What is the most effective way to sabotage a vehicle's engine?

Question

No, I'm not a terrorist! I'm writing an adventure novel, and need some ideas on how to neutralise the villain's means of escape.

Answer 1

There are several ways to neutralize an engine, You could pull the spark plug wires, especially the one in the center of the distributor cap. This is the quickest way, and that is if you have time and access to open the hood. Or you could cut the fuel line, no fuel, no go..that would be easy and needs no experience, under the car one side or the other is a fuel filter, just unscrew it, and leave it off, out the fuel will pour. Then you could always do the punchured fuel tank, just as easy. Then there is always the belts that can be cut, or the battery remove, but all those required time and access to under the hood. If you can't remove the battery, then just yank out the positive wire to the battery, that one would be the red wire, or the one with a + on top of the battery, need the battery to turn the old girl over, so the alternator can take over...Oh then you have the hole in the raditator, easy screwdriver and at the bottom of the raditator you can punch a hole and the water will come out causing the vehicle to overheat, creates a nice smoke screen too...good luck with your novel, just a few examle to help you get started hope I helped..

Answer 2

If you want to make a quick but damaging move to the engine drive a screwdriver though the oil pan. It will render it useless in seconds but spill oil everywhere. Plus the oil light will come on.

just open the oil fill cap on the top of the engine and drop rocks in it.

Cut the wire going to the starter or starter solenoid = car does nothing but you dont have to open the hood.

Just start cutting or pulling wires under the dash (pull out fuses) less conspiculous takes seconds and you dont have to get in the hood. (pull fuel pump relay switch and no gas can get to engine)


Or attach an explosive device to the starter so when the key is turned and electricity flows to the starter it detonates and the villian is either wounded or safe but the car is mangled

Answer 3

The problem with all the answers given is the car will start and go a few blocks or miles before dying. The fastest and most effective way to stop a car where it won't even start is to pop the hood grab the spark plug wires and yank them out-literally 15 seconds and no way to start the vehicle. Remember to vote for a best answer

Answer 4

Miranda has the best answer so far. At least when the neighbor kid is riding the mower you know where he is and what he is doing. Much better than stealing, dealing drugs or even playing video games. At least he is outside and doing something that he can learn things from. Work it out with the parents. Damaging personal property is not the adult thing to do. You get all kinds of stupid suggesttions here. Think about it for a minute and do the right thing.

Answer 5

How To Sabotage A Car

Answer 6

Remove the fuel pump relay and throw it into the bushes. Remove the car battery... Old stand bys remove the distributor rotor remove the coil wire. only works for novels set in the 1960's and earlier. Modern cars have complex electrical computers that can be disabled with strong electromagnetic pulse. Like grounding a arc welder to the engine computer and striking a welder rod to spark out the control unit.

Answer 7

Sand in the oil. Goes through to the bearings and trashes the engine.

Answer 8

Loosen the distributor connections.

Or loosen one of the battery leads so as the connection cannot be made.

Answer 9

Sugar in the gas tank or a potato in the tailpipe. Both effective in getting the car to not start.

Answer 10

If you want to do permanate damage put sugar in the gas tank. for quick but fixable either pull out sparkplug wires or switch some around. for a funny classic shove stuff up the tail pipe (i.e. potatos, bannanas....)