MINI2

spamdavy · Nov 24th, 2003, 03:09 AM

I turned on my MINI today and the check engine light came on. I popped the hood to see if I could find anything apparently wrong, only to find a burnt paper towel on top of a spark plug! I pulled the pieces off and the result is what you see in the pic. The wire burnt clean through the insulation and took out a chunk of the rubber molding thing right above the third wire. Could a paper towel have been sucked into the scoop, bypassed the intercooler, and get wedged on top of my spark plug?

Any theories are greatly appreciated.

spamdavy · Nov 24th, 2003, 04:05 AM

My roommate figured it out. It's getting cold around here and my engine block is a nice, warm cozy area. FOR RATS TO LIVE ON. I know I'm being a little dramatic, but imagine a rat dragging a paper towel up my engine and resting it on the block. It chewed out the wire and a piece of a rubber joint to create maximum space. I found hair on the bottom of my bonnet hood and rat droppings around the garage confirms his theory.

Has anyone else had similar problems with rats?

NEMINI · Nov 24th, 2003, 04:33 AM

mice, rats, even chipmunks and squirrels have been known to do it. Time to break out the moth balls before they chew through your wiring harness ... you'll be screwed then.

spamdavy · Nov 24th, 2003, 05:17 AM

i was thinking of putting a grid of sticky traps on the garage floor and parking right above it... i guess that's just plain retarded.

with mothballs, where should i put them?

NEMINI · Nov 24th, 2003, 04:18 PM

if you park in a garage try to place them anywhere the buggers can get in, also toss some on the ground underneath the car.

IBMiniG · Nov 24th, 2003, 04:27 PM

Yep, heard of rodent issues before, MINI even makes an ultrasonic repellant device, don't know if it's available in the states though. The best solution would be to start the car right when the little bugger is chewing on this wire

Paul · Nov 24th, 2003, 04:44 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by IBMiniG

Yep, heard of rodent issues before, MINI even makes an ultrasonic repellant device, don't know if it's available in the states though. The best solution would be to start the car right when the little bugger is chewing on this wire

Might get messy!

MGB Boy · Nov 24th, 2003, 06:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by spamdavy

My roommate figured it out. It's getting cold around here and my engine block is a nice, warm cozy area. FOR RATS TO LIVE ON. I know I'm being a little dramatic, but imagine a rat dragging a paper towel up my engine and resting it on the block. It chewed out the wire and a piece of a rubber joint to create maximum space. I found hair on the bottom of my bonnet hood and rat droppings around the garage confirms his theory.

Has anyone else had similar problems with rats?

Yep, I had a mouse make a nest behind the intercooler of my S last December. He didn't do any damage to the car, but the car did some damage to him, he got in a fight with a moving component (fan belt or supercharger pulley) and became a mouse of many parts. What fun to clean up...

-Ricardo

(don't look at the pictures if you don't want to see dead mouse bits)

obehave · Nov 24th, 2003, 08:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by CurtP

On male moths

That, of course, begs the question of where they get them in the first place. Yeeeesh

obehave · Nov 24th, 2003, 08:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MGB Boy

Yep, I had a mouse make a nest behind the intercooler of my S last December. He didn't do any damage to the car, but the car did some damage to him, he got in a fight with a moving component (fan belt or supercharger pulley) and became a mouse of many parts. What fun to clean up...

-Ricardo

(don't look at the pictures if you don't want to see dead mouse bits)

Well thank you for my weekly dose of carnage.

ncdave · Nov 24th, 2003, 08:46 PM

I once had a family of Possoms (4 of them!) make their nest under the drivers seat of my Spitfire. I found them when I dropped myself into the seat one cold winter morning and heard a loud squeal. Scared the **** out of me!

spamdavy · Nov 24th, 2003, 10:44 PM

For those who also had mice setup shop on your engine block, did you bring the car into the dealer to check out the rest of the wires? It's a $100 precaution I'm going to take to ensure the car won't be further damaged by driving.

