During a routine oil change and safety inspection at my local Honda Dealer, the service tech and mechanic told and showed me mice or rats have been chewing the insulated wires by the air filter.

Apparently the insulated wire tubes are made of a soy bean based compound that mice and rats love to chew on.

Total replacement and re-wiring of the insulated tube and wires will cost $704.00 with installation.

In the meantime,
The service tech recommended using a peppermint spray or rat spray repellent around the car and wheel wells to keep the mice and rats away as much as possible.

If your "Check Engine" lights pops on it may be from the mice and rats chewing through the car wiring.

 

Soy based wiring was used extensively in Hondas (and some other car brands) from about 2012 to 2015 when the problems with rodents became obvious and it was phased out. Mice caused significant damage to my 2018 Fit especially to plastic parts and insulation which they tore apart and dragged to where they wanted to build their nests. They did not touch any wiring from which I conclude it was no longer soy based. I now have lots of mouse traps in my garage.

My neighbor had an older Honda Accord where the mice chewed up insulation and plastic parts under the hood and also a lot of wiring.

Rats might be a different matter but fortunately they are extremely rare where I am and I have only seen one in my yard and it had been quickly dispatched by one of my cats.

 

LOL

Yeppers. And thanks.😊

 

My Honda Service tech suggested to spray rodent repellant around the inside front wheel wells and the front of the car on the ground.

I also sprayed outside and in back of both front wheels.

Hopefully this works.

Well for now anyway.