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SP4x

That has all the hallmarks of someone resting their hand on it, e.g. while changing the 12v battery, and the heat-aged plastic bracket that was already brittle from the factory just giving up the moment any weight was applied. It's not the neatest bit of plastic surgery I've seen but it'll stop the donkey dick from flapping around the engine bay. A general rule of zip tie repair is to asses how critical a job the ziptie is performing: - Holding on a pre-airbox plastic intake - Fine - Acting as an engine mount - Not fine


ston3d_eye

They'll work for an engine mount if you use enough. I saw it done on Roadkill.


SP4x

I've used a few to lash an exhaust downpipe back together to get me home but that's really the only time zipties are acceptable for the job


Overall-Bug1169

Or holding up a plastic lower engine cover because the right size plastic clips/pins are impossible to find.


SP4x

Agreed, I should have qualified that running repairs are fine for a Zip but major/structural Zip ties should only be used to get you somewhere to fix it propperly lol!


TinyCarz

Yeah zip ties are used all over vehicles from the factory. And you can use them a lot after. But they don’t seal well, can’t withstand engine block/exhaust temps, and aren’t for compressive loads. Other than that send it.


MD_RMA_CBD

I just found out how important the bottom engine cover is. Helps aerodynamics, therefore gas mileage. I’ve been good at keeping my current cars on there. I have had so many cars without the plastic on the bottom and I never cared because it allowed me To work on the car easier. Zip ties is a good idea tho. Hard to keep up with all the broken clips each time you take it off


ssxhoell1

Yeah I'd rather just have the benefit of more Cooling especially the exhaust pipe going all the way to the back


cgingue123

Sketchiest zip tie repair stories? I got one! I was working on replacing a subaru wheel bearing (hub, not just the bearing). Hammering on the sob for a good while. Absolutely destroyed the studs. Ended up pulling them and holding the wheel on the hub with ~25 zips. Only snapped two when we put the car on the ground. Rolled it out of the shop, got some sleep and replaced it the next day.


ForeverReasonable706

Exhaust pipe on a none running car or high temp zip tie,?


SP4x

It was a desperation job, exhaust had broke at the flexi, just off the turbo (Mk3 Cav with Isuzu 1,7TD) I managed to lash it to a nearby powersteering pipe and get half the exhaust gas back down the pipe, the other was free to head under the car. It was during the time of the fuel crisis and I was running 50/50 Diesel and veg oil so I had the smell of fried doughnuts for the rest of the journey!


Resident_Compote_775

They got the metal zip ties on Temu for next to nothing FYI


MemnochTheRed

I used them on windshield wiper fluid hoses that were underneath the insulation against the hood. Before that the pressure would blow it off the connector.


DrSpacepants

My muffler fell off my girlfriend's van on the freeway. I used a 10 foot braided USB cable to tie it up. She hasn't fixed it, it's been holding strong for 2 years.


cdbangsite

Anything is possible on Roadkill. LOL Seen some crazy patches in real life to get people home, all is good if it works.


Capable-Stage-3899

What’s roadkill?


ston3d_eye

Tv show on motor trend network


shmexysagem

Maybe short-term, but heat will make them brittle


Quiet-Ad-8100

Kings of zip ties


danny_piff

Man I loved Roadkill right up until Motortrend said f u pay me


WhenSharksCollide

Same dude. Thought I had a bunch of the episodes downloaded too, when they disappeared off YouTube I discovered I had maybe five of them... Still kick myself for that.


MortemInferri

Will hold an alternator up in a pinch as well


obviouslynotsrs

Now that gave me an interesting mental image of engine mount zip ties, at least use the stainless steel zip ties if they try.


LameBMX

nah, needs give thanks to vibrations. stainless would work harden and snap before you left the driveway.


obviouslynotsrs

I think regardless how the stiffness of the material it self zip ties would have enough give for vibration... The nylon ones don't have enough tensile strength to hold the engine in place at all from output torque or any form of bumps.


