lrlforfun Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 OK Buick People: I have several Buicks most with Nailhead engines. I have a very common problem with these and I thought one might be able to help me out with a theory (no comedy please). The problem is this. Rodents are eating one wire in particular. It's the wire going from the points through the bottom of the distributor to the coil. This has happened at least 10 times on 10 different cars.There are lots of wires throughout the engine bay. Why THIS particular one??? And....10 times with 10 different cars? The batteries are out and most of these cars are only started on occasion ANY THEORIES? Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZRIV Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Its because its in the most convenient cozy place for them to sit there, relax and chew. I've also often seen the wire to the temp sending unit chewed as well. Same for the wiring on rad support for lighting where it exits the harness wrapping. While they are known to chew through the harness wrap, thats much less enticing than a single wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 It could also be that the guy who last handled that wire just finished a peanut butter sandwich. I suggest you coat exposed wires with mint oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 If the wire is going, as you say, directly from the points through a grommet to the coil than the wire in most cases would be made from very fine strands and insulated with cloth rather than plastic. This is to allow it to be very flexible. If it is cloth insulated that's what mice love for nesting material...............Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 (edited) Replace the wire with a stranded, shielded #14 wire. Remove the shield from the end of the wire close to the distributor. Connect the other end end of the shield to a positive terminal that is always powered.Eat a peanut butter sandwich while installing it.Guaranteed no comedy.Bernie Edited November 26, 2013 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 If the wire is going, as you say, directly from the points through a grommet to the coil than the wire in most cases would be made from very fine strands and insulated with cloth rather than plastic. This is to allow it to be very flexible. If it is cloth insulated that's what mice love for nesting material...............BobBob, I think what you are referring to is the resistor wire, which takes the place of the ballast resistor in the late 60's/early 70's cars. That wire runs from the ignition switch to the coil. It sounds like this is the black wire that runs from the - side of the coil to the points on the distributor. The other wire mentioned runs to the + side of the coil.That was my first thought as well, but the wire Mitch describes is routed differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrlforfun Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 OK Buick People: It happened again. I went to start a 64 Riv. No spark. Those pesky rodents got me again. It;s that EXACT same wire from the points through the hole in the bottom of the distributor to the coil. I fixed it haphazardly and did get it going. Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldstyle Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Tastes better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Get a Cat... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 LOL funny Dave, but then he would have to put up with very corrosive cat piss on his wheels and tires. Ask me how I know. (and Kelsey Hayes wires at that) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Yeah Mr. Earl. And a super heavy duty shop vac to get did of the hair everywhere. Never mind the cost of Cat Food and Vet bills. But at least his wires will be safe. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Here is what I put around the cars and garage, especially in the winter. http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/tomcat-with-bromethalin-5-lb-pail?cm_vc=-10005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 33 minutes ago, Larry Schramm said: Here is what I put around the cars and garage, especially in the winter. http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/tomcat-with-bromethalin-5-lb-pail?cm_vc=-10005 Please stay away from Bromethalin rodenticides! When ingested by pets there is no antidote or treatment like with the traditional anticoagulant products ( still available: d-con brand ). Convulsions are not pretty. If you spay and neuter the cats they will not spray. If destitute, not just 'frugal' there are free or reduced cost services available. The cars should not be accessible by strays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Agree on the Bromethalin. In fact I was putting some in all my cars one day when I just happened to notice our little Border Collie chewing on something. She had found some on the side of the seat on one of the cars I had not closed the door on yet and was eating it. (to make matters worse, the makers of the product make it tasty to pets as well as to mice) I immediately tried to clear it out of her mouth but not being sure I got it all took her to vet and as you say was advised there was no antidote. We brought her home and did the charcoal thing and she survived but I think it was because I was able to get most of it out of her mouth. Had I not seen her chewing it I am sure she would not still be with us (at age 16). Re: spayed cats not spraying, tell that to Rita. All our pets are neutered and spayed and one cat definitely sprays on wheels, furniture, baseboards or wherever she thinks she needs to mark. So did our vet miss something maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 7 minutes ago, MrEarl said: Agree on the Bromethalin. In fact I was putting some in all my cars one day when I just happened to notice our little Border Collie chewing on something. She had found some on the side of the seat on one of the cars I had not closed the door on yet and was eating it. (to make matters worse, the makers of the product make it tasty to pets as well as to mice) I immediately tried to clear it out of her mouth but not being sure I got it all took her to vet and as you say was advised there was no antidote. We brought her home and did the charcoal thing and she survived but I think it was because I was able to get most of it out of her mouth. Had I not seen her chewing it I am sure she would not still be with us (at age 16). Re: spayed cats not spraying, tell that to Rita. All our pets are neutered and spayed and one cat definitely sprays on wheels, furniture, baseboards or wherever she thinks she needs to mark. So did our vet miss something maybe? Get that cat checked. May be a bladder infection. Some cats spray when insecure and cannot live in a house full of other pets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 She's Rita's cat and is definitely insecure...especially since my Maine Coon cat moved in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 and my cat ain't going nowhere!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 (edited) I'm fixed and I still spray everywhere but only when I'm outside.......................Bob Edited March 23, 2016 by Bhigdog (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 21 hours ago, Bhigdog said: I'm fixed and I still spray everywhere but only when I'm outside.......................Bob LOL... Oh them Pole Dancin girls only lead to trouble. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 If you can't beat them with poisons feed them what they want inside a humane rodent trap. Once caught drive 15 miles and release. Give them something easy to chew and get screwed at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialEducation Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 (edited) In lieu of poisons of pissing cats, perhaps a different Tractor Supply item is in order: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/zareba-2-mile-ac-low-impedance-fence-charger?cm_vc=-10005 FWIW: I know the feeling... Edited March 30, 2016 by SpecialEducation added empathetic photo (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 (edited) OUCH! Charger won't work unless you can figure a way to get the critters across both poles of the current. I once had a squirrel do that to 7 ignition wires and a vacuum line.................Bob Edited March 30, 2016 by Bhigdog (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Recently someone suggested ground red hot pepper to deter rodents. I buy it in the large containers at the grocery store, and spread it liberally around my house foundation and outside the garage doors. I also put some in our wood pile, and I can tell you this stuff works on chipmunks at least. Of course it does not last forever in the outdoors. It seems to last about two weeks as a deterrent and then is biodegradable. But a few applications around the area and the rodents seem to have forged themselves new feeding grounds. I would say it's easy enough to toss some on the engine block back by the distributor. May also help to coat the wire in question with some texas pete hot sauce. It may not stop em but it will sure clear their sinus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 14 hours ago, JohnD1956 said: Recently someone suggested ground red hot pepper to deter rodents. I buy it in the large containers at the grocery store, and spread it liberally around my house foundation and outside the garage doors. I also put some in our wood pile, and I can tell you this stuff works on chipmunks at least. Of course it does not last forever in the outdoors. It seems to last about two weeks as a deterrent and then is biodegradable. But a few applications around the area and the rodents seem to have forged themselves new feeding grounds. I would say it's easy enough to toss some on the engine block back by the distributor. May also help to coat the wire in question with some texas pete hot sauce. It may not stop em but it will sure clear their sinus. How many times do people riding with you ask "Wha's cookin!!?? or "did we just pass a TexMex Restaurant" or "Geeze why are my eyes watering so? or but I am gonna throw some red pepper around in Ritas flower beds before she shoots Elvis (the hound dog) for diggin them up. OK back to our regularly scheduled thread. Sorry..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GARY F Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 i dont know if this will help but i keep the hoods all opened all the time and the mice wont go in if it is open. and i do have mice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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