Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Ghetto car repairs.

What sort of ghetto car repairs have you done to keep your car going?

I fixed a broken headlight mounting tab with a strip from an erector set. Some of you old timers might remember when I posted the "how to".

A leaky battery ate away the bolt that secures the battery down in my Jetta and subsequently the replacement is secured by a bungee cord. Been that way for over 2 years.

I secured the sun load sensor for my Oldsmobile in it's mounting with some duct tape.

I saved $$$ reparing the foglamps in my Oldsmobile by using parts from a Blazer foglamp kit that I got from Autozone for $20, which use identical parts.

And the ultimate ghetto repair was done by my father, he replaced the OEM fuel tank on a 1971 Superbeetle we used to have (got wrecked) with a Coors Light beer keg. We still have the keg, it's on the back porch.

I used DUCT tape to hold together a muffler & exhaust pipe to a frame rail after it was tore off by jumping a curb. This was also in my 1977 Grand Prix not the TOUR!!!

You make ghetto sound fun!

I broke my hood latch trying to put my new grille in, so i replaced the little metal rod that held it together with a key ring.

Repaired my buddies 1964 Comet rear quarter panel - Using Roofing tar and corrigated cardboard to fill the rusted section(cir:1974)..........

Used a water bed repair kit to "patch" up the vinyl seat in my buddys sunfrid. Problem was, his seat was grey, patch was teal.


Used an Adidas soccer sock to hold the y pipe up on my Dakota when the hanger broke. I was on a trip, needed something quick.

I used "liquid nails" to re-apply the door molding that half fell off on my dakota. WHen it got hot out, it would slowly peel away as I drove, looking like I had stringy bubble gum holding them together.

The good ole days of bad auto repairs.

dont know if its ghetto, but its ricey so maybe it applies.

on my first tour I must have cut a wrong where somewhere (installing a radio) and anyways my interior lights wouldnt work. so instead of taking the deck out and trying to figure out what i did, i just wired 5 10" blue neons all around the inside of my car. actually didnt look or work too bad

My stock antenna did the wavey metal sound and I couldnt stand it; so I replaced with a smaller one from an auto parts store..nonetheless, I havent gotten around to getting the adapter for it so tin foil solved the problem. It's hidden anyways!

Also, last summer I must have repositioned a coolant line incorrectly after a detail because it was laying on one of the belts in the enginebay, seemingly for a week or so until finally it cut through and my coolant shot everywhere View below for your enjoyment



So a neighbor and I solved the situation. Instead of a costly $80 dollar replacement, we used a pocket knife, copper tubing and two clamps! And really, it doesn't look half bad at all.

And, ze result

That hose cost $80 to replace?! I wouldn't call your repair ghetto at all; you would be friggin insane to pay $80 for a piece of rubber hose.