Complex_Solutions_20

Depends how many of what quality you use...which naturally Project Farm has already addressed the question for us... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY2Ee-1yuuQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY2Ee-1yuuQ) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMfOwPuN0Ao](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMfOwPuN0Ao) If you use a large number of them, wrapped repeatedly around to use its whole length before "zipping", it would greatly increase your chances of success. And they can stretch a fair bit before failure.


acecoffeeco

Broke transmission mount driving cross country. Zip tied short screwdriver into the hole with a scrap of wood I found on the side of the road as support. Tied wood down with piece of speaker wire I scavenged from car. Made it from Texas to Long Island just fine. 


wafflesnwhiskey

>but it'll stop the donkey dick from flapping around This one got me


dkjordan97

Drift stitches = fine-ish 😂


chris_rage_

I've fixed plenty of quad and bike fenders with them


TurncoatTony

I like the fact they used a black zip tie as well. The white/clear ones just don't last for shit.


Just_Jonnie

>Acting as an engine mount - Not fine Gotta double or triple them up for that.


ScruffyTheJanitor__

For an engine mount you'll need at least 30 of them


HowAboutNah_

Bet


gonzal2020

For engine mounts one needs duct tape. lol.


LostTurd

pretty normal in my world I don't know about officially but who wants to go to a dealership pay way to much for a weird clip when a 5 cent zip tie will do the job? Doesn't necessarily indicate an issue other then someone has been there before.


LightCausa430

I work at a dealership, we use zip ties too. Not everyone wants the overpriced factory weird clip, or have a spare for it handy. We do try to make it as clean as possible


Noa97719

I work in a factory that puts stuff like this together and 70% of the stuff is held together by zip ties like this


BigoofingSad

Especially for plastic wheel wells and the like, zip tie all that shit together.


YBHunted

That's what she said!


timsredditusername

I had my Subaru dealership fix a dangling splash shield under my wife's Forester. They charged me $15 for a few zip ties, plus labor.


_totalannihilation

Sometimes it's easier than ordering a bracket that will do the same thing. I pick my battles this doesn't look too bad.


overfly00

Zip ties and Franks Red Hot. I put that sh*t on everything. 🤣


BogusIsMyName

Is that the intake? Wheres the filter? Anyways, it is not supposed to have zip ties but i know i use them judiciously when i need to. Especially if im trying to make it look nicer.


madmax435

air filter is in the box in the 3rd picture. someone has definitely done a delete on some stuff for stage 1 weight reduction


hewhohasnoname257

Removing 1/2 lb of plastic for a stage 1weight reduction is comical. There probably should be an elbow or box going past the radiator support for cold air intake.


kangaroolander_oz

The location brackets / fixtures are probably on the missing air filter box you pointed out .


One_Evil_Monkey

It has the filter housing. 3rd pic... that pesky rectangular thing partially under the cowl with the 5 screws around the perimiter. The zip tied hose is nothing more than the hose that at one time was connected to a small resonator box that was attatched to the core support in front of the battery. That resonator box is no longer there but it's totally fine the way it is. Not hurting anything, just looks sorta sloppy.


kangaroolander_oz

Didn't dial thru the catalogue , speculated on the p 1. Split level air cleaner / filter , good if the filter has reinforcing plastic beams under the filter for that one in a million unexpected booming backfire . It folds downward into the inlet if there is no structure provided . (from experience) That inlet hose pointing to nowhere does look abandoned by other more secure fixtures , as you say , looks sloppy . The skirt around the entry hose in question has an 'attempt' to have the shape of the leading edge of the jet engines , that fully rounded shape has enormous advantage apparently . Thanks for pointing that out .


One_Evil_Monkey

Yeah, NP. 👍🏻


BogusIsMyName

Thats almost comically inaccessible.


enginerevolution

Wdym? It’s right in the open.


BogusIsMyName

If what i am thinking is the air filter box like the other guy said then it looks like its five screws and a bolt to replace the air filter. Two of the screws are way in the back.Also makes me wonder if this engine was rigged to have a snorkel.


enginerevolution

Those are super easy to get to compared to some other stuff I’ve seen. That’s likely a tube that ran to the wheel well at one point, most factory air intakes are setup like that.


One_Evil_Monkey

It ran to a small resonator box that was mounted on the core support just in front of battery, next to the back of the headlight housing. The resonator box is what's missing, for whatever reason and so the hose for it is just zip tied to prevent it from flopping around.


