This renovator's tip on dealing with asbestos in the home during a renovation has stirred up quite a bit of controversy. The official TikTok for Bison Renovations, Inc (@bisoreno) uploaded a video featuring its founder and co-owner, Joe Caito that has amassed over 130,000 views. 

And it's making people realize how big a problem asbestos can be in your home.

The video opens with Caito applying self-leveler cement using a paint roller on an extended handle to apply cement evenly onto the floor.

“Self-leveler [cement] makes the floor smooth,” he said, pointing to the other side of the room.

Caito goes on to explain that he’s using self-leveling cement in this area specifically because he's encapsulating asbestos tile.

“That stuff’s 50, 60 years old, and instead of pulling it all up and spending thousands—if you do it the correct way and the legal way. We’re just going to encapsulate it so we save ourselves [...] and save our investors a bunch of money. This is perfectly OK to do, too.”

As the video comes to an end, he also cautions against improperly removing and disposing of ​​the asbestos tile. 

“The illegal way would just be to pull it out and throw it in the [expletive] dumpster. But that’s not a healthy thing. It’s not good for the environment... not good for people around it or handling it,” he said.

"It’s just–just wrong, and I won’t do that.”

Is it safe to encapsulate asbestos in your home?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, “Stealing (encapsulation) involves treating the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the material." This way, the fibers don't become airborne.

The article goes on to say “Removal is complex and must be done only by a trained and accredited asbestos professional. Improper removal may actually increase your and your family’s exposure to asbestos fibers.”

But a U.K.-based industry blog notes that it's not only cheaper, but oftentimes safer to encapsulate: "By encapsulating the areas, you mitigate risks of the microscopic fibres becoming airborne as it involves much less disturbance, as opposed to asbestos removal."

When the Daily Dot reached out to Bison Renovations for comment, they had this to say:

“At Bison Renovations, we sometimes choose to encapsulate asbestos tile as a cost-effective and completely legal alternative to full abatement, which can be quite expensive. While we would ideally prefer to remove all asbestos materials and dispose of them properly, the high costs associated are not always within our client’s budgets.”

“By encapsulating, we provide a safe solution that fits our client’s financial needs, ensuring that safety and legality are never compromised. We appreciate the diverse viewpoints in the comments and take them as opportunities to discuss the safe and legal options available to homeowners in the Tampa area.”

Asbestos concerns from viewers

Indeed commenters weren’t too happy with Caito’s advice, some arguing that it only concealed the problem instead of resolving it.

“Do the investors have to disclose that there is encapsulated asbestos in the house, or will the next flipper find out the hard way?” someone wrote.

“Encapsulated asbestos. Yeah, that’s the right way. Hide the problem for the next guy. Pay for garbage work, win garbage labor.” 

“[T]he correct and legal way? [T]he correct way would be to remove completely so you don't have a forever future sign that says [the] property has asbestos... [A]sbestos is not safe in the home.” 

@bisonreno Instead of pulling up this old asbestos tile, we’re covering it with self leveling cement to get ready for the new floors 💪 #bisonrenovations #asbestos #toxic #flooring #floorinstallation #homerenovation #homeremodel ♬ original sound - Bison Renovations

“Next [guy’s] problem... go figure. it’s Florida,” wrote one commenter.

“It’s encapsulated. [It can’t] harm anyone and is perfectly okay as long as it’s disclosed to future owners before ripping out the floor,” the Bison Renovations TikTok account responded.

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The post ‘Do the investors have to disclose that there is asbestos?’: Expert says try this trick when removing toxic asbestos from your home appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Before we get into one the many useful clips from our beloved car repair guru and prolific TikTok creator Rich Poisson (@fordbossme), it sounds like some words of congratulation are in order. In recent clips he shares some details about his new position with a repair shop where he’s purely doing the work he loves (“working on everything that’s not an Audi or a Subaru” as he says frequently) rather than being part of the management and ownership team at his former Chicago-area shop.

