Rodent Damage to Electrical Harness

AchmatK

AchmatK

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So my car was parked for a few weeks at home under a car cover not in a garage while I was overseas. When I started the car last week the anti-pollution light went on and the car felt sluggish like it was misfiring.

I sent it in to the dealers and they informed me that mice had eaten through some of the wiring but mechanically there is nothing wrong with the car. I am waiting on them to give me a quote on replacing the harness.

So my question is, would damage of this nature be covered by insurance. Some googling has only led me to foreign websites where it seems that it is covered in some cases. Is there anyone in SA that has managed to successfully claimed for rodent damage?
 
Sorry. Most motor insurance policies specifically exclude vermin, rats, mice, etc.

Been there and it cost me R2,600 for the last chomp by them frigging rats.
 
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My cousin had the same issue with her New Polo, insurance didn't cover.

13k to repair by the stealers hmm Dealers
 
ost said:
My cousin had the same issue with her New Polo, insurance didn't cover.

13k to repair by the stealers hmm Dealers
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This is where the motor industry makes its money. Spare parts and repairs where you get fleeced.
 
Can't you repair the harness insulation with epoxy or an adhesive cloth tape?
 
Got the quote on Friday.

Fuse Box = R3 289.03
Injector Harness= R541.97
Engine Harness = R2 915.70
Consumables = R96.80
Labour @ R520.00 per hour x 12.2 hours = R7 676.24
Total inc VAT = R14 519.75

Now to find a decent auto electrician in CT that can do this for at least 2 thirds of what the dealer are charging.

Edit: the above is based on them not finding anything else wrong with the rest of the wiring.
 
signates said:
Got the quote on Friday.

Fuse Box = R3 289.03
Injector Harness= R541.97
Engine Harness = R2 915.70
Consumables = R96.80
Labour @ R520.00 per hour x 12.2 hours = R7 676.24
Total inc VAT = R14 519.75

Now to find a decent auto electrician in CT that can do this for at least 2 thirds of what the dealer are charging.

Edit: the above is based on them not finding anything else wrong with the rest of the wiring.
Click to expand...

holy crap 12 hours?
 
Sinbad said:
Indeed. Would probably take half that to solder the wires back together.
Click to expand...

yea wow I would have done it myself( I have the background) would take long and u need to be careful but no way will I pay them 14K
 
WOW. And I thought my mom had a bizarre case and now I find out its more common than I thought.

My mom's cable for the airbag was chewed up, now Mercedes wants to charge her 12k to fix it. Thats the quote for 1 cable!

Good thing I have cats :p
 
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Please for your own good, check if you are not insured for this. The policies we through some Insurers used to exclude vermin specifically but the latest wordings does not exclude it and therefore it should be covered. If the insurer is wide awake they will say it was a gradual process and try exclude but you never know it might be worth the try.
 
Called my insurance and it is specifically excluded. I will recheck my policy documents.
 
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