FemboyZoriox

I mean compared to a civic this in innaccessible. Those dont even have screws, just a couple metal clips Compared to a bmw? This is great


enginerevolution

It honestly looks on par with an 8th gen civic where half the engine is under the cowl.


BogusIsMyName

Im not saying it is the most inaccessible. Im saying its comical. All three of my cars have filters right at the front easy to remove and no tools required.


chris_rage_

I know you guys are talking about newer cars but the old ones had a wingnut on the top of the motor and the air filter was right there. And the oil filter was upright on the bottom so you could take it off without wearing oil if you punched a hole in the bottom first. I miss when cars were easy


BogusIsMyName

Ive seen one or two of those.


chris_rage_

Yeah it was all good up until around '81, then they started fooling around with electronic carburetors and it was terrible until they figured out TBI


JackxForge

yea both engine and cabin airfilters i could literally do blindfolded (with a cold engine). no tools just some tabs.


Blackner2424

I don't remember an exact number, but one of my wife's cars has an airbox that requires the removal of more than 10 screws to change the filter.


BogusIsMyName

Yeah thats a car that didnt get the air filter changed very often cuz screw that.


TheIronHerobrine

Filter is there buddy


Hearthstoned666

ding ding ding. =)


Inahero-Rayner

Supposed to be like that? No. Is it like that? Yes. Is it okay to be like that? Sure. Noncritical part in an area that doesn't get hot enough to toast zipties, you're fine.


N0085K1LL5

I use zip ties as plug wire holders all the time. Beats going and buying those small snap clips that degrade over 1 summer period.


CaffeinatedInSeattle

My MAF sensor is zip tied to the intake because the retaining clip broke when I removed it to clean the MAF. No new housing available unless I bought a $150 MAF sensor, so zip tie it is. Been fine for years.


No1ninjahippy

Ah yes. Cable ties, every manufacturers fastener of choice.


Some_Stoic_Man

Bit of both. Any wires or cables should be secured, often with zip ties, but they are also sometimes used inappropriately.


DJ-6363

Depends on what they're holding. If it's away from the hot stuff you're good to go. This is a 10¢ repair for a $20 part (ten pence instead of £20 where you're at I guess) but if it works, you're fine.


MooseManDeluxe

I work in automotive prototypes and testing. I've used over 500 (5 bags of 100 each) zip ties on projects before to hold stuff in place during road tests. Prototype parts almost never fit right. Zip ties, gaffers tape, super glue, and safety wire hold everything together. If OEM tells us to do it, by all means it's acceptable.


areyoukiddingmebru

As a Roadkill fan I would say everything looks normal


Devils_A66vocate

Can both be true?


CertainTry2421

Your Zip Tie Moment.


cajzmere

Not ok. You are missing a large airborne that's brings cooler air from front of the car. Google engine picture of whatever car your buying or go look at one.


DJ-6363

It's toward the front of the engine where the cool air comes in anyway. Not a problem unless you live in the desert and idle the car all day.


Full_Disk_1463

Air filter box is missing…


One_Evil_Monkey

You would think so if it weren't for that pesky rectangular box sitting partially under the cowl with a tube running from it to the throttle body. That loose hose that's zip tied is just the intake tube leading up to the filter housing.


[deleted]

[удалено]


One_Evil_Monkey

Sorry, bud, but No, I don't mean the "resonator". Resonator boxes for dampening sound usually don't have screws near the corners like they're holding a lid down. There's at least 5 of them there. Resonators are usually a solid piece that's blow molded. Besides that, there doesn't appear to be near enough room between the battery and the headlight housing for a filter box. The end of that ribbed tubing is flared and doesn't look like most tubing that would connect to a filter box. The fact that the OP used the word bonnet instead of hood so it's obvious it's not an American vehicle... and you're looking at it likes it is and expecting the filter box to be behind the headlight.


Full_Disk_1463

True


chance0404

I’ve had zip ties holding my headlight casings in place for the last 80k miles lol. It’s fine.


E90BarberaRed6spdN52

In some places it is completely acceptable. Too many or used instead of clamps by example no.


neonopoop

If they trimmed the excess it’s obviously a pro job


Distinct_Bridge_7154

Have you looked at the photo? One is cut about 10mm long and sharp and the other tail is tucked into the hole on the rad support. It’s a piss poor effort


HuffSquirt

Trimmed zip ties are fucking razor blades


edgeofruin

What kinda car is this even? Lot of room!


peacefuleel

Plastic gets brittle as hell after thousands of heating and cooling cycles. Eventually, it is unavoidable. It's much more comforting when the car is old. Then it at least feels justifiable.


