My Worst Nightmare Has Become A Reality. Please Tell Me This Will All Be Okay. My 2017 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Only Has Like 45,000 Miles So I Was Really Hoping To Not Buy Another Car For 15-20 More Years

Earlier, we learned that until scientific evidence shows otherwise, it remains a myth that soy-based wire insulation encourages rodents to chew automotive wiring. Be that as it may, however, the rodent-eating wiring problem does exist for many car owners, including this recently reported story on Reddit, where a 2017 Toyota Rav4 owner found signs of mice infestation, the least of which was damaged hood liner insulation.

Related article: I Just Had My Toyota 2024 Prime In For Its First Service (5K Mile), and "Mechanics Found Mouse Fur On The Cabin Air Filter. They Say It'll Cost $550." Can Owners DIY Fix and Prevent This Problem?

The OP is asking for help on two fronts:

1. Should he use this non-OEM product to DIY replace his damaged hood insulation, and is it okay to stick it over the washer fluid lines?
2. Where are mice entering his Rav4, and how can he block them from getting in?

Been There, Done That Rav4 Owner Advice

The Rav4 Community's response was fast, sympathetic, and helpful. Here are samples of what some offered that would be good advice to follow.

DIY Hood Insulation―The decision to use a DIY approach to replacing the hood insulation is sound: The OEM product is expensive, and installation is well within reason for even a non-mechanic. On the question of DIY installing a specific non-OEM product to replace the damaged hood insulation, Rav4 forum poster Uncle-Nasty shared his recent experience with replacing his car's hood insulation with some applicable caveats about the installation:

Necessary-Score4270 also provides a handy alternative that many of us forget:

DIY Car Pest Control―When it comes to blocking the ingress of rodents into a Rav4, this post advice from Spicyfingers_Jones is the most effective way to keep rodents out of the interior of your car:

However, be forewarned, mice, if anything, are persistent and will chew their way into your car or, more likely, build a nest on the engine using your wiring as a late-night snack.

This is why his advice to leave the hood cracked open is especially sound based on numerous testimonies by car owners swearing that keeping a small light on under the hood during the night discourages mice from going to their car's engine.

Aside from ways to prevent entry, there was a wide range of advice on how to deal with the pest problem. Here is a summary of those that are the most helpful:

1. No eating food in the car. Crumbs attract rodents.
2. Use peppermint oil regularly on the engine. The odor repels rodents.
3. Get an ultrasonic mouse repeller. The sound only they can hear is reputedly effective in driving rodents away.
4. While this may seem not exactly pet-friendly, keeping a cat (at least on occasion) in your garage is an option and a proven practice in farming communities to keep rodents out of the grain stores. An alternative that might work is keeping a box of used cat litter in the garage to discourage rodents from investigating your garage.

Tell Us Your Thoughts: Have you experienced this problem? What have you done that stopped your rodent problem? Please let us know in the comments section below.

For additional advice related to Toyota Rav4 owner problems, here are a few for your consideration:

1. My Daughter's 2024 Toyota Hybrid RAV4 She Bought New At The Beginning Of December, Has Serious Electrical Issues…She Says It's Now Been In The Shop More Than Her Possession. She's Already Made Two Payments!
2. So I'm Getting A Brand New RAV4 Hybrid Soon, And I'm Wondering If The Extended Warranty Is Worth It? ―This Happened to Me, and Here is What I Did But Wished I Had Done
3. I Have a 2024 Rav4, And the Last Time I Took It For The 10k Maintenance Oil Change, The Technician Stated That I Shouldn't Need An Oil Change Until I Hit 20k Miles. Is That Accurate Information?

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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