In in a clip from mid-June, Poisson starts by observing a repair tech using an extended arm on a socket to slowly and delicately loosen a sparkplug on a Ford Triton. Since sparkplugs are known to be somewhat fragile and can be a time-consuming piece to remove if they break, the thinking goes that it’s best to work carefully even if it takes more time.

Poisson quick cuts in after a few seconds to teach us otherwise.

How to make sure your mechanic doesn't ruin your sparkplugs

“I used to try to go low and slow and controlled and all this other stuff to try to stop them from breaking. Then I went to a Ford training seminar, and the instructors in the class was like, Don't do that,” he said.

“You do more damage that way versus getting a really good quality socket down in there, whether it be impact or whatever. A nice extension that's got a nice little locking tab on it and an impact and just pull it right out of there... Don't try to sit there with a ratchet and do it. Impact it out of there because if it's going to break, it's going to break.”

By looking around on YouTube you can find clips that go into quite a bit of visual detail to explain and demonstrate the process of removing and replacing Ford sparkplugs. One of them uses a combination approach to first loosen the sparkplug with a manual tool, and then using an impact gun to finish the job, so this may all be a matter of personal taste or feel rather than following one specific mechanics’ orthodoxy.

Wait, what's a sparkplug? And how often do I need to replace them?

As this Toyota dealership blog notes, sparkplugs are key to your engine because they provide the spark of electricity needed to get your engine moving. Modern sparkplugs last about 50,000 miles. But refer to your owner's manual, or just Google the make and model.

One key trick for removing sparkplugs

The important point Poisson does make is how helpful it is to start the engine and let it run for a few minutes so the sparkplugs warm up and, in theory, be somewhat easier to loosen instead of snap apart.

“Start the vehicle up, let it get up to not complete operating temperature, but somewhere in between cold and hot, like a third of the way, pull it in the stall, pull them right out,” he said. “I found more success doing that than trying to sit there and slowly turn them out with a ratchet.”

In the comments on the clip there were plenty of folks in line with Poisson’s thinking, which comes as no surprise since the guy seems like a top-shelf mechanic.

“Yes this works great I’ve been doing it for years get it warm hit them with an impact,” one of them wrote.

@fordbossme #stitch with @Norm G ♬ original sound - Norm G

Another said, “Bringing engine temp up slightly sounds like the key.”And another advised using the universal mechanical solvent to loosen things up: “Send WD-40 down the whole warm, the engine up aluminum expands when it gets hot put the impact on no broken sparkplugs do not install welded plugs”

The Daily Dot reached out to Poisson via direct message, and to Ford via email.

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The post ‘Send WD-40 down the whole’: Expert says your mechanic is probably pulling out your sparkplugs wrong, reveals key to do it right appeared first on The Daily Dot.

It can be painful to remove a Band-Aid from your skin, as we've all learned the hard way. Due to the adhesives, the Band-Aid has to cover the wound, and it can pull on skin and hair. Here, a man reveals how rubbing Vaseline over a Band-Aid can make removing it easier and painless in a video with 1.4 million views.

The video was uploaded by TikTok user Blake Chiuminetta (@blakechiuminetta) who posts life hacks and reviews for his 1.4 million followers. This hack is no different. “A nurse taught me this,” he shared in the text overlay. In the video, the content creator showed off his arm with a Band-Aid while holding a jar of Vaseline.

Then, Chiuminetta scooped a finger full of Vaseline and smeared it across his Band-Aid. Afterward, he peeled off the Band-Aid with ease and no pain.

The Daily Dot reached out to Chiuminetta via Instagram direct message and TikTok comment. Viewers agreed in the comments section with this hack.

“I'm allergic to bandaid. it rips my skin off . THANK YOU,” one viewer wrote.

“this is good for elderly who have frail skin or children,” a second stated.

“I use a full jar of vaseline,” a third said.

