# How to get rid of rats in the engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 30, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-engine/43485 "2010-01-30T19:07:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carolefisher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@carolefisher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/carolefisher)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-engine/43485/1 "2010-01-30T19:07:33Z")
All our cars are parked outside and the rats like to eat, eliminate, and chew on wires in our engines. We have a dog and can’t put poison around. We tried a product called Rat-Away which didn’t work. I heard you can spray this horse repellent to keep horses from chewing on things but I think it will be flamable. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-engine/43485/2 "2010-01-30T19:10:46Z")
Rat Traps…(the critters are most likely chipmunks…) Paint the wiring with Tobasco Sauce…Put mothballs under the hood but only if YOU can stand that oder… ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-engine/43485/3 "2010-01-30T19:12:14Z")
Rats really don’t like wires and rubber parts, but RACCOONS love salt covered wires. Please make sure what is actually chewing your wires. Raccoons can be deterred by wrapping a roll of chicken wire around the bottom of the car so they can’t get in. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-engine/43485/4 "2010-01-30T19:12:55Z")
You might want to try something like this. [http://www.yardlover.com/bobcat-shake-n-go-granular-repellent-16-oz](http://www.yardlover.com/bobcat-shake-n-go-granular-repellent-16-oz) Tester ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-engine/43485/5 "2010-01-30T19:44:24Z")
Your state department of agriculture office might be able to provide some guidance here. They have experts in critter control. ---
**Author:** ![Bodybagger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@Bodybagger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bodybagger)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-engine/43485/6 "2010-01-30T22:17:56Z")
Get several cats. Any rat, mouse, mole, vole, chipmunk, squirrel, bird, or anything else that draws breath which is smaller than a raccoon and larger than a grasshopper will be promptly dispatched and deposited on your doorstep as a kill trophy gift. On a side note… Your dog food is what is attracting and breeding rodents. ---
**Author:** ![carolefisher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@carolefisher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/carolefisher)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-engine/43485/7 "2010-01-30T23:21:20Z")
Thanks for the reply but dog only eats inside. It’s hard to keep cats here because of the coyotes. Anyone with a cat is always losing it never to be found again.