Novel method of fixing car

Probably knocked the gunk loose inside the carburetor (old-time thingamabob that spit the gas into the engine).

Probably loosened the muffler bearing.

Anyone else remember slapping the top of a tv or radio to make it work? Same principle. (Too bad the technique doesn't work on people.)

Today's autos would be totaled by a little smack in the back, you know, crumple zones and all. So even if it helped the motor somehow the body would be going to the junk yard.

Getting hit still works. My 2002 Honda Civic had the cruise control fail and my trustworthy, honest and slightly eccentric mechanic said don't fix it it's not worth the cost. So I didn't. He's a damn good mechanic. A few months ago I was going down US 1 and slowed and for a yellow light, (very unusual since most Florida drivers consider it a legal signal to speed up and run the light as it turns red anyway). This is the southern most traffic light on the mainland as you head south to the Keys. Bang on my rear end. A Florida City police car had rear ended me. The officer got out of his car and walked up and I got out. Being old and white, I was not gunned down immediately. No airbag deployment, no injuries. My Bad, he said. I was watching my computer. I'm very sorry. I better call my Sargent to file a report. I checked the rear-end, another scratch to add to the 12 years collection, the trunk worked and the fuel shut off had not activated. Bad time with the Sargent I said, he rolled his eyes and said it's a new car and I'm going to get my ass chewed big time and a couple of days suspended. So I said, look no damage, no injury, let forget it and save us both time and paper work, you made a mistake and admitted it. We shook hands and his were sweaty. So later buzzing up the turnpike out of habit I hit the cruise control and the light came on and it worked. Oh lucky day! Sometimes good things come in surprising wrappings.

@Phideaux: It does when judiciously applied at an early age.

Nice story GG .. Do you know a way I can get my wife a car she doesn't rip the mirror off on her side of the garage over and over and over again ? Her latest one even had backup camera and audible alert alarms and she still managed to take it off. BTW as a reserve Sergeant you spelled it wrong .. just being a spelling a-hole before someone else does.

Perhaps a car with a folding mirror.

@BD Even foldable mirrors will break when you're backing out so you might as well buy a gross of mirrors so you can get a volume discount. I am down to two spares at the moment.

@BD,

A. Get a larger garage.
B. Fill the garage up with stuff so no one can park in it.
C. Get rid of the garage.

After 10 years of driving our van my loving partner broke two van tail light lenses, left side both times, on our trash container that's out only twice a week, in a one year period. Damn they are expensive. My son hung his punching bag in our small carport to avoid the very expensive mirror issue. Many years ago a former girl friend managed to take off two mirrors in two weeks on my new Nissan truck, that was part of her becoming a former.

And no offense on being the spelling police. Spelling was never my strong point in school. I was a Sergeant in the army for two years and they insisted I use SGT. all the time.

GG.