This Sunday me and my best mate helped a couple of Polish girls whose car wouldn't start
After charging their battery and all the rest of it we could get their engine to turn over but it still wouldn't catch. Luckily for them, a neighbour was walking past and said he knew what the problem was. Unclipping the air intake hose, he stuffed it with a rag and got them to try and start it again. This time it caught instantly, he took the rag out and reconnected the hose to the filter.

It was a neat trick that I'd not seen before, thought I'd share.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 15 May 2013, 11:37, 6 replies)

I'll remember that one!
Pearoasted motoring tip - I used to drive ancient diesel vans. The engine vibration would loosen the battery connections on start-up and they'd fly off, no matter how well I'd tightened them. You can hear the engine cut off mid-rev.

I'd send the kids to the shop for a KitKat which they'd eat while I wrapped the foil round the battery stud and jammed the connection back on, and it'd get me home, or to and from work for a week until I remembered to sort it properly.

Soon after I met Mr Quar the same thing happened to his diesel car. I didn't even look, just sent him to open the bonnet while I popped into the kitchen for some foil. I think that's why he married me.

A few years ago a young bloke in quite a nice car, parked in front of me in a multi-storey, had the same problem. I heard it happen, jumped out and told him what was what and how to fix it. He was astounded when it worked and he was soon on his way.

His sour faced girlfriend wasn't impressed though.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Wed 15 May 2013, 12:51, closed)

i have a mate
no, really.

anyway, he had an ancient landrover whos electrics were held together by kitkat foil. most of his fuses and connections.

its a great bodge.
(magictorch, Wed 15 May 2013, 16:27, closed)

There's also the UL about the foil-wrapped bullet used as an improvised fuse.
The story doesn't end well.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:35, closed)

Tin foil is wonderful stuff
on monday I fixed a knackared ignition lead by stuffing a load of tin foil up it and we were back on four cylinders. It made a shit spark, but it was still a spark :D
( Major Turd for tonight only, Wed 15 May 2013, 17:38, closed)

I "fixed" my ex-girlfriend's car with two cans of beer
One which I emptied down my throat, ripped in half and used to fashion a makeshift oil cap, and used the other (full and unopened) to hammer it into place. Got us to Brighton and back, and she carried on driving it until her next service when it was removed by a very unimpressed mechanic.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 15 May 2013, 22:15, closed)

Oh, I love it!
The true spirit of motoring.

I once repaired my camper van exhaust with rags, exhaust paste and a cola can from the adjacent ditch. It lasted so well that I forgot about it until it developed more serious hole on the bend and had to be replaced.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:32, closed)