a bit of banter and leg pulling.
>>
Just don't log on Friday. It's your turn in the barrel.
Last edited by: Robin O'Reliant on Thu 30 Oct 25 at 20:58
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It's good to see a bit of spirit has transferred to join in with the banter here.
Long may it continue.
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Lidl will be selling 'Anti-Marten' spray (e.g. as in pine marten) from tomorrow (2 for £6).
Swiss friends blame martens for chewing car cables. After our visit last year, I discovered muddy footprints on the engine cover, fusebox, etc. Considering the engine undertray fitted, whatever it was must have been both determined and agile; luckily no damage done (that I am aware of).
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Pine martens are pretty rare in the UK and only found in the North of England and Scotland.
Beautiful animals though.
www.reddit.com/r/Awwducational/comments/fnlz48/this_is_a_marten_and_it_was_responsible_for_over/
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"Lidl will be selling 'Anti-Marten' spray (e.g. as in pine marten) from tomorrow (2 for £6)."
Spotted that on the shelf which brought me back to this thread but you beat me to it.
However I did come away with a tin of Vaseline spray for door seals. I have traditionally used a silicon product to stop the doors sticking shut in freezing weather. Will give this a try. Cant come away without something from 'man aisle'.
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BMW 3-Series E36 - Warning light - bathtub tom
