Rodents love warm engine bays. Unfortunately, they also love chewing on wires…especially if those wires use soy-based insulation, which some manufacturers, including Honda, adopted in the 2000s and 2010s. To combat this issue, Honda introduced a clever fix a few years back: Genuine Rodent Deterrent Tape.

The Honda tape is infused with capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers

The goal is simple: make your car’s wiring taste like regret to anything with whiskers and a chewing habit.

Honda’s spicy tape comes as an OEM-numbered part. The part number is 4019-2317.

A roll has about 65 feet of chili-peppered adhesive. When I looked today, you can buy one for about $45.

Although it’s marketed to Honda dealers and service centers, the tape is not exclusive to Honda or Acura vehicles. Anyone can order it. Online retailers and Honda parts departments carry it, and it works on any make or model.

Installation is straightforward

Use it like standard electrical tape:

• Focus on wire looms and soft targets that rodents like to chew
• Clean the surface first with alcohol if needed
• Wrap it snugly around exposed wiring harnesses or areas where rodents previously caused damage
• Don’t apply it to hot engine parts or moving components
• For best results, overlap the tape as you wrap and press it firmly to ensure adhesion. Honda calls its method “half-wrapping.” Overlap ½ the width of the tape.

Adept Automotive is a mobile mechanic service based out of Colorado Springs

The owner, Gabriel Greydanus, says he’s a factory-trained ASE Certified Master Technician. He often posts funny and informative videos on his social media, and he uses the tape, too.

Honda doesn’t claim this is a guaranteed fix, but many techs report good results

It deters repeat chewing in areas previously attacked. Because it smells like peppers and delivers a burning sensation to tiny tongues and paws, it encourages rodents to move elsewhere.

As of 2025, the tape has been on the market for around a decade (some say 2017, others 2014). It remains one of the few OEM-endorsed rodent deterrents.

If you’ve had rodent trouble under the hood, Honda’s Genuine Rodent Tape offers a factory-backed, easy-to-install defense. It’s spicy for a reason. Critters get the message quickly: your car is off the menu.