Wait, They Fixed What? The Most Random and Unnecessary Car Repairs Ever!

by AutoExpert   |  18 September, 2023

Share :

Ever taken your car to a mechanic and gotten a quote for a repair that left you utterly puzzled? You’re not alone. We’ve been down that rabbit hole, and boy, is it filled with some strange twists and turns. So today, let's dig into the wildest, most random, and completely unnecessary car repairs ever.

Blinker Fluid: Yes, You Heard That Right!

The infamous blinker fluid "repair" has become something of an automotive joke. A mechanic might tell you it needs changing, but spoiler alert, blinker fluid isn't a thing. Your blinkers work on electrical systems, people!

Random and Unnecessary Car Repairs

Did You Know? The joke has been around so long, there are actually gag gift bottles of "blinker fluid" you can buy.

The Muffler Bearing: Say What Now?

You read it right—the mythical muffler bearing. It's another invention of the mechanic's imagination that simply doesn't exist. But let’s be honest, it does sound somewhat plausible, doesn’t it?

Crazy Fact: Some people have actually fallen for this and have paid upwards of $200 for this nonexistent repair. Ouch!

Random and Unnecessary Car Repairs

The Flux Capacitor: Not Just For Time Travel

Remember "Back to the Future"? Well, some mechanics will actually claim your car needs a new flux capacitor. Unless your car is a DeLorean and you're heading back to 1985, you don't need one.

Movie Magic: The original flux capacitor from "Back to the Future" was auctioned off for $60,000!

Random and Unnecessary Car Repairs

Replacing Air in Tires with Premium Air: Seriously?

Yes, folks. Some repair shops offer to replace the regular air in your tires with "premium air." We still haven’t figured out what makes the air premium, though. Could it be the whiff of a summer breeze?

Oddly True: Believe it or not, there have been reported cases where people shelled out $100 for this.

Random and Unnecessary Car

Cosmic Alignments: When Your Car Needs An Astrologer

We've even heard of mechanics claiming that your car's alignment issues are because Mercury is in retrograde. Yeah, astrology for cars—that's a new one on us too.

Starry-Eyed: Car astrology isn’t mainstream, but there are articles on what type of car suits each zodiac sign. Can’t make this stuff up!

Random and Unnecessary Car Repairs

The Turbo-Encabulator: A Glimpse into the Future?

Ever heard of the Turbo-Encabulator? If a mechanic ever tells you this needs replacing, head for the hills. It's a fictional machine engineers have joked about for decades. Despite its mythical status, the Turbo-Encabulator has an amazingly detailed, pseudo-scientific description.

Mind-Boggling: The Turbo-Encabulator even has a "manual" and technical videos explaining its function, all completely fictional, of course.

Random and Unnecessary Car Repairs

Reverse Headlights: Seeing Backwards?

Some mechanics with a sense of humor may tell you that your reverse headlights need replacing. Now, unless your car has the ability to light up the road behind you like it’s a spaceship, reverse headlights are not a thing.

Flash of Light: Did you know that some concept cars actually incorporate rear-facing lights for enhanced night-time visibility? But they’re not called "reverse headlights."

Random and Unnecessary Car Repairs

Sound-Activated Windshield Wipers: The Clap On, Clap Off Phenomenon

What if you could activate your windshield wipers with just a clap or a whistle? While it sounds like something from a spy movie, some mechanics might insist you need a system update for your “outdated” sound-activated wipers. Just a heads up—these don’t exist. Yet.

Fun Fact: There are, however, wipers that sense rain and activate automatically, but clapping won’t do the trick!

Random and Unnecessary Car Repairs

The Verdict: Watch Your Wallet!

So, the next time you're at the mechanic's, keep an ear out for these tall tales. While it's mostly all in good fun, you definitely don’t want to be that person who actually pays for these things. Always get a second opinion, folks, especially if you’re asked to shell out for “premium air” or a fresh batch of “blinker fluid.”

Recomended:

Those Black Dots Around Your Windshield Have Been Hiding Several Important Jobs - Photo
Others
Those Black Dots Around Your Windshield Have Been Hiding Several Important Jobs

They run around the edge of almost every modern windshield: a solid black border that gradually breaks into smaller and smaller dots before disappearing into clear glass.Most drivers have stared t

AutoExpert
Your Tire Pressure Rose on the Highway. Put the Gauge Down Before Letting Air Out - Photo
Tips & Tricks
Your Tire Pressure Rose on the Highway. Put the Gauge Down Before Letting Air Out

The sticker inside the driver’s door says 35 PSI. After an hour on the highway, the dashboard says 39. Four extra pounds of pressure sounds like a problem. The tires were set correctly that morn

AutoExpert
Your Fresh Engine Oil Turned Black Already. Should You Be Worried? - Photo
Others
Your Fresh Engine Oil Turned Black Already. Should You Be Worried?

Fresh motor oil is reassuring stuff. It pours from the bottle in a clear amber stream, looking clean enough to belong in a kitchen rather than an engine.A few hundred miles later, the dipstick can

AutoExpert
The 2027 Toyota Tundra Gets The Upgrade It Needed Most - Photo
Car News
The 2027 Toyota Tundra Gets The Upgrade It Needed Most

Hoping to boost the Tundra's appeal, Toyota has introduced new features and a new Trailhunter model for 2027.Designed for overlanding enthusiasts, the new Trailhunter package is based on the S

AutoExpert
That Tiny Slot Beside Your Shifter Has a Job Most Drivers Never Discover - Photo
Others
That Tiny Slot Beside Your Shifter Has a Job Most Drivers Never Discover

A dead battery is annoying in any parking space. It becomes considerably more awkward when the car is nose-first inside a garage and the tow truck needs it in Neutral.The brake pedal feels normal.

AutoExpert
The “B” on Your Hybrid Shifter Does Not Mean Battery, Boost or Better Economy - Photo
Others
The “B” on Your Hybrid Shifter Does Not Mean Battery, Boost or Better Economy

Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive need little introduction. Then there is B. It sits on the shifter of many hybrids looking important but refusing to explain itself. Battery seems like the obvious

AutoExpert
There Is Moisture Inside Your Headlight. Do You Actually Need a New One? - Photo
Others
There Is Moisture Inside Your Headlight. Do You Actually Need a New One?

The car comes out of the wash looking excellent, apart from one headlight. Behind the clear lens is a patch of mist, as though someone breathed on the inside of it. The other lamp may be perfectly

AutoExpert
Mercedes-Maybach Just Made Its Flagship SUV Even More Luxurious - Photo
Car News
Mercedes-Maybach Just Made Its Flagship SUV Even More Luxurious

Luxury SUVs have become the vehicle of choice for many ultra-wealthy buyers, and Mercedes-Maybach wants to make sure they don't have to compromise. The new 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 takes ever

AutoExpert
Geely Says The Galaxy TT Doesn't Need A Huge Battery To Go 450 Miles - Photo
Car News
Geely Says The Galaxy TT Doesn't Need A Huge Battery To Go 450 Miles

A big battery isn't always the answer. Geely believes the smarter approach is building a more efficient electric drivetrain, and that's exactly what it has done with the upcoming Galaxy TT. Th

AutoExpert
Nissan Says Brake Caliper Colors Actually Mean Something - Photo
Car News
Nissan Says Brake Caliper Colors Actually Mean Something

Think brake caliper colors are just there to look good? Nissan says they actually serve a purpose. According to the automaker, the color behind the wheels acts as a quick visual guide, revealing the t

AutoExpert