Human or Animal?

[abaez]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/abaez/wires.jpg

Turned on my car yesterday to have the battery light come on (subaru impreza non-wrx 2007). Opened up the hood and saw the wires cut above.

I'm wondering if someone did this or some animal chewed it up? At first I thought it was human, but the car is kept covered in a secure garage, in a building with 24 hour security. I don't have any enemies or anything like that. Plus can you open up a hood without using the lever inside to pop it halfway? Rats or whatever are not out of the question since I live in downtown los angeles.

It's just weird someone would do that and not cut the entire thing?? Just the red/blue wire?

Second, the car runs, and I'm not sure what exactly these wires are for. I'm going to drive it to the dealer and have them fix it, are there any issues with me driving it 10-15 miles? I've already driven it about 15 miles because I had to for xmas eve last night.

 

[mwmorph]

Rodents like to chew on wires, especially the outer rubber parts.

 

[Eli]

lol, definitely rodents.

As far as driving, your battery light being on means that your battery is probably not charging. The thing on the left is your alternator.

Do you have a DMM? Measure your battery voltage. Is it low?

I have no idea how many miles you would get out of a WRX with no alternator, but just know that you're pushing it with every mile. Using your headlights will kill your battery much more quickly.

If you have a battery charger, throw it on there for a while before you go to the dealership and you should be fine.

 

[TTM77]

Anything is possible but pretty sure it's rodents. Did your "24 hour security" caught the rodent that did this? lol

1) Fully charge up the battery. Fully charge up the cell phone to bring with.
2) Turn off everything, headlights, heater, radio.
3) Locate the nearest dealer and hope the redlight isn't against you.
4) Goodluck making it there.

 

[abaez]

I'm pretty sure it was a rat or something, but I was just saying about the security because I doubt it could have been someone. I have no DMM, so no idea on the charge. I'll have to check if my dad has a battery charger.

If not, I have no choice but to take it down to the dealer tomorrow like it is (unless I tow it). Is there a chance it will just die on the freeway? I thought the battery is only to start the car?

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: abaez
I'm pretty sure it was a rat or something, but I was just saying about the security because I doubt it could have been someone. I have no DMM, so no idea on the charge. I'll have to check if my dad has a battery charger.

If not, I have no choice but to take it down to the dealer tomorrow like it is (unless I tow it). Is there a chance it will just die on the freeway? I thought the battery is only to start the car?

Yes, it COULD die on the road. But if you're driving in daylight without your headlights on, you can go a long time on just the battery.

Yes, the battery is just for starting the car and it runs off the alternator once it starts, but a healthy battery should run the car for plenty of time to get to the repair shop.

Very possible a rodent...rat or squirrel...could have done this..BUT: What bothers me is, where are the shavings from it chewing the wires? It didn't swallow the stuff, and that's a decent-sized chunk of wire missing there.

 

[abaez]

Ok, as long as it takes me there. I did drive it about 30 minutes already with headlights, but I'll take my chances. I've got a feeling I'll have to replace that entire cable - how much does that run? Like $100 or $300?

This picture was taken after driving it the 15 miles I mentioned so any shavings would have probably blown off. I've given up on trying to figure out what did this, I looked on the ground to see if I could find the wire and saw nothing.

 

[bruceb]

Can't say about the cost of the cable since we don't know how long it is or if sections can be replaced (if there are plug in sections) I would also put some wire loom around the repaired wires of the new cable. You can see in the photo that the rat did not try to eat thru the loom .. only thru wires that were not protected or that only had electrical tape on them.

 

[abaez]

Thanks BRUCE! Good idea!

I made it to the dealer. Just hope it doesn't come out to like $400 or something.

Car ran fine with no issues other than the daytime lights were not on. I was freaking out but for no reason. I :heart: my car.

 

[TTM77]

Your best chance is to fully charge the battery so it can run on battery only for much longer. You are right that the battery only to start but I wouldn't count on the wire of the alternator. If the wire of the alternator is still good than you are OK but U shouldn't rely on that.. just go with the battery.. if the car start than assume you are running on battery so limit things in the car to use as less power as possible.

My alternator did die once but I can't be sure exactly when it died. The car did start and ran for about 2 miles when the engine died while doing 60mph. And I believe the reason the alternator died because there was a short somewhere in the car...so............GOOD LUCK.