Date:         Sat, 10 Aug 2002 10:12:39 -0600
Reply-To:     Fred Brittain <vanpire@CITLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Fred Brittain <vanpire@CITLINK.NET>
Subject:      mice and chewed wiring?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Volks,

Two times within the last three weeks my van has run bad and I've
found broken wires just before the harness that plugs into the AFM (89
Westy). First time, I thought I may have pinched them when changing
the air filter. They appeared to have been pinched. So, I spliced them
and went about my business. Yesterday, I started my van for a trip
into town and it was running with AFM type symptoms, hesitation, etc.

I decided to pop the top off when I got back and spray some cleaner,
check for tracking, do all the typical fixes (the capacitor mod is in
place) and check WOT switch. When I got to town, I looked inside and
the same group of wires were broken or chewed in almost the same
place.

Do mice chew all the way through a wire? I have a friend who's a good
mechanic and he says they're really bad around here (Moab area, Utah)
and do a lot of damage to wiring. Any ideas for fixes. He suggested
some heavy duty sticky insulating tape. He did have some  plastic
accordion looking protective tubing and put some on for me. We then
looked at the other places a mouse might like to chew, i.e., injector
wires. It would take a lot that stuff to cover it all.

So, any ideas for dealing with mice, or has anyone found anything that
might break the wiring just before it enters the air box?  Yes, my air
intake is secured and I don't see anything in the engine compartment
that might break wires at that point.

Appreciate any help or advice

And finally, I asked for pmail last post because I'm on digest. A
listee took time out of his day to scold me because pmail replies do
not become part of the archives. So, please CC me if you post a reply
to the list.

Fred