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Help! I need to know what a rabbit chewed off in my car

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Old 12-03-2011, 01:56 PM
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Help! I need to know what a rabbit chewed off in my car

Well i went to my car to leave my parents from visiting for thanksgiving. My car is completely dead and i was stumped by how that was possible, then i open my hood and a huge rabbit jumps out from atop the area in question and i find 2 wires completely chewed through that go to who knows what.

Can someone please help me identify what wires were chewed through and what connector needs to be replaced.

Im kinda stuck here until i can get this fixed

Thanks Everyone

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Old 12-03-2011, 02:01 PM
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Sorry but that's funny.

I'm not sure what that is ... I should know, but I don't, sorry.
I will guess it's a vacuum sensor.

And Bump!
Dewd needs help, somebody?

edit:
Just looked it up in the manual.
Its the Purge Solenoid Valve

Last edited by wcs; 12-03-2011 at 02:03 PM.
Old 12-03-2011, 02:04 PM
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Holy huge picture and humorously worded title.


I don't think it would be critical for the car to start and should only affect ECU operation while running, however, shorted sensor wires can blow fuses. Start checking your fuse box for any of them blown. My money is going to be on the Engine fuse, which typically is upstream for the power that feeds the sensors, as well as other critical bits. I blew the Engine fuse on my Miata when I accidentally shorted the sensor wires for the rear O2 sensor.

I could entirely be wrong though. I'd recommend protecting those wires from each other before attempting to re-start though.
Old 12-03-2011, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
Holy huge picture and humorously worded title.


I don't think it would be critical for the car to start and should only affect ECU operation while running, however, shorted sensor wires can blow fuses. Start checking your fuse box for any of them blown. My money is going to be on the Engine fuse, which typically is upstream for the power that feeds the sensors, as well as other critical bits. I blew the Engine fuse on my Miata when I accidentally shorted the sensor wires for the rear O2 sensor.

I could entirely be wrong though. I'd recommend protecting those wires from each other before attempting to re-start though.
HA! Beat you on this one Sir!


edit:
But if you could explain WTF exactly a purge solenoid valve does, that would be most excellent dude.
Old 12-03-2011, 02:06 PM
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I took time to go out to my 8 and take a picture of what 'normal' looks like


Still on my Xoom though . Trying to figure out how to attach directly from the tablet, mostly from curiosity.
Old 12-03-2011, 02:20 PM
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So it's been 20 minutes since his help I'm stuck here post.

Figure he's walked over to the strip joint and said "F" the car?
Old 12-03-2011, 02:22 PM
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He could be out at the car, came in to post that, and went back out to try to figure it out and hasn't re-checked yet.


I do that all the time.
Old 12-03-2011, 02:36 PM
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Isn't anyone wondering how the rabbit got in there, all the way to the top? I can barely fit my hand through the crevices under the hood, much less an animal!
Old 12-03-2011, 02:37 PM
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Not really. Rabbits aren't much bigger than rats in actual muscle and structure. Just hellaplush fur.
Old 12-03-2011, 02:45 PM
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ok so i checked that fuse and its fine so i guess i will hook the battery up to the charger and see where that gets me
Old 12-03-2011, 02:47 PM
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im so afraid that the battery is going to be fine and that more than just a few wires got chewed up
Old 12-03-2011, 02:48 PM
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Did you check them ALL? Just about every fuse in the engine compartment fuse box is capable of preventing the car from starting. I don't know for sure which one that particular sensor runs through.

And definitely shield those wires from each other and neighboring objects (tape each up and/or snip the ends clean and then tape) before attempting to start.
Old 12-03-2011, 03:05 PM
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no sorry i didnt check them all( i will do that now) but its not just a matter of the car not starting. I mean it is dead no lights anywhere. And the battery charger is showing a partial charge at least.
Old 12-03-2011, 03:07 PM
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A fuse can do that too. Check the ones in the footwell at the front edge of the driver's door near the footrest next to the clutch as well.

Something is blocking battery power completely, and that is usually a fuse, unless there is another major wire that was chewed through.
Old 12-03-2011, 03:23 PM
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i checked all the fuses in the engine box but everything points to that (sensor) only reason i think that because that wire loom is tied into the same one that goes to the alternator. Car worked fine before this was chewed up and battery charger showed some charge on the battery itself so hopefully that is it. I checked out the area as best as possible from above and it didnt look like any thing else was chewed
Old 12-03-2011, 03:47 PM
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Maybe you should just go back to the strip joint
Old 12-03-2011, 04:31 PM
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well we soldered some wires as best as possible to what was left of that connector and tried the battery and still nothing. i also used a fuse tester on all fuses inside and in the engine compartment. Im running out of ideas and i have no money to get it checked out.

Man those bunnies really f***ed things up for me
Old 12-04-2011, 12:23 PM
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Did you check the main fuse at the battery positive cable post connection?
Old 12-04-2011, 12:38 PM
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Those chewed off before? The butt connectors are from a previous repair?

You sure have some kind of rodent problem
Old 12-04-2011, 01:39 PM
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Check the battery cables, up to the fuse block especially. As well as the harness going into your dash, specifically to the ignition. If you're not getting anything anywhere, it's going to be in that circuit, or a mass ground got chewed somewhere. Could be the battery's ground.
Old 05-16-2012, 08:22 PM
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sorry to thread resurrect but the same thing happened again(rodent chewed on wires same as above) and it is now unfixable at least as far as making another butt connection with the wiring so now i need to order a replacement connector as shown in the pictures below does anyone no where to look or possibly a link would be super helpful for a replacement connector.Name:  T2RW3.jpg
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Old 05-16-2012, 08:57 PM
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Try Paul at Mazmart. A dealer might want to charge you for the entire harness.

Perhaps a part-out on here or a junkyard 8, where the harness isn't wanted, you can cut out the part you need.
Old 05-16-2012, 09:50 PM
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Originally Posted by achangho
Isn't anyone wondering how the rabbit got in there, all the way to the top? I can barely fit my hand through the crevices under the hood, much less an animal!
Oh, I wondered. Then I remembered; a good magician never reveals his secret.
Old 05-16-2012, 09:51 PM
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What plug is it? I have a scrap engine harness if it is off there??
Old 05-17-2012, 02:18 PM
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its the plug that goes into the purge solenoid valve. Thats also the same plug thats circled above .

I know seriously i dont even know how these rabbits do it, twice for that matter.


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