When needing to fix your car, many DIY solutions may be available to you. Thankfully, Mike Allen of Popular Mechanics has a couple of offbeat auto fix-it ideas you can use.
Fuse box problems fixes with odd solution number one
Allen tells of one driver who found himself stranded on a mountainside after his 4×4 instantly died. Somebody stops, looks at his car and looks closely at the fuse box. The passerby teaches the traveler that fuse boxes in cars typically have the exact same kind of fuses in them which means it is possible to just switch fuses. All the fuses do is connect functions with the car. Connecting functions with their fuses is simple- check the owner manual. Intelligent drivers will already have this chart on their fuse boxes for emergencies like this. The traveler’s problem is that his fuel pump is dead. Switching this fuse from something unimportant to the fuel pump slot will solve all the problems.
Diet soda and eggs to help with radiator in offbeat solution 2
Hole in the radiator? Allen suggests that eggs cracked into a radiator will solve the problem. Do not use anything but the radiator for this. The idea is that the egg white will sink down and plug the hole temporarily. If your radiator hole caused a low fluid level and you’ve forgotten your emergency jug of water and coolant, perhaps your sweet tooth can help. Adding just a little bit of diet soda without the sugar that would normally clog water pumps is a valid solution. Beer and iced tea are examples of other drinks you may try. Just don’t make a habit of topping off with Fresca.
Oil and nature combined again for a 3rd tip
Rocky roads can really hurt your car. If the oil pan is hit with a rock, an oil leak could be caused. But if you are in rough country, you are able to discover the solution out there. Allen recommends using a twig to plug the hole. Using your Bowie knife (you are within the wild, so you probably have one), whittle it into shape and hammer it to the oil pan puncture. You’ll have to cut off the end of the stick so that it doesn’t catch on anything and make the problem worse. If the hole drained the crankcase and you also need a top off, add some water. We are told by Allen, “The oil-pump pickup is not on the exact bottom – the remaining oil will float on top of the water”. Remember, this is only an emergency technique. If you are able to easily walk to a store and buy motor oil, that’s the more desirable option.
Offbeat auto fix No. 4- Cleaning up that gas tank hole
A gas tank is used in this problem that is similar to the previous. When you have a bar of soap on hand, carve a chunk out of it. Hammer the hole-sized chunk in and get to town as quickly as possible. If you need fuel to get out of there, it is not advisable to siphon gas like they used to in old “Dukes of Hazard” episodes. The only option you have when out of gas is pushing or leaving it.
Discover more info
Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair/4331569
Fixing the oil pan and clearing away the foliage
youtube.com/watch?v=F1eb_5lR97Q
No comments:
Post a Comment