PureWeb

Thanks so much - just what I needed to know to do this - much appreciated!

Thanks - Yes unfortunately . . . headlights, fog lights, front running lights all went out at the same time - I suspect the rodent - I've checked the fuses (none blown) and tested using a multimeter, and currently it seems to point to a short or cut wires since the headlights and fog lights are different circuts with seperate fuses and relays. All other lighting works - just not the stuff needed to drive at night :-( I'm not terrific at auto eletrical but can patch the wiring if that's what's needed, assuming I can reach it inside the fender well . . .

Really need an experienced body mechanic's help! Please? Recently in my 04 Forester 2.5xs with 181,000+ miles I found that there is a dead rodent in the front passenger wheel well. I know this because a- there was a distinct smell of dead rodent for a couple of days (stuff dries out fast in the Az. desert;) and b- I can just barely get a glimps of it thru a 4 inch hole in the engine bay sheetmetal, at the bottom of the fender well. Can anyone please tell me how to remove said fender to extract the remains and, more importantly at this point, to repair the wiring it must have chewed on (while still alive) that runs my DRLs, front running lights, headlights and fog lights! I see there is a line of bolts along the top of the fender (where it attaches to the engine bay sheetmetal) and I would like to know if the fender comes off with just bolts, or are there areas of welding to deal with also?