Stay clean to keep rats away

By CARSIFU | 1 February 2013
Q1: I would like know how to prevent rats from getting into a car’s engine compartment and biting the electrical wires. Please don’t tell me to keep a cat tied to my car.



Always keep the surroundings of your garage clean, especially if there is a drainage beside your garage. Make sure that it is cleaned often of food remains that serve to draw rodents to your car.



If you do own a cat, keep it away from your car as most cats love to sleep and store food in the engine compartment, which incidentally can attract rats and mice.




Chong Tak Sun

Mentakab, Pahang






Q2: My wife’s car was partially submerged in floodwaters at a basement car park, about 10cm above the top of the front tyres.



I suspect water would have entered the engine. Would there be any danger in trying to start the engine?



Razak

Petaling Jaya




There is no way for water to enter into the cylinders unless you had started the engine while the car was still submerged in  water.



However, if your wife did not start the engine at that particular time, there would not be any water in the engine.



To be sure, try to check if there are any signs of water in the air cleaner housing  as it is the only entry point for the water to get into the air duct. It is placed just slightly above the height of your tyres.



If there are no water marks, it is safe to start the engine.





Q3:  I have a 1994 BMW 3 Series. It was running fine until last week when the car suddenly stalled at a traffic light. I was able to start it up and move along. 



The next day, it seemed the car had difficulty in starting up but it fired up after a few turns of the ignition.



Is this the result of a weak battery (the maintenance-free batt is nearly three years old), an alternator problem or the airflow meter issue?



Peter

Johor Baru




For starting difficulties, it may be due to a weak battery. Normally, the lifespan of a lead-acid battery is less than three years. You are lucky for it to have lasted as long as it did, but it’s time to get a new one.



For engine stalling: There are several causes such as alternator failure if the battery is weak (or terminal connection of the alternator is loose). Even if your battery is weak,  your engine will not stall if the alternator is working properly.



Another probable cause is if foreign objects or dirt stick to your airflow meter sensor disrupts airflow data to the computer. This only gets removed during the next start-up.



This can also happen if your fuel filter is dirty or is clogged especially if it has not been replaced for a long period of time.



If it doesn’t stall again, it is an intermittent problem that is, possibly due to some loose electrical connections which triggers stalls during shocks or vibration due to road condition.




I recommend that you see a reputable workshop for a thorough inspection of your car’s problem.