4 Dangerous TikTok Car Hacks That Can Cost You $1,000
Ru Chen
· 4 min read
There are a lot of car hacks out there on TikTok, but not all of them are harmless. As with many other trending DIY life hacks, some car hacks can cause substantial
car damage
.
Dangerous car life hacks you should NOT try at home
Pontefract & Castleford Express
listed a series of car hacks trending on TikTok that are not worth the attempt. Each DIY project comes with an estimated cost of damage that could come with it.These hacks aren’t solely found on TikTok. Some of them have been around for decades as people try to avoid going to the car repair shop.
1. DIY car dent removal–$400
For some reason, DIY car dent removal is incredibly popular. It ranges from using glue sticks on the dent, to pouring hot water and pushing the dent out.
You can buy suction dent pullers that are more reliable than glue sticks, but these only work for small dents.
According to the Great Plains Auto Body Shop
, if you use a dent puller incorrectly, it can also cause more damage.2. DIY foaming car jet wash–$1,000
There’s a reason people go to professional car washes for serious car maintenance. If you don’t know the safe way to conduct a car wash, don’t try this at home.
A TikTok user showed a method to get a fresh car valet feel by yourself. By pouring dish soap into a hosepipe, this user created a foaming jet wash. Unfortunately, too much dish soap can strip your car of the wax that protects the delicate clear coat.
It looks clean at first, but after a while, the lack of that protective coat can result in significant dirt and rust damage. This usually adds up to around $1,000 for a car respray.
3. Using hot water to remove frost and ice–$400
It might sound like a good idea to use hot water to remove ice on your windshield, but the sheer temperature difference can cause a giant crack.
One TikTok user garnered a ton of attention for her car hack. She used a bag to hold the hot water to remove frost from the windshield.
However, the motoring experts at
Peter Vardy
warn that even if you’re using a sealed bag, you can still get windshield damage.4. WD-40 to clean foggy headlights can cause bulbs to malfunction–$20
The oils from WD-40 spray can leak into the bulb through the headlight rim. This can blur or even burn the bulb out entirely.
WD-40 may be a good one-time temporary solution, it definitely carries risks. This car hack might help in emergencies, but it could also make things worse, so definitely weigh your options before you try this.
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What to do if your car needs repairs
If your car gets damaged, it’s a good idea to first check with your insurance company to see whether you can get the repair costs covered.
Sometimes, coverage will include smaller repairs that you might find unexpected.
If you really want to try a DIY car repair hack, just make sure you are aware of the potential risks.
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