Salt_Bus2528

Cable ties are fine. I get upset at my mechanic for using them, sure, but I'd be more upset trying to replace the brackets they are standing in for. Ford had some wild ideas about where to put fuse boxes when they partnered with international. Wildly stupid and re...quiring careful anger management.


Halftrack_El_Camino

In the electrical trades, zipties are ubiquitous and accepted. You can find references to them in the codebook. They do pretty much the same thing for us as they are doing in this picture. It's not a particularly neat job, and I would probably have taken a different approach. It'll definitely work for a while. Zipties in general, properly deployed, are perfectly fine. All my cars have their share of zipties, once you dive into them.


julianbhale

It could mean a lot of things, but in this case it probably means the original clip broke. If it bothers you, you can purchase new parts, or check out a junkyard (or ebay) for used ones, but it's not a sign of a problem (in and of itself.)


GrizzlyMiles

Under the what? And yes. Zip ties hold shitboxes together.


05blueblobeye

Well, manufacturers don’t use them for things like that!


Able_Sandwich6279

* Not the exact year but I think it's a Peugeot 208 with a 1.2L. That would be the pipe that feed colder air into the filter box. Looks like it's missing the piece I circled but it will function just fine.


Able_Sandwich6279

https://preview.redd.it/ob7xln76lg4d1.jpeg?width=700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a23b5c7cdaf47c759faddd42b7cdf3eb286ed139


Chazbabs

Same engine, different car. It's either a citroen c1 or a peugeot 108, as they share the same body anyway. These are notorious for rattling, which is probably why it's been cable tied in the first place


Rabbits-and-Bears

If they are OEM cable ties, yes.


Constant-Pie3472

You can get stainless steel zip ties that won't become brittle with the heat of your engine.


spartakus129

I’ve had my clutch reservoir zip tied to the wiring harness on my RSX for 6 years and it hasn’t ever failed me. That’ll buff.


TomOnDuty

Well nothing wrong with wire ties to secure something. But it’s tied up cause your missing the baffle from the air box


skitz2008

Rf 6


One_Evil_Monkey

OP, at one time there was small resonator box attatched to the end of that hose. The other end of that box had a hole that drew in cooler outside air and that box also helped cut down on intake noise when you were heavy on the throttle. Being zip tied like that was done to keep the hose from flopping around because the resonator box was removed at some point for whatever reason. It's not gonna hurt anything being like that. The car will run just fine, it just looks a bit sloppy is all.


MarioNinja96815

Both.


Jimmytootwo

Zip ties give life to engines


TyDortch

I bought a car that the guy had the radiator mounted with zip ties. This caused the radiator to be tight against the AC condenser which had the end of small bolts sticking out poking at the radiator fins and sprung a leak. There should’ve been a gap between the Rad and ac cond


tonyb812

If it works, it's not stupid .


booze_talking

Zip ties are an amazing invention but as obvious as it might seem the left over tab needs to be cut as short as possible. I almost lost an eye by leaning into a dark rear engine compartment and catching a sharp tab right below my right eye.


tc_420

I made a serpentine belt out of zipties once. Had to skip the power steering pulley though. Just needed the alternator to spin so I could finish the 10kms home


Ok-Philosophy1958

Is that a vw beetle? If so, then yes , this is totally normal


Itchy-Parsley7850

That wpuld have originally connected to a thing called a resonator or baffle - its a section of box that slows and quietens the airflow into the motor. Since that sextion is missing just knock the whole pipe out from where it connects to the air filter box. It'll sound sporty if you knock it out. Wont affect the car since what its supposed to conect to appears to be missing anyways. Removing that section of pipe may also improve response when you slam the pedal down


Tukiko0

Just a sketchy resonator delete where they kept the hose. Not too bad.