However, some weren’t sympathetic.

“A nurse told me to man up and remove the bandage yourself,” one viewer remarked.

“nurse here!! alcohol pad or just woman up!! Pull it off, for the love of Hey-Zues,” a second commented.

Is Vaseline good for taking off Band-Aids?

Indeed, it is. Applying the Vaseline weakens the adhesive on the Band-Aid. “The key with this hack is letting the Vaseline soak into the band-aid so that it becomes soft and melts away the sticky residue. This allows the band-aid to peel right off with no pain,” per Hello Wonderful. 

How to apply the Vaseline

All you have to do is apply the Vaseline wherever your band-aid is. However, using Vaseline before putting on the Band-Aid is best. “The grease provides a barrier to keep the water in the raw wound, so it does not dry and die. The Vaseline does not need to be sterile, but it should be clean. It can be spread onto the bandage thickly with a clean butter knife before covering the wound with the clean bandage. The bandage does not need to be sterile,” per the National Institute of Health.

Recent reports link the chemicals in Band-Aids, which can get absorbed in the bloodstream, to health risks. But if you're going to use one, this hack can make a painful process, especially with kids, smooth sailing.

@blakechiuminetta A Nurse Taught Me This 🥺❤️‍🩹 #bandaid #vaseline #lifehack #nurse ♬ original sound - Blake Chiuminetta

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The post ‘A nurse taught me this’: Expert reveals why you should rub Vaseline over your Band-Aid appeared first on The Daily Dot.

This simple hack could make a huge difference in your next electric bill, and TikTok creator Kelley Cole (@kelleykelleykelley) is sharing it with the internet. Posted this month, her homeownership video has already garnered over 490,000 views.

And Cole begins her video with an intriguing question. 

“Is your electric bill way too high? Do you wanna know a simple, easy way to cut your bill down without changing your life at all?” she asked.

“OK, I’ll tell you and I learned this from a patient roughly 15 years ago. I’ve been doing it ever since. I used to do it hardcore. Now I do it softcore, and I do it softcore at my boyfriend’s house. Let me show you.”

The video shows Cole unplugging small appliances in her kitchen—the coffee maker, toaster, and electric can opener—followed by clips of her unplugging a lamp and a phone charger.

“It’s just unplugging. My patient called it energy vampires. He told me that when you have appliances, small appliances, any appliances plugged in, even when not in use, it will leech electricity and you’ll be charged for it,” Cole revealed.

Hardcore energy saving isn’t for everyone

Cole drew a distinction between "hardcore" unplugging and "softcore" unplugging—and the former isn’t for the faint of heart.

“So when I say I went home and went hardcore, I mean I unplugged the microwave, the stove, the TV, the cable box, like everything. The washer, the dryer. It was stupid. Unsustainable [and] inconvenient, and I didn’t stick with that. Obviously.”

The softcore energy saving version is a more realistic method for Cole, focusing primarily on unplugging electronics, small appliances, and even power tools.

“The small appliances on the kitchen counter, the coffee pot, the can opener, the toaster, all of those when not in use, unplugged. Laptops, iPads, [and] cellphones. When those are not actively being charged, they’re unplugged. If a lamp is turned off, it’s unplugged,” Cole continued.

“My ex-husband used to have power tools plugged in all the time and when I would pull up in the garage, I would see like a red light here, green light there, I would unplug it. He got so used to it.” 

How much does unplugging electronics save?

It depends! But it's likely to be $100-$200 annually on your electric bill, per the U.S. Department of Energy. "Typically, an item drawing a single watt of energy costs about one dollar to power annually," an industry blog asserts.

Cole concludes her video cheerfully with a “You’re welcome,” anticipating the savings the viewer will receive with this simple tip. 

Cole did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Dot.

