JCW ARCHIVE: Death of a Chipmunk
About this episode
Squirrels and chipmunks take center stage as the hosts trade jokes about animals chewing through a truck’s wiring. The repair story gets specific: wires were chewed near the firewall, forcing a full wiring harness replacement, and the insulation is described as shifting from oil-based to soybean-based—something the hosts say attracts animals. Listeners call in with their own “chew” damage reports, including wiring, a headlight, and under-hood insulation, while the show keeps the tone playful with the recurring “Randy” character.
Oh boy, we got a story about squirrels wreaking havoc on the inside of trucks and our resident animal expert, Randy the chipmunk, drops in to let us know what's going down. Unfortunately John is in an awful mood and can't take anymore of his high pitched hijinks. We even take a poll to see if the listeners want to decide the fate of our beloved animal pal. Will John pull the trigger or will Randy live to eat nuts another day?
Thanks for joining us for this week's #JCWPodcast #JCWArchive. Please don't forget to Like, Share, and most importantly, Subscribe--to make sure you get the latest John Clay Wolfe Show materials as soon as they're released! So keep an eye out for those soy bean wires...and we'll see you Saturday
rodent damage to wiring
"For the man in Colorado, he suffered an $11,000 in car damage after squirrels chewed through his soy-based truck wiring. ... they had no option but to replace the entire wiring harness in the truck."
Animals like squirrels can chew on a car’s wires. That can break electrical connections and lead to costly repairs, sometimes even replacing big sections of the wiring.
Rodents chewing on vehicle wiring is a common real-world failure mode that can lead to expensive repairs. Damage can range from localized wire replacement to replacing the entire wiring harness, depending on how extensive the chewing is and where it occurs.
wiring harness
"They told me that because the wires were chewed so close to the firewall, they had no option but to replace the entire wiring harness in the truck."
A wiring harness is like the car’s electrical “wire bundle” that connects everything. If animals chew it up, the fix can be more than patching one spot—you may need to replace the whole bundle.
A wiring harness is the bundled set of wires and connectors that routes electrical power and signals throughout a vehicle. When it’s damaged—like from rodent chewing—repair can mean replacing a large portion of the car’s electrical routing, not just a single wire.
firewall
"Pop the hood, caught a squirrel red-handed right down here snacking on these wires. They told me that because the wires were chewed so close to the firewall, they had no option but to replace the entire wiring harness in the truck."
The firewall is a thick wall inside the car that helps separate the engine area from the passenger area. Wires often run near it, so if animals chew near the firewall, it can cause bigger electrical problems.
The firewall is the barrier between the engine bay and the cabin area in most vehicles. It’s a key structural and heat-shielding surface, and it’s also where many wire runs pass through—so rodent damage near it can be especially disruptive.
soybean-based insulation
"It went from oil-based to soybean-based. Well, it is great for the environment, so great of course, that animals are attracted to that soybean-based insulation, so they chew through it."
Some newer car wires use insulation made with plant-based materials. The idea here is that animals may find that material appealing and chew it, which can damage the car’s wiring.
Some modern vehicle wiring insulation uses plant-based materials, including soybean-derived compounds. The episode claims that this type of insulation can attract animals, which may chew through it and cause electrical damage.
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