Squirrels vs. Fusion

"Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise" (raveymayveysurprise) 01/05/2015 at 19:10 • Filed to: None

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My dad has come into some weird trouble with his car lately (2014 Fusion, if it matters), and I wondered if any Jalops know whether there's any vulnerability caused by the Fusion to the following, or it's just a crapshoot.

So squirrels, I was told, chewed off the torque sensors which resulted in loss of power steering and also put on my traction light sensors. [I was] told animals like these cables under cars trucks etc. Never heard of that or is this just a ford thing? Understand porcupines love tires any comments?

JGrabowMSt > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise 01/05/2015 at 19:14

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Not specifically a Ford problem. Rabbits, Squirrels and chipmunks do plenty of vehicular wiring damage. My moms mini had the intake literally stuffed full of acorns one fall. I wish I could make that up.

If the car is used regularly, it shouldn't be much trouble, but if the car sits for weeks at a time, it lets the buggers get comfortable in them.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise 01/05/2015 at 19:18

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Squirrels vs. Fusion would make for an awesome SyFy original movie.

HammerheadFistpunch > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise 01/05/2015 at 19:19

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bwahahahaha!

Steve in Manhattan > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise 01/05/2015 at 19:20

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There was an Italian guy that called in to Car Talk once, lived in Colorado. A red squirrel had chewed various wires in his Acura - warning lights were on, things weren't working. I can't remember if there's a way to shield the engine compartment, but I do remember them suggesting applying bitter apple, or some other stuff they wouldn't like.

Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise > JGrabowMSt 01/05/2015 at 19:20

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This might be the issue. It is his daily, but it does go 3-4 days without use during certain work weeks because it's more convenient for him to keep his work truck with him overnight.

JGrabowMSt > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise 01/05/2015 at 19:24

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Entirely possible. By me, I haven't noticed any wiring damage specifically, occasionally I've had a rusted ground, but certainly nothing caused by a fuzzy beast.

That said, I have certainly heard of rodents and lagomorphs causing all sorts of problems.

CRider > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise 01/05/2015 at 19:49

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It's not just a Ford thing, every car company's squirrels can cause problems.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise 01/05/2015 at 23:19

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gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise 01/06/2015 at 00:27

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It's very likely. Rodent damage to wiring is fairly common. No idea what attracts them. I forget which manufacturer it was, but there was one car make that issued recalls because of the number or rodent incidents. They replaced some important wires with ones that were rodent-deterring, some kind of toxin or repellant was put in the insulation.