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View Full Version : FYI, squirrels are fond of the engine bay in Grand Prixs ...


horist
04-12-2009, 06:58 PM
Some stupid squirrel decided my car's engine bay would make a nice nest! and he had no problem clearing the way!

I park the car last night about 8pm, left it in the driveway

Today, 2pm I go to start it up to drive to my parents for Easter and nothing ... not even a click, no fuel pump priming, etc...

I also noticed that when I walked out my door there was a squirrel walking on my car roof.

So I pop the hood... sure enough, sticks all over (where the stock airbox goes, I have a cold air now), I start clearing the sticks, and their's another one under there! I scare it away, and then see the damage :( The AC pressure switch you can't even see the wires, most of the PCM wires are eaten through, and he started to eat through the harness that goes to the transmission!!!

I was going to try fixing myself... but then decided F it... I have 0 deductible comprehensive insurance... I've NEVER used insurance before ... so as I'm on the phone w/Allstate ... the litte sucker walks to about 10 feet from me w/a stick in its mouth, staring at me!


So I clear it all out, and barely get the TA out of the garage (GTP was taking up most of the driveway and was on the same side as the TA is parked)

Got home from the parents, and the squirrel is sitting next to my car now!

pop the hood, sure enough, TONS of leaves and sticks.

I grabbed a rodent thing from my parents, makes loud noises and 1 setting is squirrel, so I have that under the hood now ...


And the damage:
http://www.horist.com/images/squirrelharness/

I swear... this has NOT been a good month! First the GTP gets rearended, and i'm still trying to get geico to pay up for that (the kid that hit me isn't responding to them... I still see his scion on mornings I am running lat to work, so he's just avoiding it)

Then Saturday, my furnace finally gave up (probably the gas valve), now today a squirrel eats my PCM harness!

At least the snows done ... TA no likey snow

DONAIMIAN
04-12-2009, 07:08 PM
I think my head would have popped off if that were to happen to me.

Ragtop 99
04-12-2009, 07:19 PM
Wow, that's brutal. I had a similar problem in the 80s on my Taurus. Damn thing ate through a couple of the fuel injector wires. :bang:

horist
04-12-2009, 08:33 PM
I think my head would have popped off if that were to happen to me.

mine just about did... i've got all my pellet guns loaded ... almost took the little guy out when I got home... after I put the noise maker under the car , he went to the neighbors yard and was eating bird seed ... I coulda taken him out via a crack in the front door, but then the neighbor came home

I just really really hope he gets thirsty :) Coolant tastes oh so good, and is good for him! (and worse case, if I see a bunch of retarded squirrel babies running around soon... it'l be fun tow watch lol)

Nine Ball
04-13-2009, 08:22 AM
LOL. Moved Thread :)

AphotiC
04-13-2009, 08:30 AM
get ride of the coolant.

snipe his lil ass and cook him.

STiG
04-13-2009, 08:39 AM
Mousetraps work. :thumb:

... or you could catch him and keep him as a pet. I always thought it'd be cool to have a pet squirrel, especially one that could fetch me beers from the fridge on command. :D

WSsick
04-13-2009, 08:58 AM
lol wow, never heard this one before.

406malibu
04-13-2009, 09:43 AM
Mousetraps work. :thumb:

... or you could catch him and keep him as a pet. I always thought it'd be cool to have a pet squirrel, especially one that could fetch me beers from the fridge on command. :D

got one. He's mean as hell to anyone except the person who bottle fed him. He used to jump on me and immediately start to "chew"

glad he didnt have rabies LOL :drool:

horist
04-13-2009, 10:30 AM
woot... towing to the shop is covered by insurance! I was going to have it towed to a buddy's shop, toss them some work, but it would take 4-5 days to get an adjuster out :( So an "approved" shop is picking the car up in the morning and should be able to start on it right away ... figures though ... it's going to rain today, and 40% chance tomorrow ... 382 stroker + drag radials + large stall + rain == not fun lol

AphotiC
04-13-2009, 11:37 AM
woot... towing to the shop is covered by insurance! I was going to have it towed to a buddy's shop, toss them some work, but it would take 4-5 days to get an adjuster out :( So an "approved" shop is picking the car up in the morning and should be able to start on it right away ... figures though ... it's going to rain today, and 40% chance tomorrow ... 382 stroker + drag radials + large stall + rain == not fun lol

that sounds like a flippin party!!!!!!!!!!!

heymoej
04-13-2009, 11:59 AM
good luck!

snipe his azz before it happens to the ta.......

texasbullseye89
04-13-2009, 09:40 PM
snipe him my ass. 12 gauge. nuff said. little SOB was eating through my wiring you won't find a piece big enough to eat.

Torque Junky
04-13-2009, 10:50 PM
The little shits in my yard throw nuts at my car.:soapbox::willy: Luckily i keep it in a garage.

If i didnt live in city limits I would have taken my 12 gauge to them a long time ago.

amicksLS1
04-15-2009, 10:14 AM
Man that sucks a big one right there. Glad its getting fixed though.

horist
04-16-2009, 09:23 AM
well... I'm definitely glad I opted to have a shop repair it... they just called w/the estimate... 1300 bux and change parts and labor. Sounds like they're going to replace the main engine harness.

So in actuality that squirrel will only cost me about 50 bux out of pocket (for CO2, pellets and BBs)

horist
04-16-2009, 07:28 PM
http://www.horist.com/images/squirrelharness/20090416152957.avi

looks like security caught one today... now to figure out how to train a rifle to follow the camera

Andrew @ PlanetLSX
04-16-2009, 07:55 PM
So does your camera pan on motion, or is it set to patrol on a timer? I gotta add some cameras to my system, wonder if I should do something like that.

Too bad you didn't catch a car driving by at the same time as the rat crossed the road... Splat!

horist
04-16-2009, 09:16 PM
haha, naw, that pan was just a chance... I was showing a coworker the camera and as I was panning noticed it... it does however record on movement (sux at night though, noinfared), it's just a cheapy Trendnet camera , i got it a year ago in order to get a newegg order high enough for 0% lol

It's not bad though... wifi 54g 640x480, up to 20 frames/second

KameleonTransAm
04-23-2009, 11:47 PM
I've always wanted to install cameras outside my house...although squirrels aren't really an issue in S.FL.

WILWAXU
04-23-2009, 11:52 PM
Yeah.. time for a pellet gun or wrist rocket.