I Hate This as a Car-Prank Because It Could Cost Someone a Lot of Money Bringing Their Car Into a Mechanic

Some pranks can get out of hand with unintended consequences as recently pointed out by one comment concerning a recent Reddit r/auto discussion forum titled "Found This In My Car."

Summer Fun…But Not for Everyone

Car pranks have been a staple of both television and movies.

For example, in the Leave it to Beaver show, one episode titled "Wally's Practical Joke," Wally is urged by Eddie Haskell to play a practical joke on their school chum Lumpy after he pranks them with exploding smoke bombs in both Wally's and Eddie's cars.

Wally and Eddie's revenge prank involved securing a heavy chain to Lumpy's rear axle, envisioning him burning rubber at a standstill while trying to drive away.

Unfortunately for the boys, Lumpy's rear axle is pulled free from the car, resulting in serious damage to the car. Wally is found out because the chain has his father's name on it.

Another similar scene reputedly "borrowed" by George Lucas in the movie American Graffiti is one where Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) hooks a chain to the axle of a police car as part of an initiation rite to join the cool Pharaohs Car Club.

Here's a video clip of the infamous scene:

At the risk of life imitating art, there is the temptation among younger minds (especially during the summer months) where "Idle hands are the Devils' workshop" is a truism.

Case in point: a Reddit forum user who recently posted this following the discovery of a mystery device in his car.

"My car has been mysteriously making a one beep sound and then also two short beeps, and it sounds like it's in the back of my car…after months of this, and having no idea of what it is, I found the culprit… can anyone identify what this is?? It was in the side panel in the back seat."

Related article: What Is This Inside My 2015 Jeep Frame? I Found Another One Inside The License Plate Holder

Thread Comments Identify the Mystery Object and Share Other Similar Stories

Fortunately the OP is taking this well as a practical joke, wondering who the prankster could be. However, the prank has not quite come to an end.

"So just to add fuel to the fire, I just went out for a ride, and low and behold, there is another in the truck, and I've searched high and low, can't find the device anywhere… also, I have no idea who would've done it… but I'll save these for my next frienemy." ―OP

Other thread comments share their experiences with similar car-related pranks:

I've once seen a picture of someone who had a harmonica zip-tied to his car, so it makes silly noises. Just to give you some inspiration, in case you find the one who did it." ―C4TURIX

If you figure out who did it, I have a great but harmless counter prank. You take a bottle of rain-X and a rag. Spray the rag and draw whatever you desire on the driver's side of the windshield. Just make sure it has time to dry. Next time it rains, they get a nice surprise." ―AKxNIGHTSTALKER

We once teased a bad-tempered people manager with a styrofoam-dampened wireless doorbell in a wrap thrown into the ventilation pipe above the office ceiling tiles in his office. Every time he behaved badly, that sound appeared only once. One fine beep sound. He was furious, trying to connect things in his head, even lifting the tiles and furniture several times. He then forced himself into another office, and the new person said she never heard that sound he talked about. Most didn't know, so no one really knew what happened. Extreme difficult to keep calm during his rage attacks." ―The DanishFire2

However, the most remarkable one was this comment shared:

"Prank, I worked at Toyota back in the late 80s; we had a customer bring in his brand new Supra, and he complained about a high-pitched ringing noise and rattle coming from dash on the passenger side. We could hear it, but couldn't find it, so the boss said, ' It's under warranty; take it apart and find it. ' Had to remove 3/4 of the dash, the AC, everything, found 4 big flat washers tied on a string hanging way in the back with a note written in English on one side and Japanese on the other that said, "Bet you had a hard time finding this," we sure did. It had to have been done on the assembly line." ―Hostile_Texan

This brings us to a point about the consequences of a prank gone unchecked by a prankster, as noted by thread commenter n00nglade who states, "I hate this as a car-prank because it could cost someone a lot of money bringing their car into a mechanic. Surprise, one of your friends put this thing in your car. Our boys spent an hour making sure nothing was wrong with the car before they heard it, and then 2 hours trying to find the damn thing. That'll be $800 bucks."

Car Pranks That Could Be Costly or Harmful

Pranks are pranks, but sometimes there is a fine line between a prank and sabotaging someone's car that could easily lead to expensive mechanic bills or even damage if the owner doesn't realize it's a prank:

1. Unplugging a Sensor (e.g., MAF, O2, or coolant temp sensor) will trigger a check engine light, rough idling, or poor performance.
2. Disconnecting or Loosening a Spark Plug Wire or Coil Pack will cause engine misfiring, poor performance, and possibly damage to the catalytic converter if driven too long.
3. Tire Valve Stem Core Removal or Loosening can cause a slow leak and/or flat tire.
4. Filling the Washer Fluid Tank With Something Else (e.g., mineral oil) that may clog the lines and damage the pump.
5. Putting Tape or Stickers Over Sensors (e.g., backup cam, radar, ADAS) that will likely trigger system errors or disable some safety features.

Even if done in jest, these pranks can:

1. Void warranties and result in an expensive repair bill
2. Damage trust between friends
3. Lead to safety risks
4. Get someone stranded or towed
5. Result in a loss of wages or even a job if the intended victim is left without a car until repairs can be made.

In short, if a prank idea is one that you would not appreciate done to your car, it's probably best not to do it to someone else.

Now It Is Your Turn to Share a Car Prank: Let us know in the comments section below a memorable car prank you have experienced or heard about.

For an additional article related to pranks and semi-pranks that may not have been such a good idea, here are two titled "A Car Thieves Glitter Bomb Christmas Story"and "Booby Trapped Truck Makes the News and Raises Questions."

COMING UP NEXT: The Toyota Brand Engagement Employee That Called Said My Vehicle Was Manufactured in Kentucky and Joked That They Probably Made My Car on a Friday

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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