@kelleykelleykelley Unplugging is easy and saves money and energy #unplugging #energyvampires #phantompower #energysaver #gogreen #savemoney #moneysavinghack #lowelectricbill #electricbill #highelectricbill ♬ original sound - Kelley Cole

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The post ‘It will leech electricity and you’ll be charged for it’: Woman shows trick for lowering your electric bill ‘without changing your life’ appeared first on The Daily Dot.

While the rise in grocery store prices has largely slowed, Americans are still feeling like it’s more expensive than ever to eat at a restaurant.

There’s some data to support this. While the price of groceries went up by around 1.2% over the past year, the cost of eating out at a restaurant went up by a remarkable 5.1%.

Given this, it makes sense why so many Americans are looking for ways to save money while going to restaurants. For example, one internet user shared how he manages to lower his spending while dining with a family of 6, and another revealed how she managed to get 3 meals from Olive Garden for just $15.

Now, a Longhorn Steakhouse hack is making the rounds on the internet once more after internet users discovered that the deal is still available throughout the country.

A $9 meal at Longhorn Steakhouse

Last year, TikTok user Kinsley (@shoplolajane.kins) revealed her hack for getting a full meal at Longhorn Steakhouse for just $9. Now, she’s returned to TikTok to announce that one can still get this incredible deal a full year later.

“For $9.17, you can get a full-size drink. You get bread and butter. And then… I get the kids grilled tenders,” she says. “Look—you get four tenders and fries, plus bread and a drink.”

She then shows viewers her meal, which, like she says, comes with four large tenders, bread, fries, and a drink.

“This is plenty for an adult,” she states.

Naturally, she reminds viewers that they aren’t limited to her specific order.

“You can also get this [deal] on the fried tenders, and it's so good,” she says. “I add the parm crust; I got fries as my side. You can get any side. Sometimes, I get a sweet potato.”

In the caption, she adds, “You can’t even go to mcdonalds for $9!!!”

Commenters vouch for this kids meal hack

In the comments section, users supported the idea of ordering a kids meal to save some money.

“Kids meal portion is actually healthy/reasonable portion size!” exclaimed a user.

“Omg a kids sirloin 6 ounce is $9.99 with a side while an adult 6 ounce with 2 sides is $16.49,” added another. “pretty good deal.”

“I do this at Olive Garden,” stated a third.

@shoplolajane.kins You can’t even go to mcdonalds for $9!!! 👏🏻 #hack #longhorns #dinnerhack #food #foodie #foryou ♬ original sound - Kinsley | Boutique + Life &lt3

“I used to work at Longhorn this was my employee meal 2-3 times a week,” revealed a further TikToker. “Have servers who are shocked when I order this still.”

We’ve reached out to Longhorn Steakhouse and Kinsley via email.

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The post ‘I do this at Olive Garden’: Woman shares trick to eating full meal at Longhorn Steakhouse for $9 appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A Utah-based mechanic (@davesautocenter) explains how to avoid low speed pre-ignition (LSPI) with a gasoline direct injection engines, or GDI, in a viral TikTok. If you own a car made after 2016, there's a strong chance this applies to you.

According to Valvoline Global, LSPI occurs when there is an ignition of a car engine’s fuel-air mixture before the spark plug fires. This can lead to engine-damaging pressure and heat.

“It's where the fuel particles don't atomize, and they get between the rings and mix with the wrong oil, and they cause that type of an explosion,” the mechanic says. “It happens super fast. You don't even know it, and all of a sudden your engine’s done.” 

The mechanic says only vehicles with GDIs can experience LSPI.

What is a GDI engine?

GDI engines process gasoline more efficiently and reduce exhaust. While the technology has been around for almost 100 years, they've exploded in popularity. As Wikipedia notes, GDIs have gone "in the United States from 2.3% of production for model year 2008 vehicles to approximately 50% for model year 2016."

According to Universal Technical Institute, GDI engines are more controlled, efficient, and powerful than other types of engines. This is because they pump gasoline into the combustion chambers of each cylinder rather than mixing it with air beforehand.

