Dear Tom and Ray:

Here's a story I think most people should know about. I went to the doctor's office to seek help for a sinus infection the other day. I parked my '91 Jeep Cherokee on the street. When I got done, the car would crank but it wouldn't start. The gas-gauge needle had dropped off the dial, and the "low fuel" light was on. I noticed that there were four or five homeless-looking people on the block. One of them came up and offered to help me. Figuring why not, I let the guy try a few things. I was nervous, because the neighborhood wasn't great, and I was having trouble understanding his accent. After playing with several different things under the car, he got the car started. Next came his pitch: "If you took this to the dealer, they'd want to replace your computer and charge you lots of dough. But I'd be happy with $35 for helping out." The smallest bill I had was a $5, which I gave him. I told him he'd volunteered to help and couldn't expect to be paid. I think this was a scam. My question is, without having access to the interior or the engine compartment, how did he disable my car so he could "help me" start it again? -- Ted

Ray: Geez, Ted. You've got some very clever homeless people in your town.

Tom: I'll tell you exactly what he did. He crawled under the car, and unplugged the electrical harness that powers the fuel pump.

Ray: And by unplugging it, he killed the electric fuel pump, which prevented the car from starting. And since that same harness powers the gas gauge sending unit, your gas gauge also registered empty.

Tom: Then, when he saw you cranking away, he crawled back under the car, plugged the harness back in, and voila! Everything was fine again.

Ray: So it is a scam. And a lot of cars have external harnesses and are vulnerable to this kind of thing.

Tom: And no -- all of you would-be scammers -- we won't tell you exactly where the harness is so you can go out and make a few extra bucks this weekend. At least not until you agree in advance to send us half your earnings!

Changing your oil regularly is the cheapest insurance you can buy for your car, but how often should you change it? Find out by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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