# If the screwdriver doesn't work use the hammer **URL:** \ **Category:** The Show\ **Created:** [December 14, 2008, 6:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-the-screwdriver-doesnt-work-use-the-hammer/23392 "2008-12-14T06:10:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ryanhorlacher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ryanhorlacher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ryanhorlacher)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-the-screwdriver-doesnt-work-use-the-hammer/23392/1 "2008-12-14T06:10:23Z")
Tom and Ray gave this timeless (though in this case not very helpful) advice to a caller today, then shared a story about giving the same advice for a dead starter. A couple cars ago I went on a 2000 mile road trip and the same thing happened to me when I was 800 miles from home. My car wouldn’t start after filling it up with gas. Just after the station attendant told me I had to get out of the way of the pump or he’d have me towed, someone recognized my predicament and helped me out by whacking the starter motor while I held the key in the start position. It worked like a charm. After that I found that I had sufficient arm length to hold the key in the ignition and reach the starter motor with the tire iron. I continued, to the entertainment of any friend who may be riding with me, to start my car the same way for a year and a half until the car was ultimately totaled. needless to say, I didn’t lament the wreck as much as I might have. ---
**Author:** ![clammppit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@clammppit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/clammppit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 7:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-the-screwdriver-doesnt-work-use-the-hammer/23392/2 "2008-12-14T07:20:09Z")
That whack/smack releases the pinion gear that is stuck or reconnects the electrical solenoid contacts.Good job.