The rodent'd RX-8 - please help me figure out how to proceed

Background - I recently discovered that my RX8 had had a "rewire" job by a rodent that fancied itself an electrical engineer. It looks like I found most of the damage to the engine bay harness but so far have been unable to find the remaining damage to the wiring that controls the alternator. I also tend to work 60-70h/week and am only home on weekends, during which time I have to fit in time with the wife, the honey do list, fixing the formula car and out-napping our cats.

The way I see it, I have the following options:

1. Park the dang thing until I can find the time to fix it. That time might be "never", but I'm also fine working on electronics.

2. Sell it as is - right now it's probably worth more in parts (it's got a decent motor, Ohlins suspension and various reliability upgrades) and I don't know if I can get more than a couple of grand for it. But I have too many vehicles for my lack of spare time as is. I also don't have much time to invest in selling it.

3. Claim on insurance - I have full coverage on the car, after all. Problem is that I had a no-fault claim last year already (the 996 that got totalled) and the "correct" repair is likely to total this car as well. If it did get fixed I'd probably sell it immediately before said rodent comes back.

WWGRMD?

Junk yard harmess?

In reply to pimpm3 :

Didn’t think about that. I’ll have to check how much effort it is to fit, though. Assuming the engine bay harness is a separate piece in the first place.

The majority of the damage I found is easily accessible so I know I can fix that part, the big question is where the rest of the damage is. 

Harness on eBay  

Wow, Tim, you just have rotten luck!  I agree that a good, used harness is the quickest way to get it back up and going again.  I'd probably buy all the harnesses, drop it off at a shop and say "Here ya go, use the harnesses you need..."

Then get pissed off at your cats for not doing their feline duties!

docwyte said:

Wow, Tim, you just have rotten luck!  I agree that a good, used harness is the quickest way to get it back up and going again.  I'd probably buy all the harnesses, drop it off at a shop and say "Here ya go, use the harnesses you need..."

I should probably enquire at my favourite shop how much they are going to charge me for the work for that first. But I like that idea (other than the additional wallet damage). And it looks like the engine harness is surprisingly cheap. used.

Then get pissed off at your cats for not doing their feline duties!

Only one of the three knows how to hunt and used to be rather good at it, but now that he's almost toothless he finds it easier to hunt down one of his humans and get them to open a can for him.

You can claim mouse damage? 

Patrick said:

You can claim mouse damage? 

Sure. The mouse ran out in front of me while I was driving. It's the same as a deer strike. God only knows how the little bugger managed to chew up the harness as he bounced of the car at 45mph. But, you know, mice. They're quick.

Time to get another cat then.  I had used to have a calico that was a flat out predator!  Easily had a 300 yard kill zone around my house, she was great!

In reply to Patrick :

IIRC if you have full coverage, there might be a way to claim on this type of damage. Haven't looked into too deep and as mentioned, I'd rather not claim anyway. At least NerdWallet seems to think so.

Let me know if you decide to sell it.  I've been contemplating an RX8 project on/off.

In reply to amg_rx7 :

I'll try to PM you later tonight when I actually get home. It's definitely for sale at this point, the question is just how much will be repaired before putting up it for sale.

pimpm3 said:

Junk yard harmess?

The earth is littered with ~500 blown motor cars so this might be an easy button.

In reply to 84FSP :

I'd rather buy a loom than part out a car. I'm essential home for 60h each week total, so I'd prefer to not take on even more projects...

@amg_rx7, you should have a PM.