Look, all of us here are automotive enthusiasts, right? Right. As such, it would make sense to encourage one another in our respective automotive endeavors, including those DIY’ers looking to do some wrenching and repairs at home. However, we gotta draw the line at fixes like the botch job done by this particular Chevy Impala driver, who was recently caught with a pair of flashlights taped to the front of his car in lieu of actual headlamps.
You know, even the term “botch job” may be giving this Chevy Impala driver too much credit. “Dangerous idiocy” may be a bit closer to the truth.
As reported by CNN, a Washington State Patrol officer pulled over a Chevy Impala earlier this week as it was traveling close to North Bend on Interstate 90. The officer noticed that the Chevy had “super dim,” headlights, which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be two flashlights taped to the Chevy Impala’s front fascia.
Judging by the pictures, the Impala looks to have some considerable damage to it, as the front end is now completely mangled. It appears as though the original factory headlamps were either damaged, or would no longer stay mounted on the front end. Either way, this thing is definitely not safe to drive, especially at night.
According to the CNN report, the flashlights-turned headlamps were running out of power and dimming even further, and the driver was operating the vehicle on a suspended license.
“I don’t know of any car manufacturer that duct tapes flashlights to the front of their cars upon sale,” said Washington State Patrol Officer Rick Johnson. “But you know, I guess this is 2020, right?”
It goes without saying that this is a very bad idea. Hopefully the driver of this Chevy Impala learns his lesson, and if he ever gets his license back, he does his next DIY repair job proper – you know, without the duct tape.
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Comments
Modern problems require modern solutions.
Let me pull over real quick and change the batteries in my headlights.
Excuse me sir, are those DOT approved flashlights?
Hopefully they only got a warning. At least they took the initiative to try and have a solution. I’ve seen people drive with no lights on at night for several miles on the interstate.
He had no drivers license.
It was probably suspended for that infraction which can also be a violation on its own. The law only requires the car to have operational lights. Flashlight are considered lights. I would fight this ticket as there is no law that prohibits the use of flashlights to aid in illumination of the road
Must be a fan of Roadkill!
Was it a Grand Tour Special? Looks like something one of the hosts has already done lol
i was 22 years old and did that on my 86 nissan sentra se. i pulled over the park light blub to look like a headlight. those headlights in the early 90’s were expensive.. when you make 5.25$ a hour in 1992..
I did this when I was 18 yrs old. I bought a 1987 Camry (mind you I was born in 1988) at auction for $500. It drove well except I had no brake lights or tail lights. The rear turn signals worked. The problem was in wiring not the bulbs. So I stuck 2 small LED lights behind the red reflectors to drive home at night. It worked for months until I sold the car and got a nice Grand Marquis.
Geez, sounds like something someone in the town I live in would do. Absolutely nothing surprises, astonishes, or makes me wonder anymore. It is amazing to what lengths people will go to avoid fixing their cars the right way and go totally stupid on their driveway engineering.
Poor fellow probably could not afford to fix this piece of junk, only other alternative !! LOL !!
At least he got creative and thought of something can’t judge nobody until you have walked in they shoes!!!!
Not any worse than plastic headlight lens that clouds up in a year so bad you can’t tell if your headlights are on. Bring back the glass lens that lasts for the life of the vehicle.
Driving on a suspended license. Insurance? Doesn’t say, but if they won’t spring for headlights, I doubt it. It all seems funny till he sues someone after he hits them because they have insurance and he has an unscrupulous lawyer (redundant). Driving is privilege. This douche should sit in jail for a month.
if this person one day in jail, it will be more than boeing execs who knew there was a flaw in the 737max. over three hundred people died. no one went to jail.
He just wanted LED lights!
At least he is trying. I have seen a number of people recently driving in the dark with the headlights off?
As a mechanic and a licensed state inspector in Virginia this does not surprise me at all. I’ve seen people do some extremely strange things to avoid fixing there cars. My advice if you cant afford car repairs dont invest in a car someone’s life may depend on its safety. You dont want to buy brake pads but you will go out your way to get those cigarettes smdh..
As a mechanic and a licensed state inspector in Virginia this does not surprise me at all. I’ve seen people do some extremely strange things to avoid fixing there cars. My advice if you cant afford car repairs dont invest in a car someone’s life may depend on its safety. You dont want to buy brake pads but you will go out your way to get those cigarettes smdh..
Too many people forget about junkyards. They even pull the parts for you and some guarantee/warranty their parts. You can save 50% easily and it beats buying some aftermarket cheap reproduction.
Needing to shed a little more light on the subject maybe.
Has anyone shopped at K’s Electric Vapor? 😉