Also, if one spark plug doesn't fire, will there be problems with the engine if it was driven about 200 feet in that handicapped state?

Harry Morant · Nov 28th, 2003, 11:52 AM

Mothballs eh.....how many male moths do you need to kill before you get enough???

andyupnorth · Nov 28th, 2003, 12:33 PM

Seems like another good reason not to clean the garage out and let the MINI stay parked outside - apart from cars rusting quicker in warm garages.

klint · Nov 28th, 2003, 08:34 PM

Wouch!

I hope the dealer does are sparkling job on the repair work under there. Get well soon MINI!

Nov 24th, 2003, 03:09 AM	#1
spamdavy MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Local Time: 10:22 AM Posts: 13 Offline	Paper towel burnt out spark plug wire I turned on my MINI today and the check engine light came on. I popped the hood to see if I could find anything apparently wrong, only to find a burnt paper towel on top of a spark plug! I pulled the pieces off and the result is what you see in the pic. The wire burnt clean through the insulation and took out a chunk of the rubber molding thing right above the third wire. Could a paper towel have been sucked into the scoop, bypassed the intercooler, and get wedged on top of my spark plug? Any theories are greatly appreciated. Attached Thumbnails

Nov 24th, 2003, 04:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
NEMINI NEMINI.org Join Date: Sep 2002 Local Time: 05:22 AM Posts: 7,911 Offline	mice, rats, even chipmunks and squirrels have been known to do it. Time to break out the moth balls before they chew through your wiring harness ... you'll be screwed then. NEMINI.org, NEMINI.us, NEMINI.info, NYMINI.org

Nov 24th, 2003, 04:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
NEMINI NEMINI.org Join Date: Sep 2002 Local Time: 05:22 AM Posts: 7,911 Offline	if you park in a garage try to place them anywhere the buggers can get in, also toss some on the ground underneath the car. NEMINI.org, NEMINI.us, NEMINI.info, NYMINI.org

Nov 24th, 2003, 04:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
IBMiniG MINI2 Master Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Local Time: 03:22 AM Posts: 875 Offline	Yep, heard of rodent issues before, MINI even makes an ultrasonic repellant device, don't know if it's available in the states though. The best solution would be to start the car right when the little bugger is chewing on this wire WARNING-Objects in rear view mirror have a tendency to disappear! 9/20 build '03 MCS IB/W/W, everything but the NAV & Sunroof

Nov 24th, 2003, 06:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
MGB Boy heterochromic & loving it Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: at the rink Local Time: 06:22 AM Posts: 4,226 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by spamdavy My roommate figured it out. It's getting cold around here and my engine block is a nice, warm cozy area. FOR RATS TO LIVE ON. I know I'm being a little dramatic, but imagine a rat dragging a paper towel up my engine and resting it on the block. It chewed out the wire and a piece of a rubber joint to create maximum space. I found hair on the bottom of my bonnet hood and rat droppings around the garage confirms his theory. Has anyone else had similar problems with rats? Yep, I had a mouse make a nest behind the intercooler of my S last December. He didn't do any damage to the car, but the car did some damage to him, he got in a fight with a moving component (fan belt or supercharger pulley) and became a mouse of many parts. What fun to clean up... -Ricardo (don't look at the pictures if you don't want to see dead mouse bits) Attached Thumbnails 06 MCS-W/77 MGB/69 MGB-GT "2 minutes by yourself and...you feel shame, you know...and then you get free"

MINI2

Fuel for your MINI obsession

Discussions concerning the Cooper S

Today
Sponsors	Sponsored Links Registered members do not see Google Ads posts, they can also post messages, pictures, and classified adverts. Register your free account today and become a member of MINI2 - MINI Forum

Nov 24th, 2003, 04:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
spamdavy MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Local Time: 10:22 AM Posts: 13 Offline	My roommate figured it out. It's getting cold around here and my engine block is a nice, warm cozy area. FOR RATS TO LIVE ON. I know I'm being a little dramatic, but imagine a rat dragging a paper towel up my engine and resting it on the block. It chewed out the wire and a piece of a rubber joint to create maximum space. I found hair on the bottom of my bonnet hood and rat droppings around the garage confirms his theory. Has anyone else had similar problems with rats?

