How does it stand up to the elements / rodents?

[RyanSD]

Good Afternoon everyone!

Long time listener, first time caller...

My wife's car is normally parked in the driveway in front of the garage. I will be parking there on occasion to charge the MME (should it ever arrive... going on 7 weeks and still no production notification).

Over this past winter, some rodents took residence by way of the front wheel-well and into the engine compartment where they chewed on the brake line vacuum hose. Awesome, right? Goodbye power brakes. You never know what you have, until it's gone -- am I right?

My question to the group, how well is the MME protected from these pesky intruders? I've already installed a sonic device in her engine compartment and spray peppermint oil as a natural deterrent around my property.

I wonder, with the heat generated from the batteries under the length of the car, will the MME be any more at risk than an ICE vehicle.

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[jparduhn70]

Mice can get into some small crevices, so I'd say they can get in under the wheel wells in front and through the steering components at a glance. I'm not sure how much they'll be able to maneuver around in there though. They'll still be able to chew on brake lines that are exposed, but I guarantee they won't survive a bite into one of those orange cables if they find one to nibble on.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

My question to the group, how well is the MME protected from these pesky intruders? I've already installed a sonic device in her engine compartment and spray peppermint oil as a natural deterrent around my property.

I wonder, with the heat generated from the batteries under the length of the car, will the MME be any more at risk than an ICE vehicle.

The underside is covered in panels from front to back. It isn't exposed so much like it is on regular cars. That said... rodents can get through surprisingly tiny openings ... and I'd have to think there probably is a few openings big enough for a mouse to manage to find a way in.

I had a mouse that managed to get into my home's central AC condenser ... through a hole that was something like the size of a nickel. Whereupon it decided to chew through wires on a capacitor (zapping and instantly killing the mouse) and causing the compressor to cycle on/off continuously until the compressor itself was fried.

 

[DBC]

Rodents sharpen their teeth on the wires (actually wear them down). I guess the more wire the more teeth sharpeners, but the issue doesn't seem to be any more prevalent with BEVs. There should be less heat but that's more an issue for neighborhood cats than rodents.

 

[ajmartineau]

BEVs are very attractive to vermin. Warm all night and no dangerous moving parts and no nasty sludge.

Buyer beware. Google it. Be proactive.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

related thread PSA: Watch for vermin. Rats - Mice - Squirrels | Ford Mustang Mach-E Forum - MachEforum.com

@ajmartineau that thread might look familiar. ?

 

[Njia]

Let 'em bite into the battery pack. They'll learn.

 

[generaltso]

Let 'em bite into the battery pack. They'll learn.

No......they likely won’t be learning much of anything at that point.

 

[Papa T]

I am definitely no expert, and I would imagine that you can find just about any source to back your opinion on the internet, so take this for what it is worth. When having experienced a rodent problem in a previous home, I read a few resources that stated that rodents can and will become "used to" ultrasonic deterrents. They may prove effective at first, but after a while they'll learn to ignore.

I have NO idea how accurate this is, but from a practical standpoint, I can see where it is easy for certain stimuli to cease being all that effective after regular exposure to them. It makes me wonder about scented solutions as well. Seems like after a while of just smelling the same smell for a long time, you become inured to it.

I am out in the country and have an open carport, so I am concerned about how easy it will be for rodents to get to my vehicle. I have a feeling I am going to try all of the above and more. My carport is going to end up looking, sounding, and smelling quite unusual. Maybe I can rotate solutions.

 

[TheSteelRider]

Bad news. I was curious on how rodent proof the Mach E was, so I went for a drive with my kids. Turns out they can just push a button to get inside and reek havoc. What a mess.

 

[Fremont Kid]

TheSteelRider, you need to be more specific. Not sure who 'they' is. I'm assuming that a rodent can't push a button to get inside, unless the rodent is already inside. Conversely, which buttons would your kids push that would allow rodents to enter? The windows?
My Mach-e is supposed to be delivered end of October/1st week of November. I live in the country and need to prevent rodents from getting inside the cabin air port. I plan to rodent-proof it just like I have my other cars, i.e. install a screen in front of the cabin air intake port. I am asking the dealership to find out from Ford what needs to be removed to reach the cabin air intake port. Does anybody know? My Ford Fusion and Toyota Prius just required removing the windshield wipers and cowling just below the front windshield. The front trunk area may require a different approach.

By the way, thoughts about an alternate term for the 'frunk'? I certainly do not like that term. Front storage should work, but maybe a completely new word.

 

[River Rat]

I have heard wires are coated in Soy Plastics which is a edible food source.

 

[BMT1071]

TheSteelRider, you need to be more specific. Not sure who 'they' is. I'm assuming that a rodent can't push a button to get inside, unless the rodent is already inside. Conversely, which buttons would your kids push that would allow rodents to enter? The windows?
My Mach-e is supposed to be delivered end of October/1st week of November. I live in the country and need to prevent rodents from getting inside the cabin air port. I plan to rodent-proof it just like I have my other cars, i.e. install a screen in front of the cabin air intake port. I am asking the dealership to find out from Ford what needs to be removed to reach the cabin air intake port. Does anybody know? My Ford Fusion and Toyota Prius just required removing the windshield wipers and cowling just below the front windshield. The front trunk area may require a different approach.

By the way, thoughts about an alternate term for the 'frunk'? I certainly do not like that term. Front storage should work, but maybe a completely new word.

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