WFTV Orlando
SIGN IN
Sign in using your wftv profile
Sign in using you account with:
Sign Up / Sign In
Welcome Back
Sign Up / Sign In
Welcome back. Please sign in
You’re Almost Done!
Please confirm the information below before signing in.
REGISTER
By submitting your registration information, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Why are we asking this?
We collect zip code so that we may produce news, weather, special offers and other content related to your specific geographic area.
Thank you for registering!
We have sent a confirmation email to <* data_emailAddress *>. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account.
Thank you for registering!
We look forward to watching you on [website] frequently. Visit us and sign in to update your profile, receive the latest news and keep up to date with mobile alerts.
Click here to comeback to the page you were visiting.
Reset your password
Don’t worry, it happens. We’ll send you a link to create a fresh password.
Email sent
We have sent you an email with a link to switch your password.
Sign in to accomplish account merge
Thanks for verifying your email address
Resend Email Verification
Sorry we could not verify that email address. Inject your email below and we’ll send you another email.
Resend Email Verification
Click submit to receive another verification email
Your Verification Email Has Been Sent
Check your email for a verification link
- 12384721 Home
- 12384770 News
Act nine investigates how rodents cause thousands in car engine harm
Updated: May 9, two thousand sixteen – 8:24 PM
ORLANDO, Fla. – They`re car repair bills you never expect–thousands of dollars to substitute engine wiring ruined by rats.
When her car broke down, Andrea Garden could not believe the cause: Rats ate her engine’s wiring.
«I had no idea. No idea a rat could be in my vehicle,» she said.
Near Apopka, rats bruised three vehicles on Barry Reiter’s property. «They did enough harm that you couldn’t begin the vehicle, it had to be towed,» said Reiter.
Repair experts said many car makers now use wire insulation made from soybeans. The wiring is biodegradable which is good for the environment, but tasty for rodents.
A rat found inwards a Chevrolet Impala engine caused serious electronic failures. The rat was found stuck in inbetween the wires.
“They chew down right through it and brief out the corset and it could cost a thousand dollars to repair,” car repair pro Jay Zembower said.
Soy wiring has been around for almost fifteen years, but it only became widespread in latest years and used by several major manufacturers.
Ana Rodriguez found her newer Toyota had $Two,300 in wiring repairs blamed on chipmunks. «I know it’s an issue and nobody’s going to switch my mind,» said Rodriguez.
This year, Honda owners filed a class act lawsuit, claiming soy wiring is defective, so repairs should be covered by warranties.
No manufacturer pays for repairs now and it can be expensive.
«Worst case we witnessed was an Acura, rats cut through a wiring corset, $Four,000 in damages,» said Zembower.
There are ways to protect your vehicle. Experts said moth nutsack can work, and so can a special ‘no chew` gauze and rockets. Those could have prevented Barry Reiter’s big repair bills.
«Most likely $Two,500 to $Trio,000 in damages,» said Reiter.
Honda`s responded in a court document, telling it can’t be responsible for rodents that chew anything near them.
The anti-chew gauze is available at many auto part chains and the anti-chew burst is at most farm supply stores.