Nov 24th, 2003, 05:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
spamdavy MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Local Time: 10:22 AM Posts: 13 Offline	i was thinking of putting a grid of sticky traps on the garage floor and parking right above it... i guess that's just plain retarded. with mothballs, where should i put them?

Nov 24th, 2003, 04:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 11:22 AM Posts: 40,875 Online	Quote: Originally Posted by IBMiniG Yep, heard of rodent issues before, MINI even makes an ultrasonic repellant device, don't know if it's available in the states though. The best solution would be to start the car right when the little bugger is chewing on this wire Might get messy!

Nov 24th, 2003, 08:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
obehave Mini Mod Join Date: Sep 2002 Local Time: 06:22 AM Posts: 9,388 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by CurtP On male moths That, of course, begs the question of where they get them in the first place. Yeeeesh

Nov 24th, 2003, 08:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
obehave Mini Mod Join Date: Sep 2002 Local Time: 06:22 AM Posts: 9,388 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by MGB Boy Yep, I had a mouse make a nest behind the intercooler of my S last December. He didn't do any damage to the car, but the car did some damage to him, he got in a fight with a moving component (fan belt or supercharger pulley) and became a mouse of many parts. What fun to clean up... -Ricardo (don't look at the pictures if you don't want to see dead mouse bits) Well thank you for my weekly dose of carnage.

Nov 24th, 2003, 08:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
ncdave MINI2 Senior Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Local Time: 06:22 AM Posts: 654 Offline	I once had a family of Possoms (4 of them!) make their nest under the drivers seat of my Spitfire. I found them when I dropped myself into the seat one cold winter morning and heard a loud squeal. Scared the **** out of me!

Nov 24th, 2003, 10:44 PM	#12 (permalink)
spamdavy MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Local Time: 10:22 AM Posts: 13 Offline	For those who also had mice setup shop on your engine block, did you bring the car into the dealer to check out the rest of the wires? It's a $100 precaution I'm going to take to ensure the car won't be further damaged by driving. Also, if one spark plug doesn't fire, will there be problems with the engine if it was driven about 200 feet in that handicapped state?

Nov 28th, 2003, 11:52 AM	#13 (permalink)
Harry Morant The Iron Pyrite Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canberra ACT Local Time: 08:22 PM Posts: 835 Offline	Mothballs eh.....how many male moths do you need to kill before you get enough???

Nov 28th, 2003, 12:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
andyupnorth MINI2 Master Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Newcastle Local Time: 11:22 AM Posts: 781 Offline	Seems like another good reason not to clean the garage out and let the MINI stay parked outside - apart from cars rusting quicker in warm garages.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Nov 28th, 2003, 08:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
klint Ninja Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Erf Local Time: 11:22 AM Posts: 1,737 Offline	Wouch! I hope the dealer does are sparkling job on the repair work under there. Get well soon MINI!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Spark Plug Question	scuderiamini	Engine & Drivetrain Tuning	6	Jan 16th, 2006 03:49 AM
Sparks Plug Wire	lemoncoke	Engine & Drivetrain Tuning	1	Nov 2nd, 2005 07:10 PM
Spark plug help...	dr remulac	Engine & Drivetrain Tuning	0	Jul 5th, 2005 04:23 PM
Spark Plug	E-Gun	Maintenance & MINI Care	6	Feb 5th, 2005 05:57 AM
Spark plug upgrades?	K-Rog	Engine & Drivetrain Tuning	7	Sep 12th, 2002 04:52 PM