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?

no need to remove the whole fender. Jack the car up, pull the wheel and then there are a couple 10mm bolt/screws that hold the splash guard in place. Pull those, and with a flat screwdriver, carefully pry the plastic splash guard open and remove your rodent. I'd take a flashlight and get a visual on the wiring.

 

Is there currently an issue with the functionality of the lights?

Edited May 27, 201510 yr by AdventureSubaru

no need to remove the whole fender. Jack the car up, pull the wheel and then there are a couple 10mm bolt/screws that hold the splash guard in place. Pull those, and with a flat screwdriver, carefully pry the plastic splash guard open and remove your rodent. I'd take a flashlight and get a visual on the wiring.

 

Is there currently an issue with the functionality of the lights?

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 . . .

It will be tight trying to do wiring through the fender well. Worth a shot maybe but it would at least get you access to the stinky stowaway.

 

If wiring work is called for, probably best to remove the fender. 10mm bolts all around. A row on top. Usually two on the bottom rocker panel of the car. One between the door and fender (An extension helps a lot.) and usually 2-3 behind the marker lamp/headlight. Remove the bolts, flex the fender a bit and pull it off. Just lay it back on and bolt it together to reinstall.

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