mice chewing on car wires

Question
You have such a good way with applying mouse behavior to different situations, hoping you can give me some insight.  I have wild mice/mouse eating the wiring harness on my Toyota car.  It has happened 3 times now, a very expensive mouse food.  I live in rural wooded area with corn fields on one side.  We occasionally will have mice come in the house in the fall looking for warmth as winter comes.  The internet is full of similar cases and the general theory is that there must be some soy based product being used that is drawing the mice to the connectors.  Anyway, I am looking for a "tea" of sorts that I can spray on the connectors and wiring/tubing etc. that will repel the mice.  Is there a particular scent that they don't like? (ie: peppermint, garlic etc) that they will run from instead of seeing my little Corolla as if it were sushi???  I'm not wanting to do them harm, just clear them away from my wiring........Suggestions?

Answer
Dear Deb,

There are various products available that are supposed to repel cats from chewing on things.  There are pepper sprays.  There is also a plastic tubing that is made to put around appliance cords so that cats and rabbits don't chew on them-- it repels both by smelling horrible and by being a barrier to chewing.  

However, I think the easiest thing for you to do-- unless it makes the car stink for you-- is put some moth balls in the area.  Mice hate moth balls.

Thanks for the compliment.  It's nice to know people search through and read my stuff.

Good luck!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

PS by the way, check your air filter for a nest.  That's a typical mouse trick.