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Does your prius attract rats?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by picstart, Jun 14, 2012.

  1. picstart

    picstart New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2011
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    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The idea of keeping the hot engine coolant overnight or even days when the Prius is parked is attracting rats. Yes rats are nesting in the engine compartment attracted by the extra time the coolant has warmth. We have two other cars parked outside a Jaguar and a Honda Fit but the rats love the Prius. It's Florida and the neighborhood fruit trees feed the rats so total eradication is impossible. I've blocked the open passages on either side close to the windshield that allow the rats access to the passenger compartment so rats getting loose when driving is probably fixed. I'm also putting rat traps in the engine compartment. Is this a common problem with the Prius?
     
  2. nh7o

    nh7o Off grid since 1980

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2011
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    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Sometimes the rodents are attracted to the plasticizers in the wiring, causing them to chew things up, in addition to the attraction of heat. So screening over entry points is not always a complete solution. I am in a similar situation with near infinite rat population year round, so I use: a light on the ground under the engine compartment (even a small 2w led is a blinding deterrent to a nocturnal creature), bad smells (moth balls) and baited traps. I have also heard of ultrasonic deterrents, but I think that would also discourage the cats which are part of the overall strategy here.

    So far so good. Other vehicles locally have had severe problems from rat chewed wiring, so it is not just Prii.
     
  3. DGH

    DGH Thread Terminator

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    Aug 13, 2006
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    Location:
    Wales, WI
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
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    I would screen also the two vents in the hatch area.
     
  4. Bill Serres

    Bill Serres New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2012
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I just spent $1800 for a dealer to clean out rodent leavings and deodorize the inside of the dash area in the interior cabin area of my 2011 Gen3.

    On my Gen 3, the rodents can and did enter the cowl area through several openings around the back and sides of the water collector pan and pushed/ chewed through plastic baffles and foam rubber gaskets on the cowl grille and water collector pan to gain access to the "freeway" 5"by 10" cabin air inlet opening through the firewall. Once inside the fan air box the rodents chewed through the rubber flapper on the air box and got into and fowled the dash interior which was inaccessible to me.

    After studying the Gen 3 cabin openings I determined that the only feasible effective way to prevent rodent cabin entry from the front is to screen the 5" by 10" cabin air inlet opening through the firewall. The prevent reoccurence I designed and installed one cabin air inlet opening screen and two rear cargo area flapper vent screens(1/4"mesh, 23 guage, galvanized steel) on my 2011 Gen 3.

    Here in WA State we have low rodent pressure so I am hoping to address potential engine compartment infestation by using sticky pad traps and frequently inspecting the engine area and clearing out any rodents found there.

    Are the access openings to the cabin the same on the Gen 2?

    I can provide you with a set of 3 screens for the cabin area and 1 screen for the engine air inlet if the Gen 2 openings are the same as Gen 3. These screens are designed for non invasive (no screws) installation to avoid warranty problems.

    Let me know if I can help.
    Bill Serres
     
  5. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
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    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I have the same problem and I solve it by raising the hood overnight. they don't like it when there is no security above them. now I just have to work on gettign them out of the house roof.:(