Chewed O2 sensor wires?

[SmoothSonic]

I received my UltraGauge to view recent trouble codes. They all pointed at the O2 sensor. I looked inside the engine bay and found that the wire casing leading to the sensor looks as though it was chewed in 3 places. The wire casing didn't look burned and nothing rubs up against it.

Do squirrels chew on the wires? or did the wires just mysteriously blow out on their own?

I've never seen anything like this before.

Well, I called the dealership to make an arrangement for servicing prior to looking at the engine.

 

[SouthFLSonic]

My friends Gma lives in NC and has had an issue with the same thing a few times. She was told that in her Ford Taurus they used a Soy based wire coating and the animals love to eat it. She has had to have her car towed in MANY times because won't start from wires being chewed. I have no clue on how to stop it other than garage kept but just wanted to let you know of a similar issue that might help you out in finding a solution.

 

[SmoothSonic]

Thanks. Maybe I'll coat the wire casing with tabasco sauce

 

[ahtoxa]

Yeah, definitely rodents.

You may have to re-apply the coating of Tabasco or whatever often, as it may wash off over time.

 

[SmoothSonic]

If the service department replaces the wire with the same OEM wire casing, then maybe I can wrap some sort of wire coil around it to keep the rodents out. It seems to work with BBQ grill hoses that the squirrels used to chew on.

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Yeah just wrap it in some wire loom and tape it off and should solve the problem for the future.

 

[Sailurman]

I received my UltraGauge to view recent trouble codes. They all pointed at the O2 sensor. I looked inside the engine bay and found that the wire casing leading to the sensor looks as though it was chewed in 3 places. The wire casing didn't look burned and nothing rubs up against it.

Do squirrels chew on the wires? or did the wires just mysteriously blow out on their own?

I've never seen anything like this before.

Well, I called the dealership to make an arrangement for servicing prior to looking at the engine.

That really BITES!!! :banana:

 

[mitdr774]

This will be either customer pay or insurance if you take it to the dealer. I would suggest fixing it yourself if you are capable of the job. Then do something to get rid of the rodents. Getting rid of them is about the only way to stop them from chewing the wires. Mice do not really care what you put on or around the wire, they still chew on it.

 

[SmoothSonic]

This will be either customer pay or insurance if you take it to the dealer. I would suggest fixing it yourself if you are capable of the job. Then do something to get rid of the rodents. Getting rid of them is about the only way to stop them from chewing the wires. Mice do not really care what you put on or around the wire, they still chew on it.

I park my car on the street because I don't have a garage. I can't control the wild mouse or squirrel population in the neighborhood, unless I had a shotgun, slingshot or even mouse traps inside the engine compartment. I suppose I could encase my entire car inside a cage. I'm not capable of fixing the wire myself. The wire is damaged and caused 4 O2 sensor trouble codes. In my opinion it's GM's fault if they used a soy-based product that attracts these animals (the root of the cause). GM should make a better product in the first place, because I have no control over this situation.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I've never heard of soy based wire insulation. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist though. I have seen rodents eat the insulation off of wires going back over 20 years. So if the soy based insulation is newer than that, I'd say the theory is shot.

Edit: just did a quick search on soy based wire insulation and came up with this.
http://www.newsnet5.com/money/consu...ome-cars-appealing-to-rodents-causing-trouble
It seems Honda sells an anti rodent tape you can put on your wires.

 

[SmoothSonic]

Thanks. I realize that this situation isn't covered under warranty since GM isn't at fault and that O2 sensors aren't a high cost to freak out about. After looking at my engine, I was wondering if I could simply cut the affected wires and crimp a new pair of replacement wires in place.

If that sounds like too much trouble, can someone tell me if there is an advantage to having a dealer perform a replacement O2 sensor with wiring harness as opposed to a local mechanic.

I'd do it myself, but I don't have a set of torque wrenches.

 

[rcmn0022]

You shouldn't need a torque wrench, just an open end wrench or an o2 sensor socket. You just unclip the wiring, then loosen the o2 sensor(this will be easier if the exhaust is hot). Replacement is the reversal of removal.

After you remove it, you would need to cut out the damaged sections and either join them back together or add in additional wiring to allow it to reach. If you have 3 different areas of damage, it would be much more simple (and less chance for a failure in the future) to just buy a new o2.

 

[mitdr774]

I park my car on the street because I don't have a garage. I can't control the wild mouse or squirrel population in the neighborhood, unless I had a shotgun, slingshot or even mouse traps inside the engine compartment. I suppose I could encase my entire car inside a cage. I'm not capable of fixing the wire myself. The wire is damaged and caused 4 O2 sensor trouble codes. In my opinion it's GM's fault if they used a soy-based product that attracts these animals (the root of the cause). GM should make a better product in the first place, because I have no control over this situation.

Wiring is easy to fix. If all the damage is between the sensor and connector, then a new sensor would fix the issue without any splicing.

Assuming they are using some soybased wire insulation, it is most likely due to regulations requiring cars to be greener. Chances are that it cost more than traditional wire insulation as well. That being said, rodents chew every kind of non metallic or mineral wire insulation that has been used in the last 20 or so years, based on what I have come across. THHN, rubber, XHHW, ect all get chewed on by rodents.

 

[SmoothSonic]

I ordered a new sensor from that site called newgmparts. Total cost was $49.85 plus shipping. I'll look into getting one of those special sockets. I am considering wrapping the wire casing with a wire mesh of some sort. I'll post before and after photos with whatever I come up with as a more permanent solution.
And I'll get some Mouse Away packets kept somewhere near the engine bay

 

[SmoothSonic]

Ok, I'm a little late posting this, but I wanted to show the photos I took with the rodent damage on the original insulation. Before and after, showing the new wire casing.

I never needed the mouse away packets since the mice didn't return to eat the new wire or any of the other wires under the hood. Only time will tell.