Car sabotage?

Okay, I have no clue if this is the right place to put this or if anyone will even have an answer. Basically, I had someone tell me they overheard someone else (someone who is not fond of me!) saying they are going to "sabotage" my car while I'm at work. I'm obviously not going to have a clue when they do this (if they even do), so I guess I am wondering what kind of "sabotage" she could possibly do? It would have to be something fairly quick and easy since it would be at work. Are there signs I should look for when I go out to my car? Is there anything potentially REALLY dangerous she could do? Thanks for any info you can provide!

Okay, I have no clue if this is the right place to put this or if anyone will even have an answer. Basically, I had someone tell me they overheard someone else (someone who is not fond of me!) saying they are going to "sabotage" my car while I'm at work. I'm obviously not going to have a clue when they do this (if they even do), so I guess I am wondering what kind of "sabotage" she could possibly do? It would have to be something fairly quick and easy since it would be at work. Are there signs I should look for when I go out to my car? Is there anything potentially REALLY dangerous she could do? Thanks for any info you can provide!

If she is an idiot, she could probably get you killed.

Most dangerous thing I can think of is brakes. Make sure they work before putting any decent speed on.

If they don't use your handbrake. If that fails as well, use gears to engine brake, and then, finally slip it into park if it's an auto.

But I doubt anyone would do something so serious.

Does she actually know anything about cars?

Putting sugar in the gas tank would be the easiest and is usually what people do first. This will cause serious engine damage that could cost $1000 to 1600 to fix. The sugar turns to carbon in the cylinders and increases compression to the point of locking the engine up or blowing the head gaskets.

I don't THINK she knows much about cars, that's why I think it would have to be something simple and easy to do.

As long as she keeps her doors locked, no one can get under the hood to do any damage. If you find a window broken, anything is up for discussion. I doubt that anyone would go to the trouble to jack the car up to do anything underneath. Look for any kind of liquids that might be under the car. So you are probably left with the sugar in the tank or possibly slashed tires, broken windows, broken head lights/tail lights and damaged paint by scratches, spray paint or chemicals. Worst scenario is setting the car on fire.

Possibilities add up don't they!!!

Putting sugar in the gas tank would be the easiest and is usually what people do first. This will cause serious engine damage that could cost $1000 to 1600 to fix. The sugar turns to carbon in the cylinders and increases compression to the point of locking the engine up or blowing the head gaskets.

Sugar doesn't dissolve in petroleum-based liquids, all it does is block the filter on the lift pump. it won't damage the engine.

water is more effective, and even then it doesn't do a great deal.

If I was bent on messing with someone.....you'd have no way to find out about it. There's a million things someone could do to ruin your day. It would be impossible to list them all

The hope is, this person isn't very knowledgable and will do something stupid, such as gas in the tank. Although not fun to deal with, its pretty low on the list of bad things someone could do. But if you have a cable operated hatch for the gas cap, its unlikely they will do that

if it was me, i would pull a spark plug and drop some rocks and bolts in the cylinder. either that or disconnect the shift linkage. or connect the coolant overflow hose to the valve cover...or maybe...wait i really should stop thinking like this. i could get too evil with it. but most of the damaging things that could happen involve either popping the hood or draining fluids.

Sugar doesn't dissolve in petroleum-based liquids, all it does is block the filter on the lift pump. it won't damage the engine.

water is more effective, and even then it doesn't do a great deal.

This is true.

There are many ways to sabotage a car, and as noted above, some may get you killed and kill others.

My advice: Report this to the police. A threat, even to others to sabotage your car is ILLEGAL, for good reason. It may be considered conspiracy, or threatening to do bodily harm.
Insist the cops visit or at least call the person and explain the seriousness of their threat. This should dissuade this person from doing anything, lest they be under suspicion if anything was to happen.
Finally, a person who does not know much about cars can be extremely dangerous, because they may not know the severity of what they may do.

Finally, a person who does not know much about cars can be extremely dangerous, because they may not know the severity of what they may do.

This is also true.

No one with half a brain is going to cut a brake line, because they know it is very dangerous.

An idiot, on the other hand, has seen it in movies and is going to go 'hur hur hur thar be a funny idea'.

As long as she keeps her doors locked, no one can get under the hood to do any damage.

Not true. On most vehicles you can use a long pick/screwdriver/prybar and trip the latch mechanism from kneeling down in front of the car. On some you have to lay down and get underneath to get at it. If neither of those ways work, you can easily cut the release cable and pull the cable with pliers. I'm a mechanic and have had to do this many times when the cable breaks.

There is no limit to what someone can do to a vehicle. Someone with extensive knowledge may get a wiring diagram and cut a couple sensor wires where they'l' be a PITA to find and repair, short out PCM outputs which could damage the PCM. Some of these sensors could leave you stranded, or just turn the MIL on. As mentioned previously, idiots do more dangerous damage, most of which is in movies.

I agree about calling the cops on this person.

Sugar water will go through the filter. And some one with alot of knowledge would be needed to do alot of the things listed under mechanical things to do. Its easy enough to assume, by looking at alot of questions being asked in these forums, that the wide majority of people would not be capable of 90% of what is listed above.

Best quess is the person who would tell you in advance that they are going to sabotage your vehicle "is the village idiot".

They could mean something as nasty as pouring milk down the air vents into the cabin.
Not a good smell after a few days.

i have a dodge 07 nitro 3.7 liter and the ex put some kind of syrup in the gas tank. I drove it about a block. It stalled and wont start. Its getting fire, but the fuel isnt going into the injectors. what can i do?
Diana:confused:

i have a dodge 07 nitro 3.7 liter and the ex put some kind of syrup in the gas tank. I drove it about a block. It stalled and wont start. Its getting fire, but the fuel isnt going into the injectors. what can i do?
Diana:confused:

Get it towed to a garage and have them find out how bad it is. It's going to be expensive, no two ways about it. Unless it's only the fuel filter or screen on the lift pump that's clogged, which still isn't cheap. Then sue your ex for the cost of the repairs. Or shoot them, preferably both, but get the money first.

or may be she deserved it for being a mean and nasty person that cheats and lies to him

She would probably be looking to do something quick and easy . The first thing that comes to mind is " keying " you car . That is casually walking beside your car as she holds a key in her hand down beside her body .She then pushes the sharp end of the key into the paint as she walks the full length of the car . It leaves a long nasty scratch and can often be done in area where there are security cameras without being seen on the camera's recording .

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