A woman in Decatur, Illinois, has come up with an unorthodox way to start her car: by sticking a knife into the gear shifter to allow her to reverse. Given the state of her car, perhaps that is the only way to prevent it from falling apart altogether.
The car in question is a 2012 Ford Fusion with more than 218,000 miles under its belt. Its owner, who goes by Diego on TikTok, often shows the many ways she keeps it running, and it often goes viral as a result.
This latest showcase of automotive miracles involves actually being able to start the Ford Fusion. More than half a million viewers observed the state of Diego’s car and simultaneously wondered how it wouldn’t spontaneously combust.
Thankfully, no such thing happened. Instead, Diego had to stab her own car to make it run. Amazing.
Kitchen Knife Solution
@staddydiego So this look complicated 🥴? #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #catsoftiktok #car #ford ♬ original sound – D4Deigo🌈
Now in the driver’s seat, the woman was ready to leave. She started the vehicle’s engine with the key permanently stuck in the ignition, then brought out a kitchen knife.
In a swift move, Diego removed the center console trim panel. After all, if she must do this every time she jumps into her Fusion, then removing the panel should be easy.
Then, while pressing down on the knife, she managed to move the gear shifter into reverse. “Simple,” she said as she looked into the camera and began her trip to her destination.
A Car in Shambles
@staddydiego Replying to @Edan they think this a park or sumn 😭😭🤣 #fypシ゚viral #fypシ #ford #carsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Paythtman 💰
In a previous clip, she explained the many issues with her car. She detailed that her front bumper hit a fox, cracking its left side in the process. The right side wasn’t any better, as it was hanging loosely.
To avoid any issues while driving, she cut a bit off the right side of the front bumper with her knife. Then, she just “clips it” in place.
The right side of the Fusion had sustained significant horizontal scrapes, scuffs, and dents. Additionally, the front passenger’s window appeared to be stuck in place, so Diego covered the remainder with some plastic wrap of sorts.
A Beloved Vehicle
@staddydiego Replying to @Denim Grace I watched the tow truck company do it 😭😭 #fypシ ♬ original sound – D4Deigo🌈
The knife hack wasn’t the only solution Diego came up with to allow her car to “properly” function. She also has to worry about getting her AC to work.
In a separate clip, she showed how she usually jump-starts her Fusion as her battery often runs out. Then, she connects a wire from the battery to the air compressor to get the AC running.
Many of her followers suggested she open up a GoFundMe to help her “fix” her vehicle, as she isn’t willing to let it go. She did, and her goal is to keep it “rolling strong.”
“Although I do have to take it apart and put it BACK together to drive it, IT’S MINE, and I absolutely LOVE my car. I have more memories than complaints,” she wrote in the fundraiser’s description.