In the TikTok, he’s holding up a worn piston and connecting rod assembly, which is a vital part of a GDI engine.

The mechanic says there are three things that can cause this type of damage to a GDI engine.

First, he says, using the wrong oil can lead to problems.

“If you have a direct injected car, you want to use an API SP grade oil,” he says. “That is, first off, the most important thing you want to do.”

He says another cause of damage is a dirty direct injector, which is a part of a GDI engine.

“A direct injector has to stay super clean, so you might want to use an additive,” he says. 

His third piece of advice is for GDI car owners to warm up their engines before heavy acceleration. 

According to Consumer Reports, drivers should allow their engines to run for a minute, but not any longer in order to prevent fuel waste and excess emissions.

How can I tell if my car has a GDI engine?

You can:

• Check the owner's manual.
• Check the engine cover.
• Check the fuel cap.
• Check the VIN.

And as the Drive notes: "If all else fails, a call to the dealership’s parts counter should give you an answer if your car is direct-injected or not. Or, you could always just Google “is make/model direct-injected?” and find your way to an official spec sheet."

Some viewers expressed confusion over mixed advice.

“But the news told me I shouldn't warm up my car anymore to be eco friendly?!? So I just get in it and floor it all winter long,” one viewer commented. 

“Always warm your engine up at least enough until the high idle goes down on cool days, and at least a few minutes on really cold winter days,” another advised.

Others shared a different approach on how to avoid LSPI. 

@davesautocenter Direct Injection Pre Ignition Damage. How to avoid it #autoshop #truckrepair #carrepair #autorepair #enginebuild #audi ♬ original sound - Davesautocenter

“Or do not buy direct injection vehicle,” one viewer wrote. 

“I’m hearing ‘Don’t buy GDI,’” another said. “Got it.”

The mechanic (@davesautocenter) did not immediately respond to the Daily Dot’s request for comment.

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The post ‘All of a sudden your engine’s done’: Mechanic reveals 3 things that can damage your modern car’s GDI engine appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A plumbing expert is warning viewers about a popular toilet model at Home Depot that might cause clogging issues for homeowners.

In a viral video that has accumulated over 648,100 views, TikTok user @twinhomeexperts filmed Home Depot customers purchasing a Delta Foundations Dual Flush Elongated Toilet. The TikToker then critiqued this choice, explaining to his audience why it might not be the best option.

"They did it. They did it. For $179, they chose the Delta dual flush toilet," the TikToker says, before adding, "Here's the problem. And it's more of a free-flowing flushing problem."

The toilet trap

The TikToker then shows viewers the toilet's trap—the curved pipe connecting the bowl to the drain. The Delta's trap features a sharp, angular design with multiple bends. The TikToker describes it as "very sharp" and warns that "this style is way more prone to clogs."

As an alternative, the expert recommends the American Standard toilet, priced at $189. He showcases this model's more gradual curved trap, explaining, "If they would have spent just $10 more, the American Standard, which you can see has a much longer sweep, preventing those clogs."

The video, originally posted on July 21, has sparked over 500 comments from viewers sharing their experiences and opinions.

@twinhomeexperts Twins Toilet buying tip,you should consider…. #toilet #stopbuyingsomuchtoiletpaper #toiletclog #plumbing ♬ Timeless - Franksille

One commenter praised the recommended brand: "American standard tall toilet with elongated bowl. best toilet ever."

However, not all viewers agreed with the expert's assessment. Another user defended their purchase, stating, "I [have] that same toilet. not 1 clog problem."

Meanwhile, one viewer seemed to have a realization based on the information shared: "No wonder why I have to plunge all the time."

Customer reviews tell a different story?

Interestingly, a look at the official Home Depot website reveals that the Delta toilet, despite the TikToker's warnings, actually holds a marginally higher rating of 4.6 stars out of 5, compared to the 4.5-star rating of the American Standard model.

