Protecting underside wiring from damage caused by foxes etc

[Properjob]

Mine‘s in again with two sensors affected - adblue and exhaust … not looking cheap.. so clearly the heavy duty foil they used last time plus anti rodent tape didn’t do the trick. So annoying! Looking to do the gas pipe and cable tie solution this time

 

[Cali Phillip]

Mine‘s in again with two sensors affected - adblue and exhaust … not looking cheap.. so clearly the heavy duty foil they used last time plus anti rodent tape didn’t do the trick. So annoying! Looking to do the gas pipe and cable tie solution this time

Might be worth talking to these guys at Hilltop, we use them at work.

EMI Self-Closing Shielding Wrap

EMI Self-Closing Shielding Wrap - Tinned Copper & PPS & Aramid Fiber. Retrofit size 8mm shielding wrap oversleeve providing mechanical protection. Although specifically designed as a self-closing / retrofit sleeving for Cable & Hoses in situ, we also can provide a wide range of high quality...

www.hilltop-products.co.uk

 

[Properjob]

Might be worth talking to these guys at Hilltop, we use them at work.

EMI Self-Closing Shielding Wrap

EMI Self-Closing Shielding Wrap - Tinned Copper & PPS & Aramid Fiber. Retrofit size 8mm shielding wrap oversleeve providing mechanical protection. Although specifically designed as a self-closing / retrofit sleeving for Cable & Hoses in situ, we also can provide a wide range of high quality...

www.hilltop-products.co.uk

Thanks v much - that looks like a great option. I’ve
sent them a message. I’ll keep you posted.

 

[Jonney]

I ended enclosing the sensor wires in aluminium pipe, then attaching these anti climb/bird spikes to the piping with cable ties and chassis.
Also washed down the driveway with jeyes fluid as it smelled of foxes. Not had any issue since.

got the piping and spikes from Amazon.
If you have the option get a professional to do it.

 

[Properjob]

Might be worth talking to these guys at Hilltop, we use them at work.

EMI Self-Closing Shielding Wrap

EMI Self-Closing Shielding Wrap - Tinned Copper & PPS & Aramid Fiber. Retrofit size 8mm shielding wrap oversleeve providing mechanical protection. Although specifically designed as a self-closing / retrofit sleeving for Cable & Hoses in situ, we also can provide a wide range of high quality...

www.hilltop-products.co.uk

Thank you v much for this suggestion. I bought some of the metal woven braid wrap and also stainless tie wraps and now have them on the main cables. See the pic.

However, 2 days after getting the van back from replacing the sensor (££) I had an “oil sensor: workshop!” amber message come on! Today I’ve had the wheel alignment done at wheels in motion in Chesham (v good) and while they were at it they had a look and found yet another chewed cable to the oil sensor! Luckily they spliced a new cable in for me and it all seems ok for now but I’m guessing this can‘t be foxes and prob a mouse, rat or squirrel, since it was underneath the protective engine cover under the sump. V frustrating … it never seems to end.

 

[Cali Phillip]

Thank you v much for this suggestion. I bought some of the metal woven braid wrap and also stainless tie wraps and now have them on the main cables. See the pic.

However, 2 days after getting the van back from replacing the sensor (££) I had an “oil sensor: workshop!” amber message come on! Today I’ve had the wheel alignment done at wheels in motion in Chesham (v good) and while they were at it they had a look and found yet another chewed cable to the oil sensor! Luckily they spliced a new cable in for me and it all seems ok for now but I’m guessing this can‘t be foxes and prob a mouse, rat or squirrel, since it was underneath the protective engine cover under the sump. V frustrating … it never seems to end.

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Good to hear, hopefully the protection will stop the majority of damage

 

[WelshGas]

Cars cover up as foxes drawn to tasty cables
One Worthing motorist puts his brake cables out of foxes’ reach
ECO-FRIENDLY brake cables are being eaten by foxes, after manufacturers switched from petroleum-based insulation to soy, forcing owners to wrap their cars in tarpaulins.
Photographs show multiple cars covered in blue plastic for protection after a spate of attacks in Worthing, West Sussex, with locals claiming at least 20 vehicles were targeted by foxes.
Jack Cousens, the AA’s head of roads policy, said the animals may be attracted to the soy-based insulation on brake wires.
Since 2000, peanut and soy-based oils and waxes have been used on car parts including gearbox insulation, primer bulbs and diesel injector wires, instead of petroleum-based coverings.
“There are two reasons why foxes attack cars in this way,” Mr Cousens told The Telegraph. “The first is that some cables can be soy-based and therefore they get attracted to the taste of that.
“Secondly, within brake fluid there is something called glycol, which is a sweet-tasting alcoholic fluid, and they get a little bit attracted to that too. But they would only get attracted to it if they chew so far through the cable and uncover it.”
Eddie Mitchell, who lives in Worthing, the latest target for hungry foxes, said: “Everyone around us has been affected. There have been at least 20 attacks by foxes on the brakes system under cars.
“One neighbour ended up spending £1,500 on his Jaguar after it was attacked.”
Locals in Horsham, West Sussex, reported similar instances of foxes chewing through brake cables in 2021 and 2022 and residents in Sidcup, south-east London, were reportedly forced to fox-proof their cars last year.
The RAC said there were record numbers of mice, rats and foxes “surprising” its customers last year by causing serious damage.