So I'm a complete amateur, on a fixed income and looking for some diy assistance, please -
Really need an experienced body mechanic's help! Please?
Any DIY'ers know how this is done?


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? And/or any other issues involved?

You might be able to extract the rodent remains with a shop vac, without
removing the fender.
Are you sure the wiring has been damaged?

You should be able to remove the splash shield inside the
wheel well quite easily, you don't need to remove the fender.