are the wiring looms in TLC's soy-based material instead of petroleum? (1 Viewer)

[Blasst]

I know many of the Japanese vehicles such as the Tacomas have done this.......not sure if our LC's have soy based material protecting wiring or not. It becomes something mice gnaw on and future shorts become a problem. This can be prevented with rodent repellent sprayed a few places I have read.

Anyone know if our wiring is protected with soy based or petroleum products?

Geez that would be hell in Australia if you have seen what the rodent invasion is like.......

Cheers,
Jim

 

[offroadOK]

I don't know, but did see in the service history for my 09 LX that a rodent did chew on the wires.

 

[PDXLX]

I'm confident they are soy. I've been fighting rodents for years.

 

[Blasst]

yep......and up in colder climate I'm sure they love to find a warm place to sleep. I haven't had the problem here in the south but read about it in Colorado. I'm going to spray some rodent repellent a few places......there are mice and rats everywhere......I'm surprised I haven't heard more about it. I just recently learned they had begun using soy based product to cover wiring on Toyotas......probably other vehicles have too. Rodent repellent seems like a way to prevent what could be a nightmare......shorts, fires possibly, and who knows what. I just did some repairs on my sisters home where mice or possibly squirrels messed up the AC duct insulation.....didn't eat holes in it but did tear away the insulation on some of the ducts. An easy fix but hot as hell in the attic this time of year.

 

[cruiserdan]

I know many of the Japanese vehicles such as the Tacomas have done this.......not sure if our LC's have soy based material protecting wiring or not. It becomes something mice gnaw on and future shorts become a problem. This can be prevented with rodent repellent sprayed a few places I have read.

Anyone know if our wiring is protected with soy based or petroleum products?

Geez that would be hell in Australia if you have seen what the rodent invasion is like.......

Cheers,
Jim

Tacomas are not Japanese. They were designed stateside and are built in Mexico or Texas with most everything sourced from somewhere in north America or China. The wiring is produced in Mexico.

 

[Blasst]

Oh yeah.....good point. Tacomas may be made in San Antonio with the Tundras. Not sure if we have soy products on our LC's......but it wouldn't surprise me.
I'll spray some rodent repellent around some places anyway. They chewed the hell out of the flex duct aluminum cover on several AC ducts in houses I've seen.
They seem to chew on anything sometimes.........

 

[PDXLX]

I had a knock sensor chewed on my 200 while it was still on the dealer's lot. Had got hell of a light show on my dash for my first drive home after purchasing it. Needless to say, they replaced it free of charge. The techs said it's been a common occurrence since Toyota switched to soy insulated wires. They even have on customer that has had to get serious harness work three times now and insurance only covered the first.

I just discovered Honda make a rodent tape that is laced with chili. I plan on doing a lot of wire wrapping in the coming weeks.

Honda's Chili-Flavored Wire Wrap Could Save Your Car From a Rodent Invasion

Treat your tiny enemies to something spicy.

www.thedrive.com

 

[GordJ]

Rodents have been chewing wires ever since they invented wires. Bare wires, rubber insulated wires, plastic insulated wires.

 

[PDXLX]

Rodents have been chewing wires ever since they invented wires. Bare wires, rubber insulated wires, plastic insulated wires.

You’re God Damn right they have! But how exactly does that address OP’s questions?

 

[GordJ]

You’re God Damn right they have! But how exactly does that address OP’s questions?

I was trying to point out that I don’t believe that soy has anything to do with this issue. I waited until the discussion slowed before I brought it up and I’m really sorry if I have upset you.

 

[PDXLX]

I was trying to point out that I don’t believe that soy has anything to do with this issue. I waited until the discussion slowed before I brought it up and I’m really sorry if I have upset you.

Not offended in the least. You’re right, rats chew on everything but there was a specific question posed and your comment didn’t seem to address it. Let’s just try to be helpful here.

Here’s a link to the class action lawsuit against Toyota on this issue for you evening reading pleasure.

Toyota Class Action Claiming Soy-Coated Wiring Attracts Vehicle-Damaging Rats Can Proceed

A class action alleging Toyota switched to a rat-attracting soy-based covering for wires in its vehicles can proceed, a California federal judge ruled.

topclassactions.com

 

[cruiserdan]

It's difficult to argue that plant-based products would be less tasty to chewing critters than otherwise inedible versions.

Whomever decided that soy was a good idea needs to be taken out back behind the woodshed and "re-educated".

 

[BIC JET]

You’re God Damn right they have! But how exactly does that address OP’s questions?

Would you mind not taking the Lord’s name in vain? Thank you

 

[cruiserdan]

 

[Blasst]

Oh damn....too funny Lol.

Well back to wiring. I'm glad to know my suspicions were right about soy based wiring plastics. Yeah that was not a good move.....but at least if we know then we know to take precautions. If anyone hasn't seen a video or two about the mice plague in Australia you should look on youtube....It is like a locust plague straight out of the bible......swarms of mice so thick on the floor you can walk without stepping on them. People waking with them in their hair like roaches or bugs ......all over the bed too. Move something outside and they come swarming out by the hundreds. Very small mice....they get in peoples pockets or the cuffs of their trousers....everywhere. and anywhere. Totally freaky like a movie. So I'm sure they have ways of dealing with protecting their wiring on all vehicles with a rodent problem like that.......
Anywho.....sounds like we uncovered a potential problem many were not aware of. Thanks for the info guys and funny "******* Patton." That was a good one.

 

[spazzyfry123]

Who would have guessed a soy-based thread would bring out the sensitives…

 

[PDoyle]

No joy for soy.

 

[greynolds]

Not offended in the least. You’re right, rats chew on everything but there was a specific question posed and your comment didn’t seem to address it. Let’s just try to be helpful here.

Oh the irony…

 

[GordJ]

Not offended in the least. You’re right, rats chew on everything but there was a specific question posed and your comment didn’t seem to address it. Let’s just try to be helpful here.

Here’s a link to the class action lawsuit against Toyota on this issue for you evening reading pleasure.

Toyota Class Action Claiming Soy-Coated Wiring Attracts Vehicle-Damaging Rats Can Proceed

A class action alleging Toyota switched to a rat-attracting soy-based covering for wires in its vehicles can proceed, a California federal judge ruled.

topclassactions.com

You see, as someone who has stayed for extensive time in remote campgrounds in BC, Yukon and North West Territories and have lived on ranches in Northern BC as well as having a car ”rodented” in urban Vancouver I thought that blaming it on soy was, in my opinion, misguided. As a electrical journeyman I have attended many house services where the rodents have electrocuted themselves on cables containing absolutely no soy and as a youth have seen automotive wiring that was insulated with rubber that rodents found delicious. Neither my LC or my LX has had a rodent problem while camped at the same site where GMCs were chewed by packrats. No infestations, either, when my wife’s Nissan was homesteaded by a mouse while in the same driveway as the LC. Just saying.
As far as the lawsuit goes, windshield leaks seem to be more prevalent around here than rodent problems but I guess most of these vehicles don’t go to where the wildlife lives?
And I’m not going to comment on “taking the lords name in vain” because in my experience praying is truly doing that because not one of my “prayers” has ever come through so that may be the true definition of “in vain”.

 

[04UZJ100]

Am I incorrect for thinking EVERY wiring harness in the engine bay can be entirely replaced and is plug and play only?

There are multiple large wiring manifolds on the firewall which makes me think everything has a “plug” from the firewall forward?