However, it's worth noting that the American Standard toilet appears to be considerably more popular choice of the two and has garnered significantly more customer feedback, with 365 reviews compared to the Delta's 135.

The Daily Dot has reached out to Delta Faucet Company and American Standard via press email and to TikTok user @twinhomeexperts via TikTok comment.

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Amazon has some incredible deals for those who are willing to search for them. That said, there are numerous problems that can come from using the site.

For example, one internet user warned against buying certain auto products from the site after someone attempted to replace their brake pads with a cheap part from Amazon. Another user said a product she purchased from Amazon exploded while she was using it.

Now, a TikToker has sparked discussion after alleging there’s a way to tell whether Amazon sold you an item that has already been returned.

How to see if you bought a return

In a video with over 365,000 views, TikToker Ryan Hamilton (@officialryanhamilton) states that, as he writes in his caption, “Amazon is selling used products as new.”

However, according to Hamilton, there’s a method to discovering whether an item you've purchased has already been sold and returned.

“If you see this label on a product that you’ve purchased from Amazon, then it means it’s been returned,” he starts. He then shows a barcode that begins with the letters “LPN.”

“Look for the LPN at the beginning, and that’s how you’ll tell it’s the correct label,” he says. “If you get this, then you can return the item back to Amazon for a full refund.”

What does LPN mean?

LPN is short for “license plate number.” While Amazon does not appear to officially confirm this means an item has been returned, many internet users claim this is the case.

“The LPN means that it has been previously returned to amazon. I work in one of the returns centers and we put these on everything that has been returned,” wrote a user on a Reddit thread.

That said, others claimed the presence of an LPN did not automatically mean an item had been used.

“Not all items that have LPNs are used. Some items with LPNs are just undeliverable returned packages with brand new items,” stated a commenter on a different Reddit thread.

@officialryanhamilton Amazon is selling used products as new, look for this label! #amazon #amazonfinds #amazonprime #onlineshopping #fyp ♬ original sound - Ryan Hamilton

Commenters share their thoughts on Amazon returns

In the comments section, many questioned the ethics of Amazon allegedly selling used or pre-opened items as new.

“Amazon should have to disclose this,” a commenter said.

“When this happened to me I return it and tell them I should not be paying full price for a ‘like new’ item,” another added.

“I printed stickers that say ‘I bought it first. And returned it. This is a previously purchased item.’ And I put them inside every item I return via amazon,” a third claimed.

“I’ve been getting more and more orders from Amazon that look clearly used. Including sheets,” another viewer wrote.

The Daily Dot reached out to Amazon and Hamilton via email.

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There are many simple things in life that folks have not been taught to do.

From knowing how to count change as a cashier, to children not knowing the alphabet, folks have long taken to social media to share the astounding knowledge gaps they observe in others.

This is an issue that has long plagued the U.S., with one in six adults lacking basic skills like reading, math, problem solving and technology according to a 2013 study.

One of the reasons highlighted as causing these lack of skills was inequality, with those lacking skills more frequently coming from low-income backgrounds. This study just goes to show—there are lots of reasons why a person can grow into an adult without knowing certain things or gaining specific skills.

And some of this missing knowledge is as simple as placing a sun shade on your car's windshield.

One man says he recently learned a relatively simple skill as an adult, and is taking to TikTok to share it with viewers, who say he is not alone in being unaware of the correct way to place a windshield cover in his vehicle to lock out heat.

Incorrectly placing sun shade on car's windshield

In a short video posted to the platform by Kim (@kl3xf) on TikTok, he shows that he previously simply placed the sun shade in his vehicle incorrectly. In this manner, it did not fully block out the sun and reduce the heat in his car.

"After doing it wrong my entire life," a text overlay on the seven-second video reads. "Finally got it right."

In follow-up videos, the poster shows other drivers who have incorrectly used their window shade while parked to prevent their interior from becoming overheated or exposed to the sun. In one video, a driver has placed the shade on the outside of the car.

