What the heck IS this thingy???

[MadMax]

I thought that was were you inserted the key to wind up the engine!

Just like these bugs, but their engine is in the back...



With our engines in the front, it makes sense that the key would go there!

[Yaris Hilton]

Originally Posted by MadMax

I thought that was were you inserted the key to wind up the engine!

American cars of the '30s and '40s usually had a small opening to insert a crank in case the starter didn't work. My '40 Ford had one, with a small pivoted cover over it in the lower center of the grille. The same tool served as the lug wrench, jack handle, and emergency starting crank. The end of the handle had two little lugs that engaged a socket in the front of the crankshaft pulley, which had angled ramps to kick it back out when the engine started. Fortunately I never had to hand crank the old Flathead V8. It's not a bad idea to be able to, though!

[QuantumIguana]

It's for one of two things:

1) optional laser attachment. I hope the add the rear-mounted version to take care of tailgaters.

2) 1.21 gigowatt adapter to power the flux capacitor. Great if you're already late, and you have room to reach 88 mph.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

It's for one of two things:

1) optional laser attachment. I hope the add the rear-mounted version to take care of tailgaters.

2) 1.21 gigowatt adapter to power the flux capacitor. Great if you're already late, and you have room to reach 88 mph.

LOL!!!

[Yaris#2]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

American cars of the '30s and '40s usually had a small opening to insert a crank in case the starter didn't work. My '40 Ford had one, with a small pivoted cover over it in the lower center of the grille. The same tool served as the lug wrench, jack handle, and emergency starting crank. The end of the handle had two little lugs that engaged a socket in the front of the crankshaft pulley, which had angled ramps to kick it back out when the engine started. Fortunately I never had to hand crank the old Flathead V8. It's not a bad idea to be able to, though!

My first Toyota was a '63 Corrola with a three speed on the column shifter. It had a crank in the trunk in case the battery went dead. It had the same set up you describe. I used it a couple of times, not that I needed to, I just wanted to see if it worked and it did quite well.

[Yaris Hilton]

That was a good idea, to test it and see if it worked.

A '63 Corolla makes you a real pioneer. Bet nobody on here's had an older Japanese car.

[Yaris#2]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

That was a good idea, to test it and see if it worked.

A '63 Corolla makes you a real pioneer. Bet nobody on here's had an older Japanese car.

It was a sweet car. Drove it back and forth to college until I handgrenaded the engine on I-94. The speedometer was broke so I just drove a little faster than everyone else. My bad. The little 1100cc engine just couldn't take it that day. Threw a rod through the block right were the fuel pump was attached. Lucky it didn't catch fire. Parts all over the highway

[tomato]

Originally Posted by b_hickman11

You have to watch out for the Yaris World Police. They get very pissed when someone new comes on here and ask a question that they asked a few years ago. Feel free to ask anymore questions. These people that say "You need to use the search feature" are a bunch of idiots.

Hahahaha!! Good one!!

The search feature is useful and it's always a good idea to try it first rather than ask a question that was just asked yesterday , but it does have its limitations.

Personally, I fail to understand why someone would even bother to post "this question was already asked x times on this forum" or "why don't you read the f'n manual." WTF? Why bother wasting time posting anything on a thread if you deem it beneath you and don't want to help the guy out?

Pfeww, now that I got that out of my system ... feel much better now, always meant to say something about that kind of comment

But I digress...

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

A '63 Corolla makes you a real pioneer. Bet nobody on here's had an older Japanese car.

How old is old? I had a first gen. civic hatchback, 4 door, very, very much like Mad Max's pic. Mine was metallic green and had 4 doors and a hatch. I loved that little box! Pretty sure it was a mid to late 70's model, no later. I have some pics somewhere I really need to dig out for the forum.

[b_hickman11]

Originally Posted by tomato

Hahahaha!! Good one!!

The search feature is useful and it's always a good idea to try it first rather than ask a question that was just asked yesterday , but it does have its limitations.

If the poster searched for "What the heck IS this thingy???" he would have not found much on the site.

[pawsplus]

Originally Posted by tomato

The search feature is useful and it's always a good idea to try it first rather than ask a question that was just asked yesterday , but it does have its limitations.

See, I can't think of anything I would put in the search engine to search for this. How about "thingy on bumper"? I'm at a loss.

[DARK AGE 53]

Originally Posted by pawsplus

See, I can't think of anything I would put in the search engine to search for this. How about "thingy on bumper"? I'm at a loss.

I tried "what's that square hole in my bumper", that doesn't work either. If you have a question, then ask it..... why it bothers some I don't know.

[tomato]

Originally Posted by pawsplus

See, I can't think of anything I would put in the search engine to search for this. How about "thingy on bumper"? I'm at a loss.

I know what you mean. If you don't word the question exactly right, you might not get any info. Like I said, the search feature is limited.

A good thing from now on, someone will be able to enter "gerbil escape hatch" and fall right on this thread

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Just like these bugs, but their engine is in the back

New Beetles' engines are in the front.