What Happens When Animals Nest in a Car? What Students in Auto Mechanic Training Programs Need to Know
Cars are relatively warm, often contain food, and are usually exposed to the outdoors. Though it’s not the most common thing in the world, this combination can sometimes lead to an animal infestation inside of a car.
Like most infestations, car infestations can result in damage. Depending on where the animals get in, anything from cosmetic features to the absolute essentials that keep a car running can get torn into, and repair bills can be quite high.
Before too long into your career as an auto mechanic, you might encounter damage caused by an animal infestation. Here is what you need to know about this phenomenon.
Graduates of Auto Mechanic Training Programs Can Expect Animals to Cause Electrical Damage
Most of the time, the kind of infestation that pops up involves a rodent like a mouse or rat. They will hide inside of a car’s engine compartment, often to escape cold winter weather, and will get down to doing what rodents love to do: chewing on wires.
Here’s a look at the kind of wire damage one nest can make:
In your career, you might see chewed wiring lead to anything from malfunctioning fuel or oil sensors, to the entire car ceasing to function. Minor damage can cost as little as $50 to repair, but extensive damage to the wiring can lead to a repair bill in the thousands of dollars. It all depends on which systems and sensors need to be repaired or replaced after the gnawing. The more high-tech the vehicle, the more likely extensive damage is to lead to a hefty repair bill.
Grads of an Auto Mechanic Training Program May Know Extreme Infestations Aren’t Pretty
In extreme cases, the damage to a vehicle can be both extensive and disgusting. Rodents’ nesting instinct can lead them to gather many pounds of material and deposit it all in a car’s engine compartment. Anything from animal hair to grass, garbage, or pounds of food can be and has been found inside of infested cars.
As a graduate of an auto mechanic training program, you may encounter this kind of car damage at some point in your career. The fix can range from relatively simple removal of various odds and ends, to fixing air filters or replacing damaged carpeting and seating.
Health Risks Could Await Drivers Exposed to Infested Cars
A major concern with infested vehicles is that rodents can carry diseases and transmit them to unprotected drivers. In a particularly worrisome scenario, fecal matter that is in or near a car’s air intake filter can carry into the cabin and infect occupants or workers, who then may need medical care.
Completing auto mechanic training in Montreal will do a lot to prepare you for the mechanical issues that arise with a car. In addition, you’ll learn how to safely perform repairs so that you don’t risk harming your health.
In cases where an animal infestation is present, you will need to wait before repairing any damage. The car will be stripped, treated, and cleaned thoroughly, in order to ensure any hazardous material has been eliminated. Afterwards, repairs can be made safely.
Do you want to pursue auto mechanic careers in Montreal?
Visit Automotive Training Centres for more information or to speak to an advisor.
