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P1000 Honda wont start. Found rat inside the machine.

C

ctark

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I got in my Honda yesterday and went to start it. It cranks but it but never actually starts. I saw the gas gauge only had a bar and thought I'd check the gas tank just to make sure and when I went over to the passenger side to take the lid off, I see a rat tail right by the cap. After that I'm going with the assumption that the rat chewed something up. I've looked under the hood and under the dump bed. I believe the rat was making a home in the compartments behind and under the front seat. What is the best way to troubleshoot this? Should I be looking for specific wires?

Machine is a 2018. Honda Pioneer 1000-5 LE. Cant think of any reason why it wouldn't start other than the rat. Machine has less than 1000 miles on it and is primarily used around the property and city streets.
 
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CID

CID

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I got in my Honda yesterday and went to start it. It cranks but it but never actually starts. I saw the gas gauge only had a bar and thought I'd check the gas tank just to make sure and when I went over to the passenger side to take the lid off, I see a rat tail right by the cap.
Was it still attached to the rat? :oops:

After that I'm going with the assumption that the rat chewed something up. I've looked under the hood and under the dump bed. I believe the rat was making a home in the compartments behind and under the front seat. What is the best way to troubleshoot this? Should I be looking for specific wires?

Machine is a 2018. Honda Pioneer 1000-5 LE. Cant think of any reason why it wouldn't start other than the rat. Machine has less than 1000 miles on it and is primarily used around the property and city streets.
Rodents gnaw everything, wiring being their favorite snack - you'll just have to look until you find the damage, it could be anywhere a rat can fit into. 😭
 
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JenElio

JenElio

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Have u checked for spark? Fuel? Injector plugs (wiring) seem to get loose on some of these sometimes. Sound like you might have a little bit of investigating to do just in case the little effer chewed somtn. Good luck
 
0

0860silverado

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New wire dyes are soy based, so they are tasty. Particularly the blue ones. (no joke). Check every wire you can find on the entire machine! Good luck.
 
Cuoutdoors

Cuoutdoors

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Tough to say where the problem could lie.

Side note: I have a habbit of shutting my machine of as I coast into the garage. One time I came out and didn't get in just reached in to start it like always and nothing happened. I dicked around for an hour looking for a problem before realizing I hadn't put it in park after coasting in last time.

Sounds like a good chance the mouse is your problem but don't overlook the simple stuff. Machine in park or foot on brake.
 
Smitty335

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Tough to say where the problem could lie.

Side note: I have a habbit of shutting my machine of as I coast into the garage. One time I came out and didn't get in just reached in to start it like always and nothing happened. I dicked around for an hour looking for a problem before realizing I hadn't put it in park after coasting in last time.

Sounds like a good chance the mouse is your problem but don't overlook the simple stuff. Machine in park or foot on brake.
I wouldn't have told that one, HA!
 
ehart814

ehart814

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If the damage is extensive, I would take it to a Honda dealer. Get an estimate for the repair, and call your insurance company. Sometimes you get lucky and they only chew one wire or two....I have had that happen to my old lawnmower and it was easy to fix. But, if I wouldn't have noticed the damage before using it the mower would probably have caught on fire due to large hot wires with the insulation removed.

If it looks like a mess, let your insurance company repair it with a new wiring harness and it's done right.

In the meantime, POISON, traps, etc.
 
Smitty335

Smitty335

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If the damage is extensive, I would take it to a Honda dealer. Get an estimate for the repair, and call your insurance company. Sometimes you get lucky and they only chew one wire or two....I have had that happen to my old lawnmower and it was easy to fix. But, if I wouldn't have noticed the damage before using it the mower would probably have caught on fire due to large hot wires with the insulation removed.

If it looks like a mess, let your insurance company repair it with a new wiring harness and it's done right.

In the meantime, POISON, traps, etc.
I went down to the hardware store a few years ago to buy some mouse/rat traps, the guy ask's me if I wanted humane traps, I replied, hell no! I want it to hurt! True story.
 
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ClaudClark

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I got in my Honda yesterday and went to start it. It cranks but it but never actually starts. I saw the gas gauge only had a bar and thought I'd check the gas tank just to make sure and when I went over to the passenger side to take the lid off, I see a rat tail right by the cap. After that I'm going with the assumption that the rat chewed something up. I've looked under the hood and under the dump bed. I believe the rat was making a home in the compartments behind and under the front seat. What is the best way to troubleshoot this? Should I be looking for specific wires?

Machine is a 2018. Honda Pioneer 1000-5 LE. Cant think of any reason why it wouldn't start other than the rat. Machine has less than 1000 miles on it and is primarily used around the property and city streets.
Yep, I have heard that there is something in the wire insulation that rats like to eat. I'm going to go put a rat treat in my machine. Although the package says it is illegal to poison rats in California....
 
Remington

Remington

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Yep, I have heard that there is something in the wire insulation that rats like to eat. I'm going to go put a rat treat in my machine. Although the package says it is illegal to poison rats in California....
That’s cuz Nancy Palosi and Maxine Waters are afraid of there lives In there own state ;)
Get it...Rats! Haha
 
lee

lee

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I've posted this before:
Honda rodent tape, part #4019-2317
It's laced with capsaicin to deter chewing
1595467091731


This guy is cheaper:
1595467176256

Well, the cat was free but my wife has been feeding him canned tuna, so not so cheap after all.
 
Haldog77

Haldog77

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I could not keep vacuum lines on my Yamaha Rhino. The rats kept knawing on the vacuum lines and the coil wires. I thought I could defeat them by putting ss braiding over them. They just moved on to other wires and hoses. I finally sold the Yamaha and bought the Pioneer. No problems since. Oh yea, I got two cats and some live traps. When I catch a rat in the wire live trap, I drop them in the bayou next to my house. After 5 min. or so I dump them out an rebait the trap. The best bait I have found is Lava bar soap. Rats love it, and you can wash your hands after your done.
 
Smitty335

Smitty335

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I've posted this before:
Honda rodent tape, part #4019-2317
It's laced with capsaicin to deter chewing
View attachment 214068

This guy is cheaper:
View attachment 214069
Well, the cat was free but my wife has been feeding him canned tuna, so not so cheap after all.
I have Black snakes, when it starts getting colder, I leave my door cracked and they winter in my shop. No rats/mice and i swear they grow a foot a year, two 5 footers. Named them Rat and Mice, can't tell them apart though?
 
Russ989

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BigOL3

BigOL3

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Since they were by the fuel tank, id bet its chewed either the fuel pump wiring or something around the throttle body.
Check with @Hondasxs if you find fuel pump wire chewed. A friend of mine had that problem with his 700 and Richard made up some of those fitting for the pump, which Honda does not carry. Beats buying the WHOLE harness.
 
Sheetmetalfab

Sheetmetalfab

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I have Black snakes, when it starts getting colder, I leave my door cracked and they winter in my shop. No rats/mice and i swear they grow a foot a year, two 5 footers. Named them Rat and Mice, can't tell them apart though?
TWSS
 
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