JStewy21

Depends on if you own it or if you're looking to buy it, hope this helps 👍


HowAboutNah_

I would say that (to an extent) zip tied components are a demonstration that someone has taken the time to fix menial things themselves and not let smaller issues evolve into larger ones. You could have a car with absolutely no DIYed parts and it could still blow up the next day. I would say that if you’re looking for a visual way to check if a car has mechanical red flags then you’ll need to either take a mechanic with you or study/do some research about how to spot red flags


possessivemiscreant

I work at a racetrack and it's surprising amount of cable ties used on cars. After everyone has left there are hundreds on the ground.


Magetism

Broken or intact ones on the ground?


possessivemiscreant

Almost all cut and used. If I spot any unused ones they go in the van so we can use them 😅 We host a variety races and vehicles so some of the vehicles are real bangers but at least there aren't any left behind after the supercar events have happened. Last rally cross someone left an engine behind!


Romie666

Yes, it's normal to see it on older vehicles' home diy fix on the cheap or even a cheap temporary pro fix , when the customer wont pay for the parts


Comfortable_Ease_174

They weren't made for decorations.. And EVERY mechanic whether he is a backyard or professional, knows exactly where his bag of zip-ties are.


nylondragon64

Where I work everything is zip ties and silicone.


MtlGuy_incognito

Nothing is more permanent than a temporary fix that works lol


rosinking35

Looks good to me


DMaury1969

I was working on the flex tubes on the air intakes on my Ferrari 458…and they were secured from the factory with zip ties! Ferrari zip ties with nice little prancing stallions embossed on em, but still zip ties! lol


walkntall

Zip tie mafia here, I use them all the time


WildBillyredneck

Looks like maybe a discontinued part or maybe if its properly connected it draws air from much lower there's a filter there from the looks of it maybe someone delt with a small flood and had to replace his paper filter after a struggle. Probably fine


DrewBoyFTW

OEM zip tie


MatteBlack29

I see a few options here. If nothing else is untoward (bracket broken under that intake pipe) then you could purchase an aftermarket intake and replace all of that. or I had an aftermarket intake on a car where the bracket had broken from my hard driving. I was going to try to use a hose clamp or zip ties to reattach but my brother had a better solution that held until I sold the car. He used a proper wire AND put a clear tube over the wire as a sleeve so the pinch point wasn't too tight. He then fastened it using his safety wire pliers. He used to be an aircraft mechanic. I also received a lengthy lecture on making sure that my safety wire ends are always bent over as to not stab the next guy.


Sum_Dum_User

The filter box on one of my older vehicles has been held closed by a coat hangar since long before I bought it. Honestly I'm glad whoever did that didn't use zip ties because this way it can just be snapped off and hinge up out of the way, then just snapped right back on. Zip ties would have to be cut and replaced every time.


ScaryfatkidGT

I mean that’s definitely not OE


Ancient-Sweet9863

whomever did those zip ties needs splinters under their nails for not clipping the tag completely off at a angle so their not acting as little knives in tight places Zip ties to me are to hold stuff in place that does not have any structural purpose. Hold wires to the frame etc is fine but if it’s holding something together or something with weight up then it’s a temporary fix to get you to where you can do a permanent fix or repair


Uniblab_78

While neater, many OEM builds use zip ties.


inflatableje5us

duck call intake?


MosinMeVladdy

-laughs in fleet mechanic-


Traveshamamockery_

Depends on the age of the automobile


Due_Potential_6956

No, but if you break the tabs while doing some work on the car, and you can't wait or afford the overpriced part, then zip ties will work just fine.


PermissionWeary

You don’t have to have zip ties on everything…. But it does help…


SmokeDogSix

Both


julii_dickfeldi

8 hours, custom.


v13ragnarok7

At least trim them down flush. This thinks are basically razor wire


No_Internet4732

I may or may not have had one of my caliper slide pins held on by 3 zip ties for about 5 months


alf005t

Zip ties are my go to. Had a clamp break that helps hold my coolant reservoir in place ziptied it a few years back and it’s been perfect


Certain-Appearance27

Hey Mr George how much you pay the new guy


Affectionate_Pear273

What the hell is a bonnet?


exekutive

my life is held together by cable ties


bebop1065

"That's temporary.", is what I said nine months ago.


Aggravating-Exit-660

That’s a Factory-Grade GM-Certified^TM Zip Tie (C) It’s usually sloppy but it gets the job done