The Daily Dot has reached out to Kim via TikTok direct message and a comment on the video.

How to use a car windshield's sun shade correctly

To reduce the amount of heat allowed to penetrate a windshield, the metallic or foiled side should face out in the summer, car experts say. The side featuring a design or non-foiled surface should face out in the winter, to draw heat to the interior of the vehicle.

Kim's video showed him using the sun visors to appropriately hold the shade in place with the foil side facing out. Many viewers shared that they also were unaware that there was a right or wrong way to use a sun shade in a car.

"I always thought I’d be blinding passerby’s by having the foil face out," one commenter wrote.

"Are you sure?" another said. "Then why the cute designs on some of them?"

"But then why do they put the design on the none foil side cuz mine says Chevrolet on it but it doesn’t make sense for me to see it," a third added. "cuz on the box it shows it on the outside."

@kl3xf It does make a difference! NOT as hot anymore 💪🏼 #fy #mycar #charger #summer #luisrconriquez #fypシ゚viral #lifehacks #foryou ♬ Si No Quieres No - Luis R Conriquez & Neton Vega

Some viewers in the know could not believe that there were people who did not know this—despite how prevalent this knowledge gap was among viewers who commented on the video.

"I don’t get it???" one commenter wrote. "How can you possibly get it wrong lmfao??"

"They taught us in elementary that black absorbs heat while white reflects it lmao," another commented.

"I thought everyone knew this?" a further user said.

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The post ‘I thought everyone knew that’: Car owner realizes he’s been putting sun shade on wrong this whole time appeared first on The Daily Dot.

In recent years, car key fobs have become less focused on the key itself and more focused on the technology that can be placed within the fob.

Now, some key fobs don’t even have keys, with manufacturers instead packing the small device with features like remote start and the ability to roll down all of the windows in the car from a distance.

While these features delight car owners, the lack of a physical key can present problems when one’s key fob runs out of battery. These batteries can occasionally be difficult to replace, and even it can be done simply, the inability to use the fob makes it impossible to drive to the store to pick up a new battery.

If this has ever happened to you—or if you’re worried that this could happen to you in the future, this TikTok user has some advice.

How to start your car with a dead key fob

In a video with over 348,000 views, the TikTok account for McGrath BMW of Elmhurst (@bmwofelmhurst) explains how one can start their car with a dead key fob.

“Just a reminder, if you’re ever stuck with a car that does not start because of a dead [key fob] battery, or maybe it can’t read the battery in your key fob, don’t forget—you can simply place your key fob right on the side of your steering column right here,” he says, placing the key fob on the side of the steering column.

“You’re going to see a little key icon,” he continues. “Hold it there, foot on the brake, hit your start button, and just like that, your car is back on.”

While the car in the video is a BMW, Capital One notes that this feature is not unique to this maker, though the location of the area where one must place their key may change based on the manufacturer and car model.

“Most likely, it’s as simple as placing the dead fob in a designated spot or pocket—typically found somewhere in the center console—and pressing the ignition button,” Capital One suggests regarding starting a car with a dead key fob.

@bmwofelmhurst

How to Start Your Car with a Dead Key Fob 🚗💡 #McGrathMonday #BMW

♬ original sound - BMW of Elmhurst

Commenters complain about the technology

Although some commenters thanked the account for the tip, others questioned why cars were now being manufactured without physical keys if this problem could occur.

“I have a Jeep grand Cherokee. If the battery is dead, the door won’t open,” said a user.

“I drive older Landcruisers, we have keys and none of this special electronic garbage,” added another.

“just another example of manufacturers adding too much electronic crap on vehicles,” stated a third. “I have no problem inserting a key.”

The Daily Dot reached out to McGrath BMW of Elmhurst via website contact form.

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The post ‘If you’re ever stuck with a car that does not start’: Car expert shows how to start your car with a dead key fob appeared first on The Daily Dot.