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Rat Crawled Into Engine Compartment. Help?

Discussion in '2nd Gen Tundras (2007-2013)' started by Loop-Master, Oct 19, 2019.

  1. Oct 19, 2019 at 10:41 AM
    #1
    Loop-Master

    Loop-Master [OP] New Member

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    2008 Toyota Tundra SR5 with the 5.7L 95K miles

    A rat crawled up into the engine compartment the other day and here's what's happening all the sudden now:

    VSC OFF is flashing
    Check Engine Light stays lit
    Track light on
    4LO is flashing (will not go into 4Lo)
    Will not shift into overdrive. (just gets to 4th gear on the highway)

    I have disconnected the battery to reset and doesn't help.

    There was one vacuum hose that was chewed into but I replaced it and still no change.

    Any advice?
     
  2. Oct 19, 2019 at 10:47 AM
    #2
    Navy Jumper

    Navy Jumper Airborne Paratrooper

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    Two options to fix your issue:
    1. Trade-in for 2019-2020 Tundra :thumbsup:
    2. Inspect ALL electrical wiring. Sounds like it chewed some wires and they are shorted, crossed, or disconnected.
     
    Tchase and NewImprovedRon like this.
  3. Oct 19, 2019 at 10:49 AM
    #3
    ajax1

    ajax1 New Member

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    Start tracing wires, if you can get wiring diagram you can prob find one wire that feeds all that
     
  4. Oct 19, 2019 at 10:50 AM
    #4
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    He got some wires...yotas wire sheathing are a natural soy based sheathing, essentially food for these critters. I had mice in mine, they chewed that foam behind the pcv valve and tried to live in the warm space below the intake manifold and on top of the block...there’s wires in there. I’d get a bright light and start following wires.
     
    Pudge likes this.
  5. Oct 19, 2019 at 6:24 PM
    #5
    greghoro

    greghoro New Member

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    Had the same problem with mice chewing wires under the intake manifold. Same symptoms described by original poster.

    Was on the road and was forced to take to a dealer. Found that my insurance covered rodent damage as part of comprehensive after $500 deductible. Total cost was substantially more.


    Greg
     
    BTBAKER likes this.
  6. Oct 19, 2019 at 8:11 PM
    #6
    Windsor

    Windsor New Member

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    Fix the wiring and figure out what to use to keep em out. I have had good luck with dryer sheets at keeping squirrels out.
     
  7. Oct 22, 2019 at 5:17 AM
    #7
    hank.forker

    hank.forker New Member

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    Working on it...
    Get a code read and a wiring diagram.
     
  8. Oct 22, 2019 at 7:36 AM
    #8
    Loop-Master

    Loop-Master [OP] New Member

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    Taking it to the Toyota dealer asap. My insurance luckily covers the damage done. Thanks for all of your replies!
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  9. May 9, 2020 at 8:11 AM
    #9
    Tundraloveitorhateit

    Tundraloveitorhateit New Member

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    2008 Toyota Tundra 5.7L
    This happened to my 2008 Toyota Tundra 5.7L twice in one year.
    The rats like to live under the intake manifold / habitrail created by the design of this engine.
    They chewed the anti-knock sensor wiring, which is a $37 part and lies under the intake manifold so costs about $750 in time / labor to remove and replace the manifold.
    Bad design for several reasons.
     
  10. May 9, 2020 at 11:18 AM
    #10
    bleach

    bleach MEME Fiend

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    Battle Ground, WA
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    This kind of thing scares me. What was Toyota thinking when they wrapped all the wiring with rat bait? I hope my comprehensive covers this sort of thing if it ever happens to me.
     

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