Rats chewed through wires. Pics attached!

750iHelp · 06-22-2018, 02:02 PM

07 750i

Rats got under the hood and chewed through some wires. Anyone know what these wires are for? I have some dashboard lights that I’m not sure if they’re related or not. The wires are located on the right side of the car next to the washer fluid.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

View post on imgur.com

Chihuahua · 06-22-2018, 08:10 PM

Get some hot sauce, the hottest you can find from a store. Blend it down into a fine liquid. Slightly dilute it in water. Put the mixture in a spray bottle, finely mist your engine compartment once per month. Peppermint, mothballs, etc will not work. Hot sauce mixture is the only thing I have actually seen work. Honda has a tape that is laced with capsaisin that you could also wrap around sections of wiring harness.

I can't tell you what part of the wiring harness that is, but I can tell you that whatever rat did this WILL come back, and he's already invited all of his friends. I see this on a very regular basis where I work. Do you keep the car parked in a garage at night?

Good luck.

DanG · 06-22-2018, 09:39 PM

I had this happen to my M235i. $1,200 later it was fixed. I have rat traps around my M2 just to be sure it doesn’t happen again.

EnintyToo · 06-23-2018, 02:56 PM

Not everyone knows this... your comprehensive insurance coverage will pay for the repair less your deductible.

///M Power-Belgium · 06-23-2018, 03:24 PM

Is your car parked in a barn ?
Because I can see hay in your engine bay ...
Man...You should clean your engine bay ASAP !
Rats don't like it clean....

750iHelp · 06-23-2018, 05:59 PM

No the car was parked in my garage for 3 weeks while I waited on parts to fix the parking brake issue I was having. These pics were taken as I had just removed the nest that I found. I will be sure to clean the engine bay ASAP.

Anyone have any idea what these wires are for?

overcoil · 06-23-2018, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 750iHelp

No the car was parked in my garage for 3 weeks while I waited on parts to fix the parking brake issue I was having. These pics were taken as I had just removed the nest that I found. I will be sure to clean the engine bay ASAP.

Anyone have any idea what these wires are for?

Is there a plug those wires connect to that you can disconnect to find what does not work?

Usually the loom that runs down the fender i would guess are lights or supplemental restraint system. Can you follow the wiring further to see where it goes ?

750iHelp · 06-23-2018, 06:49 PM

I’ll go take a look now and see what I can find

750iHelp · 06-23-2018, 06:56 PM

I really can’t tell where the wires connect. They seem to run down right Side of the car.

inTgr8r · 06-23-2018, 06:56 PM

That wiring is not OE.
Impossible to tell what it's for.
Looks a bit of a mess TBH.

750iHelp · 06-23-2018, 07:00 PM

Hey man,

Not sure what OE means. It definitely is a mess after the rats got after those wires. I’m doing my best to avoid taking the car to a BMW dealership.

750iHelp · 06-23-2018, 07:01 PM

Not sure if this is related or not, but I am receiving a “parking brake fault” error message. I have an OBD reader and it says that my brake light switch is faulty and my front left wheel speed sensor is not working. Could these wires have anything to do with this?

Chihuahua · 06-23-2018, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 750iHelp

No the car was parked in my garage for 3 weeks while I waited on parts to fix the parking brake issue I was having. These pics were taken as I had just removed the nest that I found. I will be sure to clean the engine bay ASAP.

Anyone have any idea what these wires are for?

If this happened while your car was parked in the garage you have rats getting into your garage on a regular basis, probably every day while you sleep. They are nocturnal. You need to find out the points of entry and seal them up, or this will keep happening. Rats need only 1/2 inch opening to enter an area.

750iHelp · 06-23-2018, 07:05 PM

Yeah I just discovered this 2 days ago. I will be purchasing stuff today to ensure this doesn’t happen again

Chihuahua · 06-23-2018, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 750iHelp

Hey man,

Not sure what OE means. It definitely is a mess after the rats got after those wires. I’m doing my best to avoid taking the car to a BMW dealership.

OE = original equipment, i.e. "factory".

overcoil · 06-23-2018, 07:17 PM

This is what I put on my wiring when a rodent got to it

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/h...QaAmxLEALw_wcB

Rodents don’t like to bite into the metallic.

750iHelp · 06-23-2018, 07:49 PM

So I was able to push aside the air intake and I saw that the wires extend downwards behind the front headlight. At this point, the wires disappear and I can’t tell where they go from there.

I have a parking brake error and my orange parking error light is on even if my car isn’t. Can these wires be the cause of this?

The parking brake light doesn’t immediately disappear when the car is turned off. Instead, it’ll stay lit for a little while before it turns off. Then, it’ll randomly turn on and off throughout the day while the car is still off. I believe this is what is draining my battery.

overcoil · 06-23-2018, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 750iHelp

So I was able to push aside the air intake and I saw that the wires extend downwards behind the front headlight. At this point, the wires disappear and I can’t tell where they go from there.

I have a parking brake error and my orange parking error light is on even if my car isn’t. Can these wires be the cause of this?

The parking brake light doesn’t immediately disappear when the car is turned off. Instead, it’ll stay lit for a little while before it turns off. Then, it’ll randomly turn on and off throughout the day while the car is still off. I believe this is what is draining my battery.

Wish I could help but I don’t know enough.

I’m wondering is your parking brake electronic and activated by the transmission shifting into park or is your parking brake mechanical ?

750iHelp · 06-24-2018, 03:02 AM

It’s an electronic parking brake on an 07 BMW 750i

Poiseuille · 06-24-2018, 09:42 AM

while back I had a near miss with this: in a 540i I had, found the front half of a mouse on my water pump, other half was on the power steering reservoir. never saw any other evidence.

EnintyToo · 06-24-2018, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 750iHelp

Hey man,

Not sure what OE means. It definitely is a mess after the rats got after those wires. I’m doing my best to avoid taking the car to a BMW dealership.

You must have missed my post. What are you worried about? Your insurance comprehensive coverage covers rodent damage. It does not increase your rates to make a claim against the comprehensive part of your policy.

The dealer has the proper diagnostic equipment and will be able to find all the wiring fault codes and repair the damage.

Chihuahua · 06-24-2018, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

This is what I put on my wiring when a rodent got to it

Rodents don’t like to bite into the metallic.

Actually, rodents LOVE metallic objects; they use them to sharpen their teeth.

This is a better option:

https://www.amazon.com/Honda-4019-23.../dp/B00AJTG3N0

06-22-2018, 02:02 PM	#1
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Rats chewed through wires. Pics attached! 07 750i Rats got under the hood and chewed through some wires. Anyone know what these wires are for? I have some dashboard lights that I’m not sure if they’re related or not. The wires are located on the right side of the car next to the washer fluid. Any help would be greatly appreciated! View post on imgur.com
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06-22-2018, 08:10 PM	#2
Chihuahua Brigadier General 4475 Rep 3,365 Posts Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: TBD iTrader: (0)	Get some hot sauce, the hottest you can find from a store. Blend it down into a fine liquid. Slightly dilute it in water. Put the mixture in a spray bottle, finely mist your engine compartment once per month. Peppermint, mothballs, etc will not work. Hot sauce mixture is the only thing I have actually seen work. Honda has a tape that is laced with capsaisin that you could also wrap around sections of wiring harness. I can't tell you what part of the wiring harness that is, but I can tell you that whatever rat did this WILL come back, and he's already invited all of his friends. I see this on a very regular basis where I work. Do you keep the car parked in a garage at night? Good luck.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-22-2018, 09:39 PM	#3
DanG Major General 11491 Rep 7,158 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [8.01]	I had this happen to my M235i. $1,200 later it was fixed. I have rat traps around my M2 just to be sure it doesn’t happen again.
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06-23-2018, 02:56 PM	#4
EnintyToo Enlisted Member 22 Rep 39 Posts Drives: E90 325 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Central East Coast iTrader: (0)	Not everyone knows this... your comprehensive insurance coverage will pay for the repair less your deductible.
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06-23-2018, 03:24 PM	#5
///M Power-Belgium General 71061 Rep 26,707 Posts Drives: ///M3-E92-DCT Silverstone II Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	Is your car parked in a barn ? Because I can see hay in your engine bay ... Man...You should clean your engine bay ASAP ! Rats don't like it clean.... __________________ "MAX VERSTAPPEN" IS THE 2021+2022+2023+2024 F1 WORLD CHAMPION - #UnLeashTheLion - BPM DEV-Tune & DCT Software-Tune & Servotronic & coding ///Alpine HID Angeleyes ///Oem.exhaust mod.
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06-23-2018, 05:59 PM	#6
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	No the car was parked in my garage for 3 weeks while I waited on parts to fix the parking brake issue I was having. These pics were taken as I had just removed the nest that I found. I will be sure to clean the engine bay ASAP. Anyone have any idea what these wires are for?
	Appreciate 1 ///M Power-Belgium71061.00 Quote

06-23-2018, 06:49 PM	#8
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I’ll go take a look now and see what I can find
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06-23-2018, 06:56 PM	#9
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I really can’t tell where the wires connect. They seem to run down right Side of the car.
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06-23-2018, 06:56 PM	#10
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2454 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	That wiring is not OE. Impossible to tell what it's for. Looks a bit of a mess TBH. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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06-23-2018, 07:00 PM	#11
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Hey man, Not sure what OE means. It definitely is a mess after the rats got after those wires. I’m doing my best to avoid taking the car to a BMW dealership.
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06-23-2018, 07:01 PM	#12
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Not sure if this is related or not, but I am receiving a “parking brake fault” error message. I have an OBD reader and it says that my brake light switch is faulty and my front left wheel speed sensor is not working. Could these wires have anything to do with this?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-23-2018, 07:05 PM	#14
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Yeah I just discovered this 2 days ago. I will be purchasing stuff today to ensure this doesn’t happen again
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06-23-2018, 07:17 PM	#16
overcoil Major General 3121 Rep 5,582 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	This is what I put on my wiring when a rodent got to it https://www.summitracing.com/parts/h...QaAmxLEALw_wcB Rodents don’t like to bite into the metallic.
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06-23-2018, 07:49 PM	#17
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	So I was able to push aside the air intake and I saw that the wires extend downwards behind the front headlight. At this point, the wires disappear and I can’t tell where they go from there. I have a parking brake error and my orange parking error light is on even if my car isn’t. Can these wires be the cause of this? The parking brake light doesn’t immediately disappear when the car is turned off. Instead, it’ll stay lit for a little while before it turns off. Then, it’ll randomly turn on and off throughout the day while the car is still off. I believe this is what is draining my battery.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-24-2018, 03:02 AM	#19
750iHelp New Member 12 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 750i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	It’s an electronic parking brake on an 07 BMW 750i
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06-24-2018, 09:42 AM	#20
Poiseuille Brigadier General 5427 Rep 3,745 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 DCT Tanzanite/Amaro Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Princeton iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [10.00]	while back I had a near miss with this: in a 540i I had, found the front half of a mouse on my water pump, other half was on the power steering reservoir. never saw any other evidence.
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