I swapped out the battery in the Friend-Shaped Car, and found a critter nest in the void where the too-small battery left some space. No wiring seems chewed, and I think it's an old nest from before I got the car. Mess is cleaned out, so no more mouse rider hitchhiker.

I also have the proper battery size now. I can see why the previous owner is talked a smaller one. The battery is partly under the fender, and removing the old battery required just some maneuvering, but installing the new one required some disassembly to make room to slide it in place.

Fixing stuff is one of those things we just have to do as part of life. Frustrating, but